Michael Dezer: The Bus Driver's Son Who Built Sunny Isles

Michael Dezer (born Michael Dezertzov, April 1, 1941, Tel Aviv) is the founder of Dezer Properties and the patriarch of the family that owns more oceanfront real estate in Sunny Isles Beach than any other private entity. Israeli Air Force veteran. Son of a bus driver. Billionaire.

Michael Dezer grew up in a working-class Tel Aviv family, served in the Israeli Air Force, and emigrated to the United States, where he built a New York real estate portfolio before pivoting to South Florida in the 1990s. His New York holdings include over twenty properties, the Simon Dezer Building on Fifth Avenue, the Dezerland building, the Chelsea Antiques Building, Chelsea Design Center, and Chelsea Arts Forum.

Michael Dezer's 1995 Bet on Sunny Isles Beach: 27 Oceanfront Acres That Created a Dynasty

In 1995, Michael Dezer began acquiring oceanfront hotel properties in Sunny Isles Beach, then a faded mid-market beach town north of Miami Beach. The properties included the Dezerland Beach Resort and Spa, the Suez, the Thunderbird, the Driftwood, the Monaco, and the Golden Nugget. He accumulated 27 oceanfront acres, an irreplaceable land position on a barrier island where new beachfront land cannot be created.

Michael Dezer's bet was that Sunny Isles would gentrify. International luxury buyers, Israeli, Latin American, Russian, European, would follow the developers who built for them. Michael Dezer provided the land. Donald Trump provided the brand for the first six towers. Gil Dezer provided the next-generation vision, Porsche, Armani, Bentley.

Three decades later, Sunny Isles Beach is one of the most concentrated luxury condo corridors in the United States, and one of the anchors of the wider Florida–Israel real estate footprint that runs from Sunny Isles through Fisher Island to West Palm Beach.

Michael Dezer's Car Collection: More Than 1,000 Vehicles and a Museum That Doubles as a Brand

Michael Dezer is one of the world's most prolific private car collectors. In a Forbes profile of the collection, Dezer showed off more than 1,000 vehicles worth an estimated $30 million at the time: American classics, rare European models, Hollywood "star cars" including the Batmobile and the DeLorean from Back to the Future, microcars, a 70-strong Vespa collection he calls the world's largest, and a run of James Bond props and vehicles including a Soviet T-55 tank from GoldenEye. He has been collecting for decades, with a self-described philosophy: "If I see something I like, I buy it."

The museum is a commercial tourist attraction, but it is also a brand extension: the Michael Dezer name is synonymous with cars and real estate in South Florida. The same family that builds sky garages into 60-story towers maintains a museum-scale automotive collection on the ground.

Michael Dezer's Israeli Roots, American Scale, Florida Address

Michael Dezer is a long-time supporter of American and Israeli charities. His wife Neomi (née Kerekes) is also Israeli. Their three children, Gil Dezer, Leslie Dezer Salmon, and Estee Dezer Gurwitz, all participate in the family business. The Michael Dezer story is a canonical Israeli-American builder narrative: Tel Aviv origins, military service, emigration, New York hustle, Florida land play, generational wealth transfer, and part of the broader pattern documented in Florida Is Israel's New American Address.

Michael Dezer retains development rights to additional Sunny Isles Beach properties beyond the 27 acres already built out, meaning the Dezer pipeline is not finished. At 85, Michael Dezer remains active in the business while Gil runs day-to-day development operations.

Michael Dezer: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Michael Dezer?

Michael Dezer (born Michael Dezertzov, April 1, 1941, Tel Aviv) is an Israeli-American real estate developer and founder of Dezer Properties. He owns 27 oceanfront acres in Sunny Isles Beach, more than any other private entity on that stretch of coast. Israeli Air Force veteran. Father of Gil Dezer.

How much oceanfront land does Michael Dezer own?

27 acres of oceanfront property in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, an irreplaceable position on a barrier island. Accumulated starting in 1995 when Sunny Isles was a mid-market beach town.

What is Michael Dezer's net worth?

Michael Dezer is a billionaire, though his exact net worth is not published by Forbes or Bloomberg. His holdings include 27 oceanfront acres in Sunny Isles Beach, 20+ New York properties, and a car collection Forbes estimated at $30 million in 2013 (since grown considerably).

What is the Dezer Collection?

Michael Dezer's private car collection, numbering more than 1,000 vehicles as of a 2013 Forbes profile. Includes American classics, European rarities, Hollywood star cars, and Bond-franchise vehicles and props.

Is Michael Dezer Israeli?

Yes. Born in Tel Aviv in 1941 as Michael Dezertzov. Served in the Israeli Air Force. Emigrated to the United States. His wife Neomi is also Israeli.

What is Michael Dezer's relationship to Gil Dezer?

Michael Dezer is Gil Dezer's father. Michael founded Dezer Properties and acquired the 27-acre Sunny Isles land bank. Gil Dezer runs Dezer Development and built Porsche Design Tower, Armani/Casa, and Bentley Residences on the family's land.