Star Island Miami: Who Lives There

Star Island is a man-made island in Miami with maybe two dozen homes on it — and somehow still enough star power and record-breaking sales to make national real estate news every year. Ownership here changes hands more often than the older “who lives on Star Island” roundups suggest: three of this list’s biggest names sold in the last 18 months alone, including a $120 million sale that set a Miami-Dade price record.

Here’s a current, verified look at who actually owns property on the island right now — plus a few notable names who’ve recently moved on.

Current Residents

Gloria & Emilio Estefan

The Estefans have lived at 39 Star Island Drive for roughly four decades, making them among the island’s longest-tenured residents. Their property features elaborate landscaping, a modern beach-house design, and a tennis court right in the front yard.

They previously owned a second property nearby, the guest house known as Nena’s Villa at 1 Star Island Drive, which they sold to Sean Combs for $35 million back in 2021. That property has since changed hands again — more on that below.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez bought a waterfront Star Island home in 2020 for $32.5 million (the asking price had been $40 million). No sale of the property has been publicly reported since, though we couldn’t independently confirm the current legal owner following the couple’s split — treat this one as unconfirmed rather than settled.

Phillip Frost

Phillip Frost, a pharmaceutical billionaire with stakes in companies like Protalix and MusclePharm and a board seat at Northrop Grumman, still owns one of Star Island’s largest properties at 21 Star Island Drive — six acres, confirmed by current Miami-Dade property records.

Sean Combs

Sean Combs purchased the former Estefan property at 1 Star Island Drive in 2021. He sold that specific mansion in an off-market deal that closed in July 2026, for $55 million, to an entity connected to John A. Franklin. Per the reporting on the sale, Combs retains ownership of the adjacent lot he also purchased at the time.

Russell Weiner

Russell Weiner, founder of Rockstar Energy, bought 43 Star Island Drive for $35.3 million in a deal that closed in August 2025. The address has a genuinely colorful past — Rosie O’Donnell previously owned it, and it was more recently owned by David and Linda Frankel, who sold it to Weiner as part of his broader expansion of Miami Beach luxury real estate holdings.

Stuart Miller

Stuart Miller, now Executive Chairman of Lennar Corporation (one of the largest homebuilders in the world), continues to hold multiple parcels on the island (properties at 4, 5, 6, and 7 Star Island Drive), and has pursued approval for a 2.8-acre compound. His influence over the island’s real estate goes well beyond simply living there.

Michael Ferro

Michael Ferro, of Merrick Ventures, purchased 26 Star Island Drive in March 2025 for $120 million — a Miami-Dade County price record. The property, previously owned by real estate developer Vladislav Doronin, features classical architectural influences, a fountain, tennis courts, and a large pool.

Notable Former Residents

A few names still show up on older “who lives on Star Island” lists that are worth updating:

• Lisa Hochstein, of Real Housewives of Miami, no longer lives on the island. The Star Island home went to her ex-husband, Leonard Hochstein, as part of their divorce settlement, and Lisa has been living in a South Beach rental.
• Thomas Kramer, a real estate developer once known for owning several lots and throwing some of the island’s biggest parties, lost his Star Island holdings through a court-ordered auction in 2017 and has since relocated to Dubai.
• Vladislav Doronin sold 26 Star Island Drive to Michael Ferro in March 2025 for a record $120 million (see above).
• David and Linda Frankel sold 43 Star Island Drive to Russell Weiner in August 2025 (see above).

Star Island Bottom Line

Star Island packs an outsized amount of fortune and square footage into a very small footprint — and unlike a lot of celebrity real estate content, the ownership here genuinely turns over. Three of the island’s marquee properties changed hands in the 18 months before this was written, including a $120 million sale that’s now the county price record.

It’s a level of privacy and prestige most neighborhoods can’t touch, and it keeps drawing buyers who can afford to live anywhere and choose here anyway. See more of Miami’s most desirable neighborhoods, or see who else made the list of celebrities who live in NYC.

FAQ

Who currently owns the most expensive property on Star Island?

As of this writing, Michael Ferro’s $120 million purchase of 26 Star Island Drive in March 2025 is the highest confirmed sale price on the island and a Miami-Dade County record.

Does Sean Combs still own property on Star Island?

Yes, partially. He sold the former Estefan mansion at 1 Star Island Drive for $55 million in July 2026, but retained ownership of the adjacent lot he purchased at the same time.

Does Gloria Estefan still live on Star Island?

Yes. Gloria and Emilio Estefan have lived at 39 Star Island Drive for roughly 40 years, making them among the island’s longest-tenured residents.