Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, along with U.S. President's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, were not accepted into the elite Indian Creek Country Club golf club located on a private island in Florida. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
In February, Bezos, who owns three properties on the island worth approximately $234 million, attended the club's annual event. According to the publication, the businessman hoped to gain support from the club's leadership and receive an offer for membership, but six months later he still did not become a member of the club.
Indian Creek Country Club was founded in 1929 and has about 350 members. The club is located on the artificial Indian Creek island, which has earned the nickname 'billionaires' island' due to its wealthy residents.
To join the club, recommendations from current members and approval from a 15-member board of directors are required. The initial membership fee is about $1 million, and the annual fee is about $44,000.
As noted by WSJ, the Kushners have also been unsuccessfully trying to become club members for several years. The widow of Dolphins coach Don Shula, Mary Ann Shula, hosted a reception on the island to introduce the couple to the club's leadership, but only about half of the board members attended the Kushners' housewarming celebration. According to WSJ, this indicated that there was no intention to grant the couple membership.
Sources from the publication link the club's closed nature to its long-standing members, many of whom represent families that have lived in Miami for several generations. They monitor the influx of new billionaires from technology, finance, and other sectors into South Florida and continue to play a decisive role in the discussion of membership applications.
Owning property on the island does not guarantee membership in the club. Among the island's residents who are not club members, WSJ mentions Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Bezos, and representatives of the Qatari royal family. At the same time, club members include NFL legend Tom Brady and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon.
Realtor Dina Goldentayer noted that Indian Creek Country Club remains an extremely exclusive organization.
“In most communities, when you buy a house, you also become a member of the club, but this community does not operate under that rule,” she stated.
According to a report from Coldwell Banker referenced by WSJ, ultra-wealthy Americans have started purchasing neighboring houses and lots instead of separate mansions, creating private complexes from them.
The document notes that in the first five months of 2026, the demand for luxury residential real estate in the U.S. doubled compared to the same period last year. The number of inquiries for land intended for construction increased by 97%, and interest in private islands and estates more than doubled.
Miami realtor Denny Hertzberg stated that wealthy buyers are using adjacent properties to expand their ownership, provide spaces for staff, create relaxation areas, and ensure privacy. For example, billionaire investor Kenneth Griffin has invested over $450 million in a Palm Beach complex, while Bezos has spent over $230 million acquiring real estate in Indian Creek.
