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Even a net worth in the hundreds of dollars and lavish mansions on "Billionaire Bunker" do not guarantee Silicon Valley and Washington elites entry into the ultra-exclusive Indian Creek Country Club.

In February, Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, attended the annual dockside party at the Indian Creek Country Club as special guests, where club members gathered to meet the famous entrepreneur, The Wall Street Journal reports.

This nearly century-old elite club is located in the heart of Indian Creek—a private island home to so many ultra-wealthy individuals that it is informally known as the "Billionaire Bunker." The club grounds feature a private golf course, a Mediterranean villa-style clubhouse, and a swimming pool overlooking the bay and the Miami skyline. According attendees, white-clad club members played croquet on the lawn overlooking Biscayne Bay that day.

As event participants shared, Jeff Bezos went there hoping to convince the board of directors to admit him to the club. The founder of Amazon, one of the richest people on the planet, owns three properties on Indian Creek Island, having spent a total of about $234 million on their purchase (according to public records).

He actively mingled with club members, maintaining casual conversations. Several club members who have relocated to or spend time in South Florida lined up to shake Bezos' hand, including real estate mogul Richard LeFrak and businessman Eddie Lampert. Nevertheless, to secure membership, Bezos will have to win over club old-timers whose roots span generations.

Six months later, Bezos still has not received an invitation to join the club.

Old Guard vs. New Tech Titans

Florida has turned into one of the world's major magnets for billionaires flying private jets. According to IRS data analyzed by the Miami Realtors +RWorld association, between 2019 and 2023 the state drew $137 billion in income from relocated citizens—nearly four times more than second-place Texas.

When the club was founded in 1929, Miami was just beginning to transform into a booming real estate hub. Since then, the club has catered to the cream of society spending time in South Florida, alongside famous residents like Julio Iglesias.

At the same time, owning property on the island does not guarantee club membership, and those living outside it can also apply. Access to the island itself is restricted strictly by invitation from a homeowner or club member. Outside residents on the island can admire the golf course from their windows, but have no right to play on it without club approval.

Indian Creek represents one of South Florida's prime battlefields where newly minted billionaires clash with members of more modest, yet historically rooted local families.

"In most communities, you buy a house and automatically become a club member, but that rule doesn't work here," notes Dina Goldentayer, a real estate agent who has sold homes on the island. "This is the most exclusive community of private homes and the most exclusive private club."

Six members of the admissions committee evaluate candidates. Then a 15-person board of directors, led by club president and former AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson, holds a vote.

These elders have watched global tech, finance, and real estate leaders flood South Florida, drawn by low taxes. They take over the best restaurants, elite schools, and snap up the most attractive waterfront real estate.

Now the old guard—many of whom are retired—is putting up a final fight against what they view as billionaire interlopers. They act as the gatekeepers of the Indian Creek Country Club and do not hand out memberships to every wealthy newcomer who walks by.

The wealth and influence of this old guard are colossal—except when compared with new island residents, among them Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, Jeff Bezos, the Qatari royal family, and Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg. None of them belong to the club.

As a defensive measure, club members attempted to amend the bylaws to raise the threshold of votes required to approve club real estate deals, several residents shared. It was a tactical move designed to ensure no tech mogul could simply write a billion-dollar check and disrupt their private paradise, though the amendment failed.

Membership in the club, which has around 350 members, costs an initiation fee of about $1 million and annual dues of roughly $44,000.

The Long Siege and Kingdom Rules

Admission to this kingdom typically requires a lengthy courtship. It starts with sponsorship from two current members and recommendation letters from five more. Candidates must then mingle with residents at club events, attend cocktail parties, and hit the golf course.

Like many private clubs, success depends on striking the right chord with residents. High social status and global fame do not guarantee success—on the contrary, excessive wealth or publicity is often a deterrent.

Traditionally, the club's roster included local doctors, developers, entrepreneurs, lawyers, financiers like Carl Icahn, influential politicians (such as former Senate Democratic Leader Howard Baker), and sports legends (like basketball coach Rick Pitino).

Beyond prestige, celebrities and the ultra-wealthy value the club for ironclad security. The Indian Creek village is an independent municipality with its own legislation. The 300-acre island can only be reached by water or via a single guarded bridge, and it operates its own police force. A massive portion of the land belongs to the club, forming a citadel with a natural moat of crystal-clear water.

Some new residents, such as Jersey Mike's founder Peter Cancro and NFL legend Tom Brady, managed to join the club without issue. But others had a rough time.

The Kushners' Trial and Sewage-Line Diplomacy

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump bought a lot on the island and turned a Spanish villa into a modern mansion. Mary Anne Shula, widow of legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula, sponsored the couple and even hosted a cocktail party at her home to introduce them to the board. However, when the Kushners hosted their own housewarming party, only half the board showed up. The signal was crystal clear: the path to the club was closed to them.

Bypassing the club gates can prove difficult even for Wall Street titans. When Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon broached the subject of joining, a club member even organized a petition against his candidacy. Ultimately, Solomon did receive membership, though he keeps to himself and lives in New York.

The Qatari royal family also owns a mansion on the island, and one of the princes was spotted playing golf with Tom Brady.

Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Aaron Rollins, who built a home on the island, put his unfinished estate up for sale for $200 million after four unsuccessful years trying to join the club. Four months later, Mark Zuckerberg bought the unfinished property for a record $170 million.

"After living there for a while, I realized it wasn't the best neighborhood to raise a family," Dr. Rollins admitted.

Meanwhile, the Kushners have not given up hope. Jared took on the role of unofficial emissary for President Trump, handling backchannel geopolitical negotiations over conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and around Iran. But he applied his diplomatic skills within the island as well, becoming a member of the Indian Creek village council.

His diplomacy regarding fixing the outdated sewage system that had polluted Biscayne Bay waters for years bore fruit: a new sewage pumping station will be built opposite Kushner's house, and the club will allow landscaping work for the golf course.

Additionally, the couple has mended relationships with the local community by attending club events, and Ivanka plays golf with other members. Judging by current sentiments at the club, having secured victories on both political and social fronts, the Kushners are finally closing in on coveted membership.

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