NASA administrator Jared Isaacman defended billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos for their contributions to space exploration, dismissing criticism about their wealth.

An opinion piece explores Jeff Bezos's decision to delay Amazon's launch, driven by his reflection on future knowledge and life choices, and what he did instead.

Elon Musk and Walmart heirs experienced wealth gains in the first quarter, while other prominent billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Mark Zuckerberg saw stock losses.

This article reviews the best and worst fashion looks worn by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos in 2026, highlighting their continuing efforts to elevate their style.

Five prominent leaders in the technology sector, including Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin, have collectively lost nearly $200 billion from their net worth this year due to stock performance.

An opinion piece explores four strategies Jeff Bezos employed to overcome overestimating risks and underestimating opportunities in his business ventures.

Jeff Bezos is reportedly in preliminary discussions to raise $100 billion for a new fund that would acquire manufacturing companies and accelerate their transition to automation using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Jeff Bezos's company, Blue Origin, intends to launch 55,000 satellites into Earth's orbit, a move that could benefit the planet but also significantly increase the already concerning congestion in space.

Jeff Bezos' ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, has reportedly made another significant philanthropic donation, continuing her pattern of record-setting gifts.

Compania aerospaţială a lui Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin, a depus joi o cerere la Comisia Federală de Comunicaţii din SUA (FCC) pentru a lansa până la 51.600 de sateliţi în scopul amplasării unor centre…

Equinix has announced the start of construction for a new data centre in Blanchardstown, Dublin, which is designed to operate without requiring additional power from the grid.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly in early discussions to raise as much as $100 billion for a new investment vehicle, Project Prometheus, aimed at acquiring and revitalizing manufacturing companies using artificial intelligence, operating alongside his AI start-up.

Jeff Bezos' space company, Blue Origin, is collaborating with NASA to develop strategies and technologies to protect Earth from potentially colliding asteroids.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos make quite a winning pair. The couple enjoyed a night on the town as they attended the Vanity Fair Oscars Party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art March...

Jeff Bezos has made a strong statement regarding the future of a popular hobby, asserting that it 'makes no sense'.

Jeff Bezos shared an anecdote about an employee who proposed an idea that "doubled" productivity, despite initially looking at him as "the stupidest person."

Lauren Sánchez Bezos still remembers this touching interaction.    The journalist reflected on her favorite moments from her and Jeff Bezos’ wedding in Italy last summer, including how one of her...

When life seems chaotic and problems pile up, procrastination may seem like an easy solution, but it doesn't really address anxiety.

Aaron Wiener, head of the Washington Post's Berlin office, has been fired, reflecting broader layoffs at the newspaper and raising questions about its future under Jeff Bezos.

Tara Jones, an employee, bypassed HR and wrote directly to Jeff Bezos regarding unpaid wages, leading to an unexpected reaction.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez will serve as honorary chairs for the upcoming Met Gala, a detail revealed in a recent news release.

Bill Gates, Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, and Donald Trump are investing billions into nuclear fusion technology, aiming to achieve a breakthrough in energy production and solve global energy concerns within years.

