Miami is a city built on water, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Biscayne Bay, where a constellation of man-made islands rises from the turquoise shallows like private kingdoms. These islands, some barely larger than a city block, represent the absolute pinnacle of luxury living in one of the most glamorous cities on earth. Behind their gated entrances and private security forces live billionaires, celebrities, music moguls and international power brokers who have chosen these addresses precisely because they offer something almost impossible to find in modern life: true privacy combined with extraordinary beauty.
Star Island and Fisher Island are the two names most synonymous with this ultra-exclusive lifestyle. Together, they represent different facets of the same extraordinary coin. Star Island is visible, dramatic and celebrity-studded, sitting in plain view just off the MacArthur Causeway. Fisher Island is hidden, members-only and accessible solely by private ferry, yacht or helicopter. Both are among the most expensive residential enclaves in the United States, and their histories, residents and real estate values tell a compelling story about what it means to live at the very top in Miami.
For visitors staying in a Jatina Group luxury villa, these islands represent the aspirational zenith of the Miami lifestyle. While you may not walk their private streets, you can view them from the water, learn their fascinating histories and understand the world they represent. This guide takes you inside both islands, along with nearby Palm Island, Hibiscus Island and the legendary Indian Creek, known as the 'Billionaire Bunker.'
Star Island is a man-made island in Biscayne Bay, located just south of the Venetian Islands and east of Palm and Hibiscus Islands. Completed in 1922 by the Army Corps of Engineers, the island was created by dredging sand from the bay floor, part of Carl Fisher's ambitious vision to transform the marshy waters of Biscayne Bay into the luxury real estate capital of the world.
The island spans approximately 86 acres and contains roughly 30 private residences, each sitting on substantial waterfront lots with private docks, swimming pools, tennis courts and manicured tropical landscaping. The name 'Star Island' is thought to have originated from the fact that many of its homes have historically been owned by celebrities and high-profile individuals, giving the island its star-studded reputation.
According to Bloomberg, Star Island is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United States. Properties here rarely appear on the open market, and when they do, they command prices that make even seasoned real estate observers pause. A single home sold in 2023 for $57 million, and that property was reportedly purchased as a potential teardown to make way for an even more opulent build. Another property, acquired by Russian billionaire Vlad Doronin, reportedly traded for over $50 million. Currently, the rare listing that does appear typically starts in the $40 to $50 million range.
Celebrity Residents: Past and Present
Star Island's resident list reads like a who's who of entertainment, sports and business. While many purchases are hidden behind LLCs and trusts to protect owner identities, several high-profile residents are publicly known.
The culture of privacy on Star Island is intense. The island is gated, with a staffed guardhouse at the single entrance point accessible from the MacArthur Causeway. Non-residents cannot drive onto the island without being pre-approved by a resident. The streets are patrolled, and the atmosphere is one of quiet, controlled exclusivity. Even the landscaping is designed to shield homes from view, with tall hedges, walls and tropical foliage creating layers of visual privacy.
If Star Island is the visible symbol of Miami's island luxury, Fisher Island is its invisible counterpart. Located at the southern tip of Miami Beach, separated from the mainland by Government Cut (the shipping channel that connects the Port of Miami to the Atlantic), Fisher Island is accessible only by private ferry, yacht or helicopter. There are no bridges. There is no public access. And for the approximately 800 residents who call it home, that is exactly the point.
Fisher Island's zip code, 33109, has repeatedly been named the most expensive in the United States. According to Realtor.com, the median listing price on the island is approximately $11.9 million, nearly 27 times the national median. The top ten percent of listings can reach $35 million, and new construction like the Links Estates development features 12 single-family homes starting at $30 million. The average home value, according to Zillow, is approximately $6.3 million.
The Legendary Vanderbilt Trade
Fisher Island's origin story is one of Miami's most remarkable tales. The island is named after Carl Fisher, the same developer who created Star Island and much of Miami Beach. In 1927, Fisher met William Kissam Vanderbilt II, an avid sportsman and heir to one of America's great fortunes. Fisher, who admired Vanderbilt's 265-foot yacht, the Eagle, proposed what has become the most famous real estate trade in Miami history: 'My island for your boat.' Vanderbilt accepted, and the legendary swap was completed for seven acres of Fisher's holdings on the island plus a nominal $1 exchange.
Vanderbilt expanded his holdings to approximately 13 acres and commissioned renowned West Palm Beach architect Maurice Fatio to design a Mediterranean-style winter mansion for himself and his wife, Rosamund. The $1.5 million estate (an extraordinary sum in the 1930s) included lush gardens, guest homes, an aviary, a lap pool, an airplane hangar, a boathouse, tennis courts and servants' quarters. The mansion was completed in 1936 and remained the centerpiece of the island for decades.
Fisher Island Today
Today's Fisher Island is a private residential community centered around the Fisher Island Club, an equity club that became member-owned in 1993. The Vanderbilt Mansion has been meticulously restored as part of a $60 million renovation completed in 2013, and it now serves as a social and dining centerpiece for members and guests.
