Ellison, reportedly the fifth richest man in the world, bought the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in South Florida for $277.4 million. Learn more about his other hotel properties here.
Multi-billionaire Larry Ellison, who made his fortune in the software industry as co-founder of Oracle, has also tried his hand at the hotel industry by purchasing several resort and hotel properties in Hawaii, California and Nevada.
His latest hotel purchase in Florida was a huge success. In early August, he paid a record $277.4 million for the 300-plus room Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan, a luxury beachfront property in the affluent city south of Palm Beach.
A few days after the hotel’s land registry was registered on August 13, Forbes estimated Ellison’s fortune at around $170 billion, making him the fifth richest person in the world.
The 3.2-acre Eau Resort and Hotel at 100 S. Ocean Blvd. features two swimming pools, a 40,000-square-foot spa, 30,000 square feet of meeting space and several restaurants.
Ellison, who also owns the largest residential development in Manalapan, bought the Mediterranean-style resort from London-based Lewis Trust Group.
Here’s a look at some of the other resort and hotel properties owned by Ellison.
Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort in Hawaii
During the COVID-19 health crisis, Ellison moved from San Francisco to Hawaii to ride out the pandemic, joining the growing work-from-home trend.
“I have moved to the state of Hawaii and will be using Zoom capabilities to work from the island of Lanai,” he told his staff in December 2020 – signing his email “Mahalo.”
He already had a house in the Pineapple State. In 2012, he bought 98% of the island of Lanai near Maui. Lanai has the distinction of being the smallest inhabited island in Hawaii. There, the billionaire has created an ultra-luxurious destination for visitors – Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons resort.
The adults-only property was designed to provide an atmosphere that promotes health and well-being through special activities, a world-class spa and restaurants including Nobu, part of Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s international chain of award-winning restaurants, the resort’s website says.
Guests can experience “a personalized journey with wellness consultations, spa treatments in a private hall, fitness and wellness classes, lectures and exciting island activities,” the website says.
The programs are guided by what the resort calls “The Sensei Way,” which was developed in part with Dr. David Agus and other health experts and focuses on three “ways to help you become familiar with and maintain the dialogue between your body and mind: movement, nutrition and rest.”
The prices for the cheapest double rooms in September 2024 range from $980 to $1,535 per night and include the flight from Honolulu to Lanai.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Hawaii
Also on Lanai, Ellison owns the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, which is advertised as a five-star, five-diamond property on the southeast coast of the island.
“Spend your days relaxing at our lagoon-like pools, strolling through our botanical gardens and rejuvenating your body and mind at Hawanawana Spa,” the resort’s website states.
“From the rugged highlands to the Hulopoe Bay Marine Reserve, the opportunities for adventure – and relaxation – are endless.”
Like Sensei Lanai, Nobu restaurant also has a location at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai.
For golfers, the resort offers a Jack Nicklaus-designed course on lava rocks. The course “features three holes on cliffs, with the Pacific Ocean acting as a water hazard.”
Prices for the cheapest double occupancy guest rooms range from $1,421 to $2,659 per night in September 2024 (with various perks, including airfare from Honolulu to Lanai).
Sensei Porcupine Creek Resort, California
Modeled after Ellison’s Sensei Lanai and billed as a “desert oasis,” Sensei Porcupine Creek Resort is located on 230 acres in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs.
“The mountain range, part of a nationally protected monument in the Coachella Valley, rises dramatically on the horizon,” the resort’s website states, “and provides a tranquil backdrop” for the property.
Once a private property of Rancho Mirage, the adults-only resort now offers wellness oases with golf and tennis facilities, well-appointed accommodations and spa gardens. The enclave is nestled between the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains.
For dining, Sensei by Nobu is only open to resort guests.
The cheapest guest rooms in September 2024 range from $1,050 to $1,650 per night.
Nobu Ryokan Malibu, California
Described as “Malibu’s most secluded getaway,” Nobu Ryokan is located on the shores of Carbon Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The architecture and service are reminiscent of traditional Japanese-style inns “with California coastal twists,” the hotel’s website says. Nobu restaurant offers views of the Pacific from its outdoor dining area.
The adults-only resort’s 16 rooms and suites offer “understated comfort and luxury of the highest order, with the emphasis on the luxury of exclusivity and privacy.”
Overnight rates start at $2,000, with a minimum stay of two nights.
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto, California
Located in downtown Palo Alto, in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Nobu Hotel Palo Alto was recently renovated, with all guest rooms and suites as well as public areas being completely updated, according to the hotel’s website.
“The hotel’s intimate atmosphere creates a comfortable work space, a gathering place or a quiet place to relax and unwind. For the leisure guest, there are ample opportunities for outdoor activities; from biking through the Bay Area foothills to wine tasting at local vineyards,” the website states.
The hotel has its own Nobu restaurant.
The cheapest double rooms in September 2024 range from 421 to 711 USD per night.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Spa and Casino, Nevada
North Lake Tahoe provides a scenic backdrop for the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Spa and Casino.
“Explore the winding trails of Incline Village, book a treatment at our on-site spa, chase fun at the casino and dine at our award-winning restaurants,” the resort’s website states.
Dining options include Eagle Grille, Cutthroat’s Saloon and Osteria Sierra.
Set in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the resort offers traditional guest rooms and upscale suites. There are also private waterfront cottages with fireplaces, kitchenettes, furnished patios and unobstructed lake views.
The cheapest double rooms in October 2024 ranged from $301 to $436 per night.
Darrell Hofheinz is a journalist with the USA TODAY Network of Florida who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly column, “Beyond the Hedges.” He welcomes tips on island real estate news. Email [email protected], call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