Steven Spielberg Flees California Amid Raging Wealth Tax Battle Another day, another rich liberal leaving a state over policies they promoted.  In today's episode of modern hypocrisy, Steven Spielberg, director of blockbuster hits like Jaws, E.T., Poltergeist and Saving Private Ryan, has moved to Manhattan, according to the Los Angeles Times. A spokesperson for one of Hollywood’s most reliable Democrat Party donors was quick to insist the relocation has nothing to do with California’s highly controversial wealth tax proposal. “Steven’s move to the East Coast is both long-planned and driven purely by his and Kate Capshaw’s desire to be closer to their New York-based children and grandchildren,” spokeswoman Terry Press told the newspaper. Unsurprisingly, Press declined to say where Spielberg stands on the wealth tax when asked. California is now seriously considering a new wealth tax targeting billionaires, including a levy on unrealized gains. The idea has already spooked investors and contributed to several high-profile tech figures running for the exits. It’s a familiar pattern when progressive policies finally start to bite, a surprising number of billionaires discover a sudden deep affection for Florida, Texas, or even New York. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin quietly began unwinding portions of their financial empires in California in the days leading up to Christmas, while Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg dropped $150 million on a Miami mansion. Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan had been looking for a home on Indian Creek Island, the ultra-exclusive, heavily guarded enclave nicknamed “Billionaire Bunker” that is already home to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, former NFL star quarterback Tom Brady, and Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Even Jeffrey Epstein pal Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor, has taken aim at the billionaire tax proposal, slamming it as a "horrendous idea" that could drive tech founders and executives out of the state. Rep. Khanna reached out to me to discuss the proposed California wealth tax; and while I am against the proposed tax, I'm always open to dialogue with our elected leaders. The proposed CA wealth tax is badly designed in so many ways that a simple social post cannot cover all of… January 7, 2026 "The proposed CA wealth tax is badly designed in so many ways that a simple social post cannot cover all of the massive flaws. One well-documented example is the horrendous idea to tax illiquid stock in the proposal. Poorly designed taxes incentivize avoidance, capital flight, and distortions that ultimately raise less revenue," Hoffman said of the plan. Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, a longtime Democrat who voted for Trump in the 2024 election, warned that California is on a "path to self-destruction." California is on a path to self-destruction. Hollywood is already toast and now the most productive entrepreneurs will leave taking their tax revenues and job creation elsewhere. And then the Democrats highlight @CAgovernor Newsom as a great leader. Crazy. https://t.co/bFyLhARrNn December 27, 2025 "Hollywood is already toast, and now the most productive entrepreneurs will leave, taking their tax revenues and job creation elsewhere,” Ackman said. Our readers will recall that Tesla and SpaceX Ceo Elon Musk was one of the first big names to leave California years ago, citing the state’s punishing taxes and its embrace of radical left-wing governance. The list keeps growing. Buckle up, Newsom. Musk was the first and Spielberg won’t be the last. Tyler Durden Fri, 02/20/2026 - 16:40

Another potential Amazon venture could be found in Seattle.

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are engaged in a new rivalry, this time competing for lunar exploration and resources.

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are engaged in a new rivalry, this time focusing on space exploration and the race to the Moon, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are engaged in a new rivalry, this time focusing on the race to explore and establish a presence on the Moon.

MacKenzie Scott has donated $26 billion over seven years, exceeding the lifetime giving of her ex-husband Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. Her significant contributions highlight her prominent role in global philanthropy.

The Washington Post's publisher and CEO, Will Lewis, has departed days after the newspaper announced significant staff reductions, raising questions about management under Jeff Bezos.

Jeff Bezos's secretive startup, Project Prometheus, which focuses on developing systems to understand the physical world, has recruited Kyle Kosic, a co-founder of xAI, from OpenAI.

Jeff Bezos' superyacht is reportedly too large to enter certain tourist ports, requiring the use of a helicopter and a submarine for his travels, with Costa Rica cited as a recent example.

A social media post about the man who made Amazon's first purchase in 1995 has gone viral, eliciting reactions from Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. The man humorously recalled expecting free books from his historic order.

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are advocating for data centers in space to scale AI, but experts warn that while power might be free in orbit, the overall costs could quickly become prohibitive.

The current market slump has significantly impacted the wealth of billionaires, with figures like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg seeing their fortunes reduced by tens of billions of dollars this year.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has shared his vision for the future, expressing his desire to see a trillion humans living across the solar system in vast space stations rather than on planets, believing this expansion will foster a flourishing of genius.

Senator Bernie Sanders has called for Jeff Bezos to testify before Congress regarding a $100 billion AI manufacturing fund, criticizing the plan to replace factory workers with robots as a "declaration of war against the working class."

Senator Bernie Sanders has issued a warning that Jeff Bezos' $100 billion investment in robotics could replace working people, urging Americans to "stand up and fight back."

Elon Musk's SpaceX has formally requested the FCC to reject Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin application, arguing that criticisms against SpaceX's satellite data center proposal should also apply to Blue Origin's similar application.

Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin has applied to launch up to 51,600 orbiting data center satellites, citing the insatiable demand for AI and proposing them as a new compute tier independent of terrestrial infrastructure.