The island's amenities read like a luxury resort catalog:
The private ferry, which departs from the Fisher Island Ferry Terminal on the mainland side of Government Cut, runs continuously throughout the day. Only residents, their authorized guests and service providers are permitted to board. The ferry ride takes approximately seven minutes and deposits passengers on an island that feels more like a tropical private resort than a neighborhood within the city of Miami Beach.
Just to the west of Star Island, connected to the mainland via the MacArthur Causeway, sit Palm Island and Hibiscus Island. These two man-made islands, created in 1918 by the Army Corps of Engineers under the direction of Carl Fisher, share Star Island's Biscayne Bay location but have their own distinct character and history.
Palm Island
Palm Island spans approximately 55 acres and is home to a mix of luxury residences and the former Palm Island estate of Al Capone, who lived (and died) on the island. Capone's home at 93 Palm Avenue has since been demolished, but the site remains a point of historical interest. Today, Palm Island properties range from waterfront estates to newer construction, with prices typically ranging from the high single-digit millions to over $30 million for prime waterfront lots. The island is gated but accessible via the MacArthur Causeway, and its slightly larger size and broader mix of home styles give it a somewhat less rarified atmosphere than Star Island.
Hibiscus Island
Hibiscus Island, spanning approximately 65 acres, sits between Palm Island and the mainland. It is the most accessible of the three MacArthur Causeway islands and has a slightly more diverse residential character, with a mix of modern mansions, older homes and renovated properties. Hibiscus Island has attracted notable residents over the years, including Barbara Walters. Home prices range broadly, from the low millions for smaller properties to $20 million or more for prime waterfront estates. Like its neighbors, Hibiscus Island offers bay views, private docks and a lifestyle built around water and privacy.
Together, Palm, Hibiscus and Star Islands form a trio that represents the MacArthur Causeway corridor's evolution from reclaimed marshland to some of the most coveted real estate in the hemisphere.
No discussion of Miami's exclusive islands is complete without mentioning Indian Creek Island, located in upper Biscayne Bay between Miami Beach and the mainland city of Aventura. Known worldwide as the 'Billionaire Bunker,' Indian Creek is arguably the most secure and private residential enclave in the United States.
The island contains just 41 residential lots, each offering substantial waterfront footage on Biscayne Bay. The entire community is centered around a private golf course and country club. Security is extraordinary: a single guarded bridge provides the only land access, and a private police force of approximately 15 officers patrols both land and water 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The village's motto, 'Protect. Serve.,' reflects its devotion to privacy and safety.
Who Lives on Indian Creek?
The resident list at Indian Creek has attracted global attention in recent years, particularly after several high-profile arrivals:
Indian Creek represents the ultimate expression of the Miami private-island lifestyle: total security, world-class amenities, waterfront living and a neighbor list that reads like a Forbes ranking. For the ultra-high-net-worth individuals who call it home, the island provides something that is increasingly difficult to find anywhere in the world: genuine privacy at a grand scale.
While you cannot simply drive onto Star Island, Fisher Island or Indian Creek without authorization, there are several ways to experience these islands and appreciate them from the outside.
Boat Tours
The most popular way to see Star Island, Palm Island, Hibiscus Island and the exterior of Fisher Island is by boat. Numerous tour operators depart from Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami and from Miami Beach Marina, offering narrated cruises through Biscayne Bay that pass directly by the islands. These 'Millionaire's Row' boat tours typically last 60 to 90 minutes and cost between $25 and $40 per person. Guides point out celebrity homes, share historical anecdotes and provide context about the islands' development. For a more private experience, you can charter a yacht through Jatina Group's concierge service and cruise the bay on your own schedule.
Helicopter Tours
For an aerial perspective, helicopter tours offer breathtaking views of the entire island chain. Several operators depart from Watson Island and Miami Executive Airport, with flights covering Star Island, Fisher Island, Indian Creek, South Beach and the Miami skyline. A typical 15 to 20 minute flight costs between $150 and $300 per person.
Yacht Charters
Private yacht charters provide the most exclusive way to experience Miami's islands. A half-day or full-day charter allows you to cruise through Biscayne Bay at your own pace, anchor near the islands for photos, swim in the bay and enjoy lunch or sunset cocktails on the water. Jatina Group's concierge team can arrange yacht charters of various sizes, from intimate sailboats to multi-deck motor yachts, complete with catering, a captain and crew.
The MacArthur Causeway Drive
Even without a boat, driving across the MacArthur Causeway (which connects downtown Miami to South Beach) offers views of Star Island, Palm Island and Hibiscus Island. The causeway passes directly past the islands, and their gated entrances are visible from the road. While you cannot enter the gates, the view from the causeway, especially at sunset, gives a sense of the scale and beauty of these waterfront estates.
Understanding the real estate values on these islands provides essential context for appreciating their exclusivity.
These numbers reflect not just the physical attributes of the properties, including waterfront footage, square footage and architectural quality, but also the intangible value of privacy, security, exclusivity and the cachet of an address that signals membership in a very small, very select club.
