Real Estate News

Inside Miami’s old mansions: See how and where the richest people lived

By Miami Herald Archives

An oceanfront mansion built by a tire magnate once stood on the site of the Fontainebleau hotel. The Firestone estate is long gone, and so are many other grand homes where the rich and famous once lived, including former ones owned by President Richard Nixon in Key Biscayne and crime figure Al Capone on Palm Island.

Some large homes have been demolished to make way for more modern large homes. Others have been absorbed into public spaces, such as one on Fisher Island and another at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Jeff Bezos, Ivanka Trump and Mark Zuckerberg aren’t the first to build big in Miami.

MORE: A movie about Elon Musk was filmed at this $175M Coral Gables home. Look inside

Let’s take a look at some of the fancy old mansions of South Florida:

Miami Beach

The gardens at the Firestone mansion at 44th Street and Collins Avenue. The home made way for the Fontainebleau hotel in the 1950s.
The gardens at the Firestone mansion at 44th Street and Collins Avenue. The home made way for the Fontainebleau hotel in the 1950s. Miami Herald File
Aerial view of a property, center, that once belonged to Al Capone at 93 Palm Avenue on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Miami Beach.
Aerial view of a property, center, that once belonged to Al Capone at 93 Palm Avenue on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Miami Beach. Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
In 2006, Al Capone’s old home on Palm Island.
In 2006, Al Capone’s old home on Palm Island. Al Diaz Miami Herald File
A mansion on Star Island.
A mansion on Star Island. Miami Herald File
A home on Sunset Islands in Miami Beach.
A home on Sunset Islands in Miami Beach. Miami Herald File
A Sunset Island #2 home valued at $800,000 in the 1980s.
A Sunset Island #2 home valued at $800,000 in the 1980s. Tim Chapman Miami Herald File
In 2001, a home on Sunset Island 1 that was restored at the time.
In 2001, a home on Sunset Island 1 that was restored at the time. Miami Herald File
In 2008, a Sunset island mansion.
In 2008, a Sunset island mansion. Patrick Farrell Miami Herald File
In 2005, this Sunset Island mansion sold for $8 million.
In 2005, this Sunset Island mansion sold for $8 million. Miami Herald File
A home on La Gorce Circle in Miami Beach with tropical landscaped grounds and wrought-iron trimmed terrace that overlooks Indian Creek.
A home on La Gorce Circle in Miami Beach with tropical landscaped grounds and wrought-iron trimmed terrace that overlooks Indian Creek. Miami Herald File
A home at 44th Street and Pine Tree Drive.
A home at 44th Street and Pine Tree Drive. Miami Herald File
In 1999, a home on Pime Tree Drive in Miami Beach.
In 1999, a home on Pime Tree Drive in Miami Beach. Tim Chapman Miami Herald File
This Pine Tree Drive home, built in 1930, sold for $80,000.
This Pine Tree Drive home, built in 1930, sold for $80,000. Miami Herald File
In 1999, a home at 47th Street and Pine Tree Drive.
In 1999, a home at 47th Street and Pine Tree Drive. Tim Chapman Miami Herald File

Indian Creek Village

Indian Creek Village homes along Biscayne Bay in the 1980s, with a golf course in the middle of the island.
Indian Creek Village homes along Biscayne Bay in the 1980s, with a golf course in the middle of the island. Randy Bazemore Miami Herald File
In this 2003 file photo, Coldwell Banker’s Pat Dahne and Carlos Justo in front of an Indian Creek Village home.
In this 2003 file photo, Coldwell Banker’s Pat Dahne and Carlos Justo in front of an Indian Creek Village home. Jose A. Iglesias Miami Herald File

Key Biscayne

A Key Biscayne residents walks past the Nixon residence.
A Key Biscayne residents walks past the Nixon residence. Miami Herald File
In 2003, a waterfront mansion on Key Biscayne.
In 2003, a waterfront mansion on Key Biscayne. Tim Chapman Miami Herald File

Cocoplum

One of the original homes built in Cocoplum in the mid-1920s.
One of the original homes built in Cocoplum in the mid-1920s. Miami Herald File
A home on Paloma Drive in Cocoplum
A home on Paloma Drive in Cocoplum Miami Herald File
In 2006, a Cocoplum home
In 2006, a Cocoplum home C.W. Griffin Miami Herald File

Miami

Halisse Hall, constructed of Miami limestone, its walls eighteen inches thick, was described by its builder, John Sewell, as the "best home in Florida" although "not the most expensive." Flagler's labor superintendent in 1896, Sewell had done well enough by 1910 to buy fourteen acres where much of the Jackson Memorial Hospital Medical School complex is now located. On the highest spot Sewell began this home. The mansion today stands among modern medical buildings that let little sunlight fall upon its pretentious columns.
Halisse Hall, constructed of Miami limestone, its walls eighteen inches thick, was described by its builder, John Sewell, as the "best home in Florida" although "not the most expensive." Flagler's labor superintendent in 1896, Sewell had done well enough by 1910 to buy fourteen acres where much of the Jackson Memorial Hospital Medical School complex is now located. On the highest spot Sewell began this home. The mansion today stands among modern medical buildings that let little sunlight fall upon its pretentious columns. Miami Herald File
A mansion in the 500 block of Northeast 23rd Street in Miami.
A mansion in the 500 block of Northeast 23rd Street in Miami. Bill Sanders Miami Herald File
A bayfront mantion in Miami where President John F. Kkennedy stayed.
A bayfront mantion in Miami where President John F. Kkennedy stayed. Doug Kennedy Miami Herald File

Fisher Island

In 2002, the Vanderbilt Mansion on Fisher Island.
In 2002, the Vanderbilt Mansion on Fisher Island. Marice Cohn Band Miami Herald File

This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 11:45 AM.

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