Einem Bericht des „Wall Street Journal“ zufolge verfolgt der Amazon-Gründer das Ziel, Unternehmen zu übernehmen und deren Automatisierung voranzutreiben.

Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin has formally announced its entry into the competition to develop and deploy data centers in space, marking a significant step in orbital infrastructure.

Jeff Bezos' aerospace company, Blue Origin, is developing its NEO Hunter mission concept to protect Earth from dangerous asteroids through a high-speed intercept. The mission aims to deflect potential impact threats, adding 'Earth defender' to Blue Origin's portfolio.

Nicole Kidman reportedly 'stole' the red carpet moment from Jeff Bezos and his wife at a Vanity Fair party, creating an awkward scene.

Experts suggest that the recent turn towards fashion by tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos is driven by more than just personal style, indicating strategic motivations.

An unexpected fact has been revealed about Jeff Bezos' partner, Lauren Sanchez, regarding a strange nickname she once earned. She was reportedly called 'Monica' by friends, hinting at a past connection to Bill Clinton.

An article speculates on the potential Social Security check Jeff Bezos could receive when he turns 62, analyzing how large it could be.

An article speculates on what Jeff Bezos' salary would be if he pursued his fantasy job, inviting readers to relate to the concept.

Virgin Galactic is aiming to revive the space tourism industry following Jeff Bezos's retreat from the sector, positioning itself for future growth.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are rising the Met Gala ranks. Months after being named as sponsors at the 2026 annual gala on May 4, the couple confirmed they will also attend the Anna...

Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, revealed that the most challenging task he ever faced was securing the first million dollars for Amazon, a company now valued at approximately $2.2 trillion.

Washington State, home to billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, is contemplating implementing an income tax on the wealthy, a move that would challenge its long-standing resistance to such taxation, similar to conservative states.

The competition between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos intensifies as Musk shifts focus to building an autonomous city on the Moon, rather than Mars, due to the longer timeline for Martian colonization.

Jeff Bezos expresses strong optimism regarding the future of human civilization, stating he doesn't see how anyone could be discouraged.

Mark Cuban explains how luck played a significant role in the success of Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, emphasizing that 'something good has got to happen' for such achievements.

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are engaged in a new billionaire battle for control of the moon, intensifying the private space race.

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are engaged in a new billionaire rivalry, this time focused on the race to the Moon.

Amazon's stock experienced its longest daily losing streak in nearly two decades, with shares dropping 18% over 10 days. Amidst this market downturn, an old letter from founder Jeff Bezos resurfaced, reminding shareholders of the company's resilience during the dot-com bubble.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are reportedly purchasing a multi-million dollar waterfront mansion on Miami's Indian Creek Island, joining other high-profile residents like Jeff Bezos and Tom Brady.

Jeff Bezos's secretive AI venture, Project Prometheus, is bolstering its team by hiring a former co-founder of Elon Musk's xAI, who had previously joined OpenAI.

Major tech figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Google are reportedly exploring the revolutionary concept of deploying powerful AI data centers in Earth's orbit to address the massive energy demands of artificial intelligence and the limitations of ground-based infrastructure.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's sponsorship of the Met Gala is described as the most uncomfortable patronage for the powerful event, with a group aiming to replicate the discomfort they caused at the couple's wedding.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly paying $1,000 per month to bypass a specific California law, an unusual way for one of the world's richest individuals to spend money.

The relationship between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez has drawn public attention following a recent viral moment.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos arrived in Costa Rica with his wife Lauren Sánchez, landing at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport. His super yacht, Koru, was also spotted in Guanacaste waters.

Elon Musk's net worth is reportedly greater than that of Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison combined, with speculation that a SpaceX IPO could make him the world's first trillionaire.

Jeff Bezos is reportedly planning to invest $100 billion to integrate artificial intelligence into factories, a move that could significantly impact future job markets.

Portuguese startup Curiouz specializes in connecting vintage furniture with collectors, primarily selling to the United States, and has partnered with Jeff Bezos' decorator, with plans to exhibit at Milan Design Week.