Star Island, Fisher Island and Indian Creek are more than real estate. They are symbols of what Miami has become in the twenty-first century: a global destination for wealth, culture, beauty and ambition. The migration of tech billionaires, entertainment moguls, professional athletes and international business leaders to these islands over the past decade has cemented Miami's status as one of the world's premier luxury markets.
For visitors, these islands represent the aspirational peak of the Miami experience. The same Biscayne Bay that surrounds Star Island laps at the docks of luxury villas throughout Miami Beach and the Venetian Islands. The same sunsets that paint Fisher Island in gold illuminate the pools of waterfront estates in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. The lifestyle that these islands embody, private, beautiful, unhurried, surrounded by water and light, is available to anyone who chooses to experience Miami at its best.
And that is perhaps the most important thing to understand about Miami's private islands: they are not separate from the city. They are the city's highest expression. The luxury, the privacy, the connection to the water, these are qualities that define the broader Miami lifestyle, and they are qualities that guests of Jatina Group experience every day in villas throughout the metro area.
Can you drive onto Star Island?
No. Star Island is gated with a staffed guardhouse at the single vehicle entrance off the MacArthur Causeway. Only residents and their pre-approved guests are permitted to enter by vehicle. The most accessible way to see the island is from the water via a boat tour or yacht charter.
How do you get to Fisher Island?
Fisher Island is accessible only by private ferry, yacht or helicopter. The Fisher Island Ferry operates from a terminal on the mainland side of Government Cut and is restricted to residents, their authorized guests and service providers. There is no public bridge or road access.
Who are the most famous residents of Star Island?
Publicly known current and recent residents include Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Shaquille O'Neal, Phillip Frost and Rosie O'Donnell. Past residents have included Don Johnson. Many owners use LLCs and trusts to maintain anonymity.
What is Fisher Island's zip code, and why is it famous?
Fisher Island's zip code is 33109, and it has been named the most expensive zip code in the United States. The median listing price is approximately $11.9 million, roughly 27 times the national median. The combination of extreme privacy, luxury amenities and limited supply drives these extraordinary values.
What is the Billionaire Bunker?
The Billionaire Bunker is the nickname for Indian Creek Island, a man-made island in upper Biscayne Bay with just 41 residential lots, a private golf course and its own police force. Residents include Jeff Bezos, Tom Brady and other ultra-high-net-worth individuals. It is considered one of the most exclusive and secure residential communities in the world.
Can you take a boat tour past Star Island?
Yes. Several boat tour operators depart from Bayside Marketplace and Miami Beach Marina, offering narrated Millionaire's Row cruises that pass Star Island, Palm Island and Hibiscus Island. Tours typically last 60 to 90 minutes and cost $25 to $40 per person. Private yacht charters offer a more exclusive experience.
How much does a house on Star Island cost?
Properties on Star Island rarely appear on the open market, but recent sales have ranged from approximately $30 million to over $57 million. Many transactions are conducted off-market. One property recently listed at $48 million was already under contract before broad market exposure.
What happened at the Vanderbilt Mansion on Fisher Island?
The Vanderbilt Mansion was built in 1936 for William Kissam Vanderbilt II, who acquired the island in a legendary 1927 trade: his 265-foot yacht for Carl Fisher's island. The Mediterranean-style mansion was designed by architect Maurice Fatio and served as the Vanderbilt family's winter retreat. It has been meticulously restored and now serves as a social and dining venue for Fisher Island Club members.
Are Palm Island and Hibiscus Island also gated?
Palm Island has a gated entrance, though access protocols vary. Hibiscus Island is the most accessible of the three MacArthur Causeway islands. Both are residential communities with security measures in place, though they are not as restrictive as Star Island or Indian Creek.
Can I stay on Fisher Island as a visitor?
Fisher Island Club offers hotel accommodations for guests of members. If you know a member who can sponsor your visit, you may be able to stay in one of the island's hotel rooms or guest suites and access the club's amenities, including the golf course, tennis center, spa and restaurants.
Miami's private islands represent the ultimate in luxury living, but you do not need a $50 million estate to experience the waterfront lifestyle that defines this city. Jatina Group's portfolio of luxury villas includes stunning waterfront properties throughout Miami's most desirable neighborhoods, from the Venetian Islands and Sunset Islands (Star Island's direct neighbors) to North Bay Road, Miami Beach, Coral Gables and beyond.
Imagine returning from a sunset yacht cruise past Star Island to your own private villa on the Venetian Islands, where a heated pool, waterfront terrace and the services of a 24/7 concierge team await. That is the Jatina Group experience. Our concierge can arrange yacht charters for Biscayne Bay island tours, book helicopter flights for aerial photography of the islands, secure reservations at Miami's finest restaurants and coordinate every detail of your stay.
Whether you are drawn to the celebrity glamour of Star Island, the old-world elegance of Fisher Island or the quiet power of Indian Creek, a Jatina Group villa places you at the center of the lifestyle these islands represent, with the privacy, space and service that make a Miami vacation truly extraordinary.