Just south of the intersection of two main roads in western Delray Beach, Florida, is a hidden community filled with properties “designed to make a billionaire’s jaw drop.”
Behind heavily guarded gates patrolled around the clock by former military veterans and Navy SEALs, a new standard of American luxury is quietly taking shape. Welcome to Stone Creek Ranch, where actor Mark Wahlberg, hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen, Rockstar Energy founder Russ Weiner and NFL star Khalil Mack call themselves neighbors.
Fox News Digital got an inside look at the enclave’s newest flagship listing, “Villa Skyfall,” an $85 million James Bond-inspired estate complete with hidden passages and a poker room, a rainforest-style spa and 2.5 private acres.
“This is literally the most prestigious address in South Florida right now. What’s so extraordinary about the community is that, like you said, eight years ago, it was a hidden gem, not many people knew about it, and it’s truly evolved in terms of the level of A-list celebrity clients who are buying here, business and entrepreneur leaders who have already bought, and also the quality of that we’re now able to offer in this community,” Douglas Elliman Florida executive director and listing agent Senada Adzem, who’s already sold multiple homes in the neighborhood, told Fox News Digital.
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“Delray Beach has attracted global wealth now, and it’s a really special destination where it’s much quieter and more private than Miami or Palm Beach, and a lot of our clients really appreciate being in Stone Creek Ranch, where you can have large estates, a lot of privacy. They’re away from the prying eyes,” she continued. “They feel a peace of mind.”
Crossing the entrance, guests are greeted by a warm yet modern architectural masterpiece rising behind reflective water features. The single-story estate features a 32-foot-tall grand salon illuminated by crystal chandeliers and backlit onyx, a museum-style automotive gallery, an Amazon rainforest-inspired spa, a hidden poker lounge and a 95-foot-long pool framed by cabanas, fire features and tropical gardens. Every transition appears designed for impact, turning stone, wood, glass, water and light into part of the experience throughout the home.
“It was designed to make a billionaire’s jaw drop,” Adzem said. “What we wanted to do is really follow that theme of very elegant, very sophisticated marketing. We’re not going for a mass audience. So we’re looking for that very specific buyer who appreciates what this property has to offer. And it offers a lot, truly, in every single way — it is one of one. It’s a trophy property.”
A new construction project as grand as Villa Skyfall takes an average of four to five years to complete, according to Adzem, but this estate was built in just 14 months. The $85 million asking price includes all the furniture, fully stocked bars and kitchens, Chanel, Dior and Hermès handbags in the closets, and even electric toothbrushes in each of the home’s 12 bathrooms.
“Ultra-high-net worth clients now want top-of-the-line, turnkey properties. They want to come in and worry-free know [that] they’ll only need to bring their clothing, their personal items. Everything else will be provided for them,” Adzem said. “People are accustomed to coming in and having things in a way that they will really appreciate, and I think that’s what adds to the allure.”
There’s active interest coming from high-net-worth buyers fleeing high-tax states, with a heavy concentration of tech founders, finance executives and retiring entrepreneurs looking for private, family-oriented retreats.
“We’re seeing a lot of entrepreneurs who are looking to retire very soon, and they want a sanctuary for themselves and their family and people who really want to entertain… You have tax benefits of being in Florida, so we’re seeing clients from California, we’re seeing clients from New York and Connecticut. They’re primarily in the finance and tech worlds, and we have had a few celebrities as well,” Adzem said of the property’s showings thus far.
Listing a property at an $85 million asking price could set a record for Delray Beach, according to Adzem. At a time when the average American homebuyer is dealing with high interest rates and a tough housing market, she explained that while working families face distinct economic challenges, luxury buyers are exceptionally bullish and confident in South Florida real estate.
“Our clients, both in the ultra-luxury segment, as well as clients who are working… white-collar families who are looking to put their kids through school have different challenges that are facing them. However, what we have noticed is that they’re still very optimistic about the strength of the economy,” she said.
“Ultra-high net worth clients have greatly benefited from the strength of the stock market. So they feel encouraged that this is going to continue,” Adzem added, “and they’re very confident when it comes to investing in real estate, particularly in South Florida.”
While critics and real estate observers frequently question whether South Florida’s soaring luxury home values are approaching a peak, Adzem argued the continued influx of out-of-state capital tells a different story. She said the migration of high-earning families and corporate headquarters from traditional wealth centers has created a structural shift in the region’s economy that extends far beyond a temporary market spike.
“I do believe in the future of the Florida luxury market for many reasons,” Adzem told Fox Digital, highlighting Florida’s zero state income tax and favorable business climate. “There has been a lot of wealth migration into Florida… there’s just a confluence of events that is going to continue helping us attract unique buyers to very special properties.”
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