Reports suggest Jeff Bezos is facing significant financial news and personal challenges, with speculation about his relationship with his new wife.

God morgon! Open AI gör om för att vinna över Anthropic, Jeff Bezos vill ta in 100 miljarder dollar till en ny fond och nästa år tar botarna över (om man ska tro Cloudflares vd).

Exclusive | Jeff Bezos in Talks to Raise $100 Billion for AI Manufacturing Fund  WSJ

Jeff Bezos' aerospace company, Blue Origin, is developing a new mission concept to deflect asteroids before they can impact Earth, aiming to add 'Earth defender' to its portfolio. The idea draws comparisons to the Netflix film 'Don't Look Up'.

An article explores Jeff Bezos's founder-control strategy as a key factor contributing to Amazon's sustained market dominance and strategic direction.

Billionaire owner Jeff Bezos, reportedly dissatisfied with years of losses, is pushing The Washington Post newsroom to double productivity while operating with half its current budget.

Hypermasculinity has now arrived at fashion weeks – Jeff Bezos, Bryan Johnson, and Clavicular engaged in a show of strength from New York to Paris.

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Jeff Bezos's new artificial intelligence company, 'Project Prometheus', is reportedly raising tens of billions of dollars to acquire firms impacted by AI technology, aiming to capitalize on market disruptions.

An American mining company, supported by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, is in a conflict with AfricaMuseum in Belgium over the digitization of old territorial maps.

Palm Beach, Florida. Yelena Rodriguez Mena/Getty Images Larry Ellison, Oracle's cofounder and former CEO, has an extensive real estate portfolio. His holdings include multiple homes in California, as well as 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai. Here are all the real estate holdings belonging to Ellison, the sixth-richest person in the world. Larry Ellison, one of the richest people in the world, is joining billionaires like Jeff Bezos in trading the West Coast for the East Coast. Oracle cof...

A new rivalry is emerging between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, focusing on the control of AI and computing power, with a shift towards orbital infrastructure.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly criticized the concept of space data centers, labeling them 'ridiculous' due to prohibitive launch costs and unresolved cooling challenges. His comments challenge the ambitious orbital computing plans of figures like Elon Musk, Google, and Jeff Bezos.

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott's record $7.2 billion donation in 2025 has drawn criticism from Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, who called it a 'bad donation,' a sentiment echoed by Elon Musk.

