Chris Cortazzo

Agent, Compass

Driving through Malibu? You won’t get far without seeing a listing by Cortazzo. The last time TRD had an extensive interview with him, back in 2024, he rode away in a Rolls-Royce SUV. As far as status symbols go, that would be a good one for Cortazzo’s success selling high-end residential in the city where he was born and raised. 

In 2025 alone, he was tracking $714 million in closings. That includes the multiparcel trade of 28719 Grayfox Street in Malibu, which quietly sold off market for $80 million in July. It was the city’s priciest deal of 2025, according to TRD Data. In September, Cortazzo placed 6962 Wildlife Road, which was at one time owned by Johnny Carson, on the market for $110 million, or $15,530 per square foot. 

It wasn’t always like that for Cortazzo. In the beginning of his career, he did double time, working as a massage therapist and selling homes after he earned his real estate license in 1994. His first-ever listing came at the age of 28 from one of those massage clients, which was for $8 million. Famous friends helped. He traveled around the world with photographer Herb Ritts, Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford. Gere ended up being his first-ever sale: $5 million in Paradise Cove.

 — Kari Hamanaka