Miami, FL
The guy who sold his Miami mansion to Jeff Bezos for $79 million is really angry he didn't charge more for it
Leo Kryss sold Jeff Bezos a $79 million Miami mansion. Now, Kryss is filing a lawsuit because he thinks he could have sold it for more, per a Tuesday Wall Street Journal report.
Kryss, the cofounder of Brazilian toy company Tectoy, had listed his seven-bedroom mansion on Indian Creek Island, Miami, for $85 million in May 2023, Business Insider previously reported. The property included a home theater, wine cellar, library, and pool, and neighbored a $68 million three-bedroom house that Bezos purchased in June 2023.
When Kryss was approached with an offer for the property, he had a sneaking suspicion that his new neighbor was behind the sale. The seller said he heard from Jay Parker, the Florida CEO of real estate brokerage Douglas Elliman, who assured Kryss that the Amazon founder was not the buyer and that they would not pay more than $79 million, the Wall Street Journal reported.
After Kryss sold his mansion for $79 million — $6 million below its list price — he learned that the buyer was, in fact, connected to Bezos.
Kryss claimed that knowing Bezos’ intention to acquire adjacent properties would have been “highly material” to his decision-making and that it ultimately cost him $6 million, according to a complaint filed in the Miami-Dade County that the Journal viewed. Kryss is suing Douglas Elliman, which received a commission of over $3 million for handling the property sale.
Douglas Elliman’s Parker explained in an email to Kryss that he was also unaware of Bezos’ identity as the buyer and believed the property was being purchased by the family of Benny Klepach, the mayor of Indian Creek Village, the Journal reported.
Klepach’s daughter, Celine, joined Elliman before the sale closed and earned a commission on the property sale. While Celine Klepach has since left the firm, she and her lawyer denied her involvement in the deal, the Journal reported.
It is not uncommon for high-net-worth buyers to conceal their identities to avoid sellers charging higher price markups, Danny Hertzberg, a real-estate agent at Jills Zeder Group at Coldwell Banker, told the Journal.
Indian Creek, also known as “Billionaire Bunker,” is an exclusive village on a private island in Miami’s Biscayne Bay. It is known for its ultrawealthy residents, including Jeff Bezos, Tom Brady, and Jared Kushner. A total of 41 property lots are wrapped around the Indian Creek Golf Club at the center of the 300-acre island, which doesn’t have beach access.
The island was ranked the most expensive neighborhood in the US by Zillow in 2021 and features heavy security, BI reported in 2023. Bezos owns three properties on the island, with the latest purchased in April for $90 million.
Kryss and Douglas Elliman did not respond to requests for comment sent by BI outside business hours.
Miami, FL
Hollywood residents warn e‑bikes are making Broadwalk more dangerous
Residents in Hollywood are raising concerns about electric bikes and scooters on the city’s popular Broadwalk, despite local ordinances banning motorized devices in the area.
CBS News Miami observed several riders using e‑bikes and scooters along the path on Friday, even though signs clearly prohibit them. Human‑powered bicycles remain common, but residents say the growing presence of e‑bikes makes the area more dangerous.
“It just seems like they are going pretty fast, and it’s amazing that we haven’t had a tragedy,” said George Pancol, who lives nearby.
City rules limit motorized devices
City rules allow only human‑powered devices on the Broadwalk, and riders must operate them safely. Hollywood police told CBS News Miami that violators can receive civil citations.
“It’s tough to enforce it. It would be nice if we could, but you just can’t have someone here 24/7,” Pancol said.
Some riders acknowledge restrictions
Some e‑bike users acknowledge the restrictions.
“I believe we cannot be here, but I know that, and I don’t do that,” said Erika Eias, who rides an e‑bike elsewhere.
Residents like Michel Desilets worry authorities aren’t doing enough.
“I think the authorities accept it. To me, they don’t care too much,” he said.
Accident data shows rising injuries
Hollywood Fire Department data shows there have been 136 bike‑related accidents on the Broadwalk this year.
While the department doesn’t distinguish between traditional bikes and e‑bikes, a source told CBS News Miami that many of the trauma injuries involve electric bikes.
Miami, FL
The team behind a very popular NYC pizzeria is opening a new spot in Miami
New York has never been shy about sending heavy hitters south for the winter and a new concept from the team behind Roberta’s—the cult-favorite Brooklyn pizzeria—just landed in North Beach. Ezio’s is the first new venture for the team, and it’s on track to be a hit.
Roberta’s is a bona fide NYC institution. The hip pizzeria known for its wood-fired, blistered Neapolitan-style pies has earned nods from critics and diners alike as one of the best and most influential restaurants in America. Roberta’s has outposts in Nashville, Culver City and even Singapore.
Although the pizzeria is clearly no stranger to expansion, Ezio’s is an entirely new concept. It was introduced in 2024 as a pop-up inside the original Roberta’s in Bushwick, and now it will have a permanent location right here in Miami.
Opening December 19 on the ground floor of North Beach’s sleek new 72 Park tower, Ezio’s reimagines Italian hospitality through a Miami lens. Co-owners Brandon Hoy and chef Carlo Mirarchi (the latter naming the restaurant in tribute to his father) have traded pizza ovens for white tablecloths and upscale food.
A raw bar featuring locally-sourced seafood anchors the menu with stone crab claws and wild-caught fin fish crudo. Luxe starters include wagyu carpaccio with husk cherries and caviar and honey mango wrapped in prosciutto. House-made pastas include linguine cacio e pepe with winter truffle, and pappardelle with braised veal and parmigiano Reggiano.
But the showstopper is the custom dry-aging program, which includes a 55-day dry-aged Kansas City steak and a 90-day dry-aged bone-in wagyu strip. The lineup calls out for meals of celebratory excess.
The cocktail program is just as impressive, with tableside martinis customizable with caviar or oysters, of course. Signatures like the Honeydew Spritz and Alpine Italian Boulevard are bright but grown-up, while a 110-plus-label wine list covers Italy, France, Portugal, Argentina and California.
The setting is glamorous, with dark woods, velvet, burgundy banquettes and moody lighting. This isn’t the casual vibe of Roberta’s, but it’s set to be something just as buzzy, and North Beach is ready to welcome the team.
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Miami, FL
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