Hailing from Miami Gardens, Rick Ross has been “Hustlin” for years. The rapper-turned-multi-hyphenate now boasts a bevy of items that bear his name. There are albums of course, energy drinks, car wax, and his signature rosè. To celebrate his success, he is now “Blowing Money Fast” on Star Island, where he is currently in contract to purchase a new waterfront home for $37 million.
Star Island is a private island located along the MacArthur Causeway in between Miami and Miami Beach. It is aptly named, as there are about 30 homes on the island and most are celebrity-owned. Among Ross’s new neighbors are Sean Combs/Diddy, Gloria Estefan, and Real Housewife of Miami Lisa Hochstein. Those who are not in the entertainment sector are business magnates including hedge funder Ken Griffin, the executive chairman of Lennar Homes, Stuart Miller and Anthony Hsieh, the founder of LoanDepot.
Star Island is the most exclusive address in Miami Beach. It is a private, residential island consisting of luxury waterfront home sites and home to many celebrities.
Rick Ross’s new home is on the east side of the island, with a waterfront backyard overlooking Miami Beach. His next-door neighbor is Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The house itself was previously owned by Oracle executive Yale Brown, according to property records. He purchased the property in 1999 for just $4.6 million, then sold it to Ross for $37 million after two months on the market.
The house boasts over 9,700 interior square feet on a lot that is just shy of 1 acre. Including terrace spaces, the home measures 12,400-square-feet. The backyard enjoys 100 feet of sparkling water frontage with a 40-foot dock for a yacht. Arriving up the pavered and landscaped gated entrance, guests are greeted by a canopy of palm trees and the art deco façade of the mansion, which is evocative of the early 90’s heyday of Miami Beach.
37 Star Island Miami Beach Driveway | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Aerial | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Arrival | Image Credit: Jill Eber
Inside, the mansion is host to six bedrooms, eight and a half baths, plus an office. There are some stunning architectural details including the 30-foot foyer and formal living with a waterscaped atrium. While it is obvious that the decor is high-quality, the space does offer a sort of cold/corporate atmosphere that we imagine Ross will change upon closing in the next few weeks. He has already announced that he plans extensive renovations to the space, which will undoubtedly wind up matching his large personality.
37 Star Island Miami Beach Atrium | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Foyer | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Formal Living | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Foyer | Image Credit: Jill Eber
The backyard boasts a full outdoor living experience with a large pool, jacuzzi, multiple sunning areas, outdoor kitchen as well as outdoor living spaces on multiple levels.
37 Star Island Miami Beach Backyard View | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Swimming Pool | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Pool Deck| Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Pool Area Spa Summer Kitchen | Image Credit: Jill Eber
Back inside, the spacious kitchen has tons of counter space and commercial-grade gourmet appliances. Cooking for an entire entourage will be a cinch and there is plenty of space for elaborate dinner parties for the whole crew. I do anticipate that the kitchen and dining room will be among the first to be redesigned as the current decor is in need of an update with some added flash fit for an artist of Rick Ross’s magnitude, but the possibilities are endless.
37 Star Island Miami Beach Kitchen | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Kitchen | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Dining Room | Image Credit: Jill Eber
After dinner and into the late nights, the game room is fit for all sorts of parties. There is a wet bar, lounge area, poker and pool table all overlooking the bay and pool area. It will be fun to watch Rick’s Instagram to see what fun they may get into with this space once it is redesigned.
37 Star Island Miami Beach Game Room | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Game Room | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Pool Table | Image Credit: Jill Eber
At the end of the night, there are 6 spacious bedrooms with elegantly-appointed bathrooms, many with extensive terraces to take in the sea breeze privately before turning in or in the morning with a cup of coffee. The primary bath is exceptionally large with a dual vanity, marble-adorned infinity tub and separate shower with natural light pouring from the windows and reflecting on the mirrored and marble ceiling, giving a modern Scarface vibe.
37 Star Island Miami Beach Primary Bedroom | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Primary Bedroom Office | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Primary Bath | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Primary Bath Vanities | Image Credit: Jill Eber
37 Star Island Miami Beach Rooftop Terrace | Image Credit: Jill Eber
To celebrate his friend becoming a new neighbor, Sean (Diddy) Combs reportedly gifted Ross a new custom golf cart so that they can visit one another’s estates on the island. Upon giving the gift, Diddy told Ross in his Instagram Story that, “You can walk around Star Island, but it’s better to drive.”
After scrolling through the photos and anticipating how Rick Ross will personalize his new prize, we are also forced to recognize the fact that Ross may not ever occupy the property after all. He does have a reputation for purchasing homes just because he can. He has worked incredibly hard for the success he is experiencing, and being able to purchase a luxury home and never move in makes him realize how far he has come.
When he had his first taste of money and fame after signing his first contract, he purchased a home in Atlanta then said, “After I got my deal and my situation, I bought a million-dollar home maybe two minutes from it that I still own that’s right around the corner, just so I can ride by it every day while I’m in Atlanta, and that’s what the play was.”
Two years ago, he also purchased Amar’e Stoudemire’s Miami home for $3.5 million, then months later told the hosts at the REVOLT Youtube show Assets Over Liabilities that, “I still haven’t slept in that b**** once.”
While this is all very intriguing to those of us who do not have multimillion dollar recording contracts, we certainly respect his hustle and hope that he does opt to deck this house out and enjoy it. A Star Island manse is peak Miami success and something that hometown boy Rick Ross deserves to enjoy.