James Deering's 1916 winter home is located less than 10 minutes away from the heart of Miami. Robin Hill/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museums and Gardens Vizcaya, built by James Deering more than a century ago, might be Miami's most valuable real estate. The 45,000-square-foot mansion has a total of 54 rooms, with the main house open to the public. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin began assembling a waterfront compound next to the historic mansion in 2022. The exorbitant price tags on Miami's luxury real estate are not a secret to anyone, least of all the flock of billionaires moving to the city. But unlike the high-rise apartments in the financial center of Brickell or exclusive mansions in Indian Creek — where you might be neighbors with Jeff Bezos or Ivanka Trump — the city's potentially most valuable piece of real estate is decorated with limestone, mangroves, and tiles salvaged from Cuban estates. Built between 1914 and 1922 by International Harvester heir and Gilded Age millionaire James Deering as a winter home, Villa Vizcaya sits fewer than 10 minutes from downtown Miami, in a waterfront neighborhood that's quickly becoming a magnet for the city's new billionaire residents. While built in the years following the Gilded Age, it is notable for its Gilded Age-era extravagance, technologies, and collection of fine art. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens estimates the mansion cost $26 million to build, which is more than $800 million in today's money, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Florida International University estimates that the mansion is worth over $1 billion today. In 1962, Miami-Dade County bought the property for $1 million, and today, the 45,000-square-foot mansion and its surrounding gardens operate as a museum open to the public. Shortly after announcing that Citadel would move its headquarters from Chicago to Miami, CEO Ken Griffin bought up a waterfront compound less than a half-mile from Vizcaya, in the neighborhood of Coconut Grove. The $106.9 million sale set a country record for the most expensive residential property purchase at the time. Since then, the hedge fund magnate has proposed relocating the historic Villa Serena mansion, located on his estate, to Vizcaya's campus after he donated $20 million to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Take a look inside James Deering's historic mansion and see how its new neighbor could alter the surrounding landscape. Vizcaya was James Deering's winter home from 1916 until his death in 1925. Robin Hill Photography/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museum & Gardens Struggling with illness toward the end of his life, James Deering came to Miami, then a small city surrounded by mangrove forests and wetlands, looking for tropical warmth, which was believed to help improve health. By the turn of the century, the Deering family had begun to develop estates around South Florida, with patriarch William Deering purchasing a home in Coconut Grove in 1900. By the time James Deering began building Vizcaya, his brother, Charles Deering, was also developing a winter home in the south of Miami. The property, known today as Deering Estate, also operates as a museum and is open to the public. The main house features 54 rooms, including 34 rooms decorated with their original furniture. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Spanning over 45,225 square feet, Vizcaya's main house features the living spaces of James Deering himself, his guests, and the house staff. Envisioned by interior designer Paul Chalfin, Vizcaya drew inspiration from the Italian Renaissance, adapted to South Florida's subtropical climate, and showcases furniture, artworks, and artifacts purchased by Chalfin and Deering on their travels to Europe. Although Miami's population was estimated to be only 10,000 in 1916, the construction of the Vizcaya estate employed an estimated 1,000 workers, many of whom were Black immigrants from the Bahamas. Apart from the main house, Vizcaya is also home to the Vizcaya Village, the historic quarters of the mansion's workers and farmers that allowed Vizcaya to serve as a self-sufficient farm-to-table estate. The Village expands over 12 acres and includes 11 "architecturally significant" buildings, according to the museum's website. The tour begins in the courtyard, which is adorned with tropical plants. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Lined with tropical plants such as palms and philodendrons, the courtyard highlights South Florida's natural beauty while reflecting the mansion's European inspirations. While today the courtyard is covered by a glass canopy that allows for the estate's air conditioning, it was originally open to the elements, allowing the tropical climate to seep into the main house. Meant to be used as Vizcaya's main entrance, the East Loggia opens up to the Biscayne Bay. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Featuring marble floors and columns and decorated ceilings, the East Loggia was meant to serve as Vizcaya's main entrance for guests arriving by sea, which was Deering's intended — and preferred — way of entering the mansion. It was used as an entrance for guests who arrived by boat, while the current main entrance of the museum was used as a back entrance for guests arriving by car. The room also features a model boat hanging from its ceiling in honor of the explorers who inspired Deering's interpretation of Vizcaya. Although he began living in Vizcaya during his retirement, Deering included multiple working spaces in the property. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider James Deering was heir to the International Harvester manufacturing firm, which produced tractors and other agricultural machinery, and he worked as its vice president from 1902 until 1909. Deering might have been one of the first prominent Florida "snowbirds," retirees who travel South during the colder months. His downstairs library, located in the northwest corner of the main house, is steps from the entrance hall that welcomes guests. It features Deering's personal book collection, desks for him and a secretary, and seats for business guests. When closed, the door leading to the next room — a reception room meant for entertaining guests — is concealed within the book-lined walls. The reception room features a ceiling imported from Venice, which had to be resized to fit. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider The reception room is lined with tropical-inspired silk panels showing palm trees. Our tour guide brought our attention to the ceiling, which is decorated with sculpted panels that extend to the sides of the room. The ceiling was imported from Venice and purchased before construction on the property was finished. By the time workers were putting up the decorations in the mansion, they realized that the ceiling panel did not fit the room dimensions, leading to the restructuring of the panel, which curved into the walls. "We should remember that this house was built during the First World War," curator Flaminia Gennari said in the audio tour. "So to import large quantities from Italy in the middle of the war was very complicated." Vizcaya's telephone line was one of the first in Miami. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Wired throughout the house, Vizcaya features a highly innovative telephone system for the time. Only 17 years before the start of Vizcaya's construction, the Miami Telephone Company began providing telephone service to the city. Vizcaya's telephones also featured automatic electric exchange, allowing users to connect directly to the number they dialed without going through a human operator. The telephone room, located between two of Vizcaya's main entertainment rooms, was meant for guests to communicate privately without disturbing the flow of the entertainment. The living room showcased Deering's most impressive collections. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider The living room, with its 1600s limestone fireplace, features some of Vizcaya's most impressive items, including an "admiral carpet" originally commissioned in the 1450s by the grandfather of King Ferdinand II of Spain, the Spanish king who sponsored Christopher Columbus' exploration of the Americas. The room also features throne-like armchairs where US President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II sat in 1987 during the Pope's visit to America. A centerpiece of the room is the Welte Philharmonic Organ, designed to fill the house with music through elaborate sound systems. Designed for guests rather than full-time professional players, the organ uses perforated paper rolls to aid the musicians' performance by adjusting notes and volume. Concealing the organ pipes is an oil painting, which was cut in half to cover wooden doors. "Chalfin had the idea of cutting it in half and using it as the doors of the organs, which is not a very respectful thing to do for a representation of the Virgin Mary, the child, and the saints, but it somehow testifies to the freedom and positive carelessness that they had around old objects," Gennari said in the audio tour. The mansion's formal dining room features the house's oldest artifacts, although it was rarely used. Robin Hill Photography/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museum & Gardens While Deering himself didn't often eat in the formal dining room, he made sure it was impressively decorated for his guests. Sitting to the side is the room's most awe-inspiring feature: a marble tabletop on carved bases resembling mythical creatures, historical artifacts unearthed near Pompeii, dating back to the times before Mount Vesuvius' eruption. Next to the dining room, on the south side of the mansion, the enclosed loggia gave guests a view of the gardens. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider The colorful glass panels, designed for Vizcaya, feature the estate's main symbols: the seahorse and the caravan. Providing a view of the garden through the glass panels and double doors, the enclosed loggia allowed guests to take in the garden views while staying cool from the Florida sun. The loggia also connects the gardens to the main house through sculpted iron gates. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Aside from giving guests an inside view of the gardens from the ground level, the room also connects the outdoors to the rest of the mansion. Downstairs, the kitchen worked as a serving space for staff to plate food and bring it to guests. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider When designing Vizcaya, Deering asked for the main kitchen to be built upstairs as he didn't want the smell of food to flood the main entertaining rooms on the first floor. To facilitate the transportation of meals and the serving of guests to the dining room, the entertaining rooms, and the loggia, he built a downstairs serving pantry. Today, the serving pantry cabinets display one set of Deering's fine dining china, the one designated for his 80-foot-long luxury yacht, Nepenthe. Commissioned in 1912 to be shipped from Europe, the original set of china purchased by Deering was transported to America as cargo aboard the Titanic. After the ship sank, a replacement set was ordered and is now displayed. The kitchens feature state-of-the-art Gilded Age technology. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Throughout the house, Deering incorporated cutting-edge technology, including annunciators with bells connected throughout the house that Deering or guests could ring at any time to get the house staff's attention. Another then-advanced feature of the serving kitchen were its refrigerators, which were rare at the time. The kitchen also featured a warming oven that helped keep food warm while guests were served. Connecting to the upstairs kitchen, which serves as the house's main cooking area, was a dumbwaiter: a food elevator meant to carry the food cooked upstairs to the downstairs plating area, where staff would then take it to the main entertaining rooms, like the dining and sitting rooms. Upstairs, 24 rooms housed guests, staff, and Deering himself. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Nine of the bedrooms were dedicated to guests and each was given a name and decorated uniquely, showcasing the artifacts and furniture purchased by Deering and Chalfin on trips to Europe. While not open to the public, an additional 14 rooms housed staff. Another then-advanced technological feature of Vizcaya was its elevator. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Deering was motivated to move to South Florida because of his illness, so accessibility features were built throughout the house, including an elevator he would use when using a wheelchair or to avoid walking upstairs. Today, the elevator isn't open to the public, and the museum's second floor is not wheelchair accessible. Deering's main office was inspired by the Napoleonic era. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Connected to Deering's bedroom and bathroom, the sitting room was his office where he would tend to business and personal matters, such as sorting his mail. The decoration style was inspired by Napoleonic France. Deering's bedroom was modest compared to some of his guest bedrooms. Robin Hill/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Unmarried all his life, Deering's room features a single bed rather than a larger size, and his room is furnished for practicality rather than aesthetics. His personal bathroom has one of the most breathtaking views of the property. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Opening onto a balcony, Deering's bathroom overlooks Biscayne Bay and offers one of the best views of the house, although it is not accessible to the public today. The closed-off balcony also leads to a secret door to the Espagnolette, the guest bedroom located next to his, usually reserved for Deering's dearest guests. Spiral staircases lead to the South tower. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider A set of spiral staircases leads up to the South tower, one of the two guest suites overlooking the estate. The tower bedroom has views of the bay and the gardens. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider The corner room atop the North tower was designed to transport guests to Europe. "Water reflects upwards to the ceiling and the sound of waves is audible in this room, precisely as upon the quay of this great canal of Venice," noted Chalfin about the room, according to the mansion's website. A central piece in the room is a large wardrobe assembled with 1700s Venetian panels, as well as antique painted closet doors. The breakfast room was Deering's preferred dining space. Robin Hill Photography/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museum & Gardens Back on the second floor, the breakfast room was the central entertaining spot. The room is lined with oil paintings depicting ocean scenes, and the windows slide into pocket doors, revealing views of the garden. It also features a sound system, with a piano hidden in a room off the spiral staircase next door and connected to the breakfast room through floor vents that allow sound to travel into the space. Most of the time, Deering opted to dine in this room rather than the formal dining space. Tucked next to the breakfast room is the main kitchen. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Designed to maximize staff efficiency, the main kitchen upstairs has different areas for different tasks, including separate sinks for washing dishes and produce. It also features ice boxes, or refrigerators of the time, powered by salt water. During Deering's time at the estate, Vizcaya employed two French chefs dedicated to food and pastries. Food served at the mansion was sourced from the staff village built across the street, where a farm provided vegetables, dairy, chicken, herbs, and citrus. "You and I could come down and drive into the farm area, stop and buy a dozen Deering eggs and take them home and have them for breakfast, and I think that was probably particularly important during World War I," historian Arva Moore Parks said in the audio tour. "He was able to supply not only himself but his workers also." Inspired by European designs, the gardens feature mazes, terraces, fountains, and more. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Inspired by 17th- and 18th-century Italian and French villas, the Vizcaya gardens feature a variety of scenes, from a garden theater to multiple paths and mazes, intended to highlight and enhance the native South Florida flora surrounding the estate. The original layout of Vizcaya featured over 180 acres of subtropical forests. Today, that number has gone down to 50 acres. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan hosted Pope John Paul II at the estate. Diana Walker/Getty Images On September 10, 1987, President Ronald Reagan welcomed Pope John Paul II at Vizcaya, where the two conversed while exploring the gardens and the estate. Atop a garden mount is the Casino, a focal point of the gardens. Robin Hill/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museums and Gardens Located at the top of garden mounds designed to block the reflection of water ponds into the main house, the garden casino — Italian for "little house" — was a space where Deering and his guests could take in the garden views or enjoy the subtropical weather without being in direct contact with the sun. Inside the building, a painted ceiling depicts heavenly images. Underneath, bathrooms and other now closed-off areas hide under decorated ceilings. Originally, the casino overlooked a water park part of the estate, where gondolas would be launched, a crucial part of Deering's vision for Vizcaya. Today, the water park no longer exists, and the land is instead taken up by a Catholic church, hospital, and schools after the Deering family sold part of the property to the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine in 1946. The opposite side of the estate was once used for clandestine entertainment; now, it is a café. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider While today a café sits underneath the mansion, the space served as a leisure center during Deering's stay. The rooms were filled with billiard tables, bowling alleys, and leather chairs. Hidden underneath the billiards table was also a roulette table, which Deering often used when his college friends visited the estate. The mansion, which opened at the peak of the Prohibition era, also had a decent supply of liquor, which Deering smuggled into the estate and hid in secret bars and cellars. The swimming pool is half-covered, providing relief from South Florida's relentