Inside Miami’s Secret Celebrity Playground: How Star Island Became the Ultimate Escape for the Rich and Famous

Miami has long been known as a haven for celebrities and high-profile property owners—but one ultra-exclusive enclave takes that star power to a whole new level, playing host to only the wealthiest and most private of residents, including Jennifer Lopez and Shaquille O’Neal.

Star Island, a man-made isle that sits in the Biscayne Bay, is home to just 30 or so private residences that traditionally sell for tens of millions of dollars on the rare occasion that one is listed.

Currently, just one home on Star Island is listed for sale—with an extraordinary asking price of $48 million—and that is already “pending” sale according to property records.

Compared with some of the other Star Island megamansions that have sold in recent years, $48 million is a drop in the pond, with one property trading hands in 2023 for $57 million, while Russian billionaire Vlad Doronin offloaded his abode inside the gated community for an eye-watering $120 million earlier this year.

Remarkably, that dwelling was reported to have been sold as a potential teardown, making room for an even more opulent abode to be built in its place.

Waterfront plots are hard to come by on Star Island, with just a few dozen situated on the 86-acre isle—and properties located within the star-studded enclave are often sold off-market, meaning that most buyers aren’t even made aware when a home is being sold.

Created in the 1920s, Star Island was brought to life by dredging up sand until it transformed into a private island where the rich and famous soon flocked.

There is just one way in and out of the community—a causeway that is guarded by 24/7 security personnel who carefully screen each person who enters the neighborhood.

So perhaps it is no surprise that Star Island has become so popular among celebrities seeking to escape the spotlight, without straying too far from all the glitz, glamour, and many amusements that Miami has to offer.

Yet that peace is, occasionally, disturbed by prying eyes and public scrutiny courtesy of the allure of its most high-profile residents.

Just last year, Star Island was swarmed by Homeland Security agents who carried out a raid on rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ enormous estate in the community as part of their investigation into sex-trafficking allegations, of which he was found not guilty during a trial earlier this year.

Yet that kind of scene is a rare occurrence on the island, where—for the most part—A-listers and billionaires alike are able to enjoy the sun, sea, and sand in peace, tucked away from the glare of public scrutiny.

Today, several stars are known to own homes on the island, including Diddy, although many of the properties’ sales and purchases are hidden behind LLCs and trusts to protect the identities of their owners.

Here, Realtor.com lifts the lid on Star Island’s most intriguing residents, both past and present—and the staggering value of their shared real estate.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Diddy holds the keys to an incredible lavish property in Star Island, which became a major player in the sex-trafficking case against him when the home was raided by Homeland Security agents.

After his initial arrest in New York City in September 2024, the rapper attempted to use the property as collateral in a $50 million bail plea, during which his lawyers claimed that the home was valued at $48 million.

A judge ultimately ruled against releasing Diddy from jail—and even after he was found not guilty on the three most serious charges he faced, he was denied bail, and remains behind bars while he awaits his sentencing on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

During the trial, images of the home that were taken during the March 2024 raid were shown as key pieces of evidence by prosecutors, who revealed photos of drug paraphernalia and weapons parts that were discovered inside the property.

Homeland Security Special Agent Gerard Gannon, who led the raids, took to the stand on May 20 and May 21 to recount the circumstances leading up to those events, while detailing the items that were found.

Images shared with the jury and the public revealed multiple weapons, including AR-15 rifle parts, as well as numerous pairs of women’s high heels, sex toys, and dozens of bottles of baby oil littering the expansive property.

Several different drugs were also discovered in the property, with Gannon revealing that an assortment of pills, white powder, and a “crystal rock-like substance” that later tested positive for cocaine and ketamine were uncovered from a Gucci bag in the closet, per CNN.

The home was one of several locations in which Diddy was accused of holding “freak-off” parties, which the indictment against him described as “elaborate and produced sex performances” that involved women being coerced into sex and drug abuse.

Diddy’s property on Star Island is actually made up of two homes, which he purchased decades apart.

The first, a nine-bedroom, 12-bathroom mansion, was purchased by the rapper for $14.5 million in 2003. He picked up the second home, which is located next door to his original Miami mansion and has six bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms, for $35 million in 2021.

His second property was previously owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan and includes two buildings, which sit on a 1.34-acre lot.

It is thought that Diddy was planning to use his Miami home as his primary residence had he secured bail—having put his raided Beverly Hills home on the market for $61.5 million just one week before his arrest.

Rosie O’Donnell

The comedian’s former Miami mansion on Star Island was put on the market for $54 million in October 2024—two decades after she sold the home for less than a third of that price.

However, the asking price was lowered to $48 million in March of this year, a move that appears to have lured in a buyer, with the listing now noting that the home is “pending” sale.

The expansive waterfront property, which was listed by Liz Hogan of Compass, sits on an acre and offers 11,000 square feet of living space, as well as a wide variety of extravagant amenities, having undergone an impressive renovation while in the hands of its most recent owners.

O’Donnell purchased the home, which was built in 1923, for $6.75 million in 1999, seven years after she shot to fame while starring as Doris Murphy in the hit 1992 movie “A League of Their Own.”

The jewel of the property is the eight-bedroom, Mediterranean-style main house; however, there are also two smaller guesthouses and a private boathouse on the grounds.

It also features a private dock with a 40,000-pound boat lift and an enormous swimming pool with a water slide.

Jennifer Lopez

The songstress, 55, and her ex-fiance, Alex Rodriguez, snapped up a luxe waterfront home in 2020 for an eye-watering $32.5 million.

The 10-bedroom, 14,7000-square-foot mansion features Biscayne Bay and Miami skyline views. Property highlights include a pool with a spa, covered bar, and private dock.

Although the couple has since split, Lopez appears to still hold the keys to the pad.

Shaquille O’Neal

The basketball legend previously resided in the exclusive area, where he owned an extraordinary 20,000-square-foot mansion.

However, he let go of the eight-bedroom, eight-bath property many years ago, selling it for $16 million in 2009 to developer Doronin, who held on to it for more than 15 years, before deciding to part ways with the home for a record-breaking sum.

Doronin is said to have secured a buyer for the property for a staggering $120 million—making it the most expensive property to have ever been sold in Miami-Dade County at that time.

Reports about the sale suggested that the home had been touted as a potential teardown, suggesting that the sky-high price paid was for the land value alone.

Before O’Neal snapped up the abode, the two-story dwelling was previously owned by Miami heat player Rony Seikaly.

Gloria Estefan

In 2021, Estefan and her husband, Emilio Estefan, finally sold their Star Island abode. After bouncing on and off the market for six years, the waterfront home off Miami Beach closed for a whopping $35 million—with Diddy later revealed as the buyer.

The so-called guesthouse, which had been known as Nena’s Villa, is one of two properties that were owned by the couple on the guard-gated island.

The Estefans live nearby, and had picked up the second residence for Emilio’s mother, according to reports. After her death, the couple rented it out for as much as $30,000 a month before putting it on the market in 2015.

The couple purchased the place in 1993 for $1.8 million and updated it in 1995.

With two homes on the 1.34-acre compound, the property includes six bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, on almost 8,000 square feet.

The bayfront build sits on a corner lot with 240 feet of waterfront and unobstructed views to Biscayne Bay and the downtown Miami skyline.

A two-story, Floridian-style villa is the main house on the property and features open verandas that face the bay.

Details include a white interior, hardwood and marble floors, arched doorways, a living room with a fireplace, separate dining room, and piano room. In addition, a large kitchen boasts luxurious water views.

Toward the front of the property is the separate three-bedroom guesthouse.

The lushly landscaped grounds feature tropical foliage, palms, a resort-style pool and spa, grill area, private dock, and sunset views.

Ken Griffin

Billionaire Citadel founder—and prolific property investor—Ken Griffin is said to have spent the last two years amassing a collection of Star Island abodes worth a reported $169 million.

While Griffin has hidden many of his real estate dealings behind LLCs and various trusts, it’s understood that he has bought up seven contiguous properties that span around 6.5 acres—meaning that he owns more than a quarter of Star Island’s real estate.