In this episode, we sit down with legendary Miami developer Gil Dezer, the force behind Porsche Design Tower, Armani Residences, and the upcoming Bentley building. Gil opens up about hustling through high school and college, selling condos and timeshares before joining his father’s real estate empire and leading the charge himself. 

He walks us through the Dezer family story from his father immigrating from Israel in the 60s, building a typesetting business, then becoming one of the biggest owners in Chelsea before assembling oceanfront land in Sunny Isles starting in the 1980s.

Gil shares the raw truth of surviving the 2008 crash, when he owed $475 million and no buyers showed up for closings. By 2011, he had paid off every lender and officially took over Dezer Development.

We get into his first big project, Trump International, and how it led to iconic brand partnerships like Porsche, Armani, and Bentley. Gil also breaks down the creation of the Dezervator, the patented car elevator, and why he maintains patents in all countries. 

Beyond real estate, we dive into Gil’s passions: the Gumball 3000 rally (which he’s driven 13+ times), his 32-car collection, and breaking both legs, and how him and his father are both collectors. 

Connect with us

Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?
It’s our favorite topic and we’re always up for a good conversation. Whether you're just exploring or already making big moves, feel free to reach out at info@builtworldadvisors.com or give us a call at 305.498.9410.

Prefer to connect online? Find us on LinkedIn or Instagram - we’re always open to expanding the conversation.

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We extend our sincere gratitude to Büro coworking space for generously granting us the opportunity to record all our podcasts at any of their 8 convenient locations across South Florida.