Multi-billionaire Larry Ellison, who made his fortune in the software industry by co-founding Oracle, also has dipped his hands into the hospitality industry with the purchase of several resort and hotel properties in Hawaii, California and Nevada.
His most recent hotel buy was a Florida whopper. In early August, he paid a recorded $277.4 million for the 300-plus-room, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan, a luxury beachfront property in the wealthy town south of Palm Beach.
A few days after the deed for the hotel was recorded Aug. 13, Ellison’s wealth was estimated by Forbes to be around $170 billion, making him the fifth-richest person on the planet.
The 8-acre Eau resort and hotel at 100 S. Ocean Blvd. features two swimming pools, a 42,000-square-foot spa, 32,000 square feet of meeting space and several restaurants.
Ellison, who also owns the largest residential estate in Manalapan, bought the Mediterranean-style resort from the London-based Lewis Trust Group.
Here’s a look at some of the other resort and hotel properties owned by Ellison.
Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons resortin Hawaii
During the COVID-19 health crisis, Ellison moved from San Francisco to Hawaii to weather the pandemic, joining the burgeoning work-from-home trend.
“I’ve moved to the state of Hawaii and I’ll be using the power of Zoom to work from the island of Lanai,” he told his employees in December 2020 — and signed off on his email: “Mahalo.”
He already had a home in the Pineapple State. In 2012, he bought 98% of the island of Lanai near Maui. Lanai has the distinction of being the smallest inhabited island in Hawaii.There, the billionaire has createdan ultra-luxe destination for visitors — Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons resort.
The adult-only property was designed to offer anatmosphere that would promote health and wellness through specialized activities, a world-class spa and dining, including Nobu, part of Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's international chain of award-winning restaurants, the resort’s website says.
Guests can experience “a personalized journey featuring wellness consultations, spa treatments in a private hale, fitness and well-being classes, lectures and exciting island activities,” according to the website.
The programs are guided by what the resort calls “The Sensei Way,” developed in part with Dr. David Agus and other health experts to focus on three “paths that help you get familiar with and maintain a conversation with your body and mind: movement, nourishment and rest.”
Rates for the lowest priced, double-occupancy guest rooms for September 2024 range from $980 to $1,535 per night, and included airfare from Honolulu to Lanai.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Hawaii
Also on Lanai, Ellison owns the Four Seasons Resort Lanai,which is promoted as a five-star, five-diamond property on the island’s southeastern coast.
“Spend your days lounging by our lagoon-style pools, strolling our botanical gardens (and) reconnecting body and spirit at Hawanawana Spa, the resort’s website says.
“From the rugged uplands to the aquatic sanctuary of Hulopoe Bay, the opportunities for adventure — and relaxation — are endless."
As at Sensei Lanai, Nobu restaurant also has a location at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai.
For golfers, the resort has a course built on lava outcroppings and designed by Jack Nicklaus. The course "features three holes perched on cliffs, enlisting the Pacific Ocean as a water hazard.”
Rates for the lowest priced, double-occupancy guest rooms for September 2024 range from $1,421 to $2,659 per night (with a variety of perks, including airfare from Honolulu to Lanai.)
Sensei Porcupine Creek resort, California
Patterned after Ellison’s Sensei Lanai, the Sensei Porcupine Creek resort is promoted as a “desert oasis,” with its setting among 230 acres inthe foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs.
“The mountain range, part of a nationally protected monument in the Coachella Valley, rises dramatically on the horizon,” the resort’s website says, “creating a tranquil backdrop” for the property.
The adults-only resort was once a private Rancho Mirage estate. It now offers wellness retreats with golf and tennis facilities, well-appointed accommodations and spa gardens. The enclave is tucked between the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains.
For dining, Sensei by Nobu isopen only to resort guests.
Rates for the lowest-priced guest rooms for September 2024 range from $1,050 to $1,650 per night.
Nobu Ryokan Malibu, California
Billed as “Malibu’s most secluded hideaway,” Nobu Ryokan sits on the shores of Carbon Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The architecture and service nod at traditional Japanese-style inns “with coastal California nuances,” according to the property’s website.The Nobu restaurant affords views of the Pacific from its outdoor dining area.
The adults-only resort’s 16 rooms and suitesoffer “low-key comfort and high-end indulgence where the luxuries of exclusivity and privacy are foremost.”
Nightly rates start at $2,000 with a two-night minimum.
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto, California
In downtown Palo Alto at the heart of Silicon Valley, Nobu Hotel Palo Alto recently underwent a refurbishment that included all of the guest rooms and suites as well as fully refreshed public spaces, according to its website.
“The intimate feel of the hotel creates a comfortable work space, gathering venue, or quiet space to relax and recharge. For the leisure guest the access to outdoor activities is abundant; from cycling through the foothills of the Bay Area to sampling wine at the local vineyards,” the website says.
The hotel has a Nobu restaurant on site.
Rates for the lowest priced double-occupancy guest rooms for September 2024 range from $421 to $711 per night.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Spa and Casino, Nevada
North Lake Tahoe provides a scenic backdrop for the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Spa and Casino.
“Explore Incline Village’s winding trails, book a service at our on-site spa, chase fun at the casino and dine at our award-winning restaurants,” the resort’s website says.
Dining options include Eagle Grille, Cutthroat’s Saloon and Osteria Sierra.
In the Sierra Nevada mountains, the resort offers traditional guest rooms and higher-end suites. There also are private waterfront cottages, with fireplaces, kitchenettes, furnished patios and unobstructed views of the lake.
Rates for the lowest-priced, double-occupancy guest rooms for October 2024 ranged from $301 to $436 per night.
Darrell Hofheinz is aUSA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly “Beyond the Hedges” column. He welcomes tipsabout real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz. Subscribe todaytosupport our journalism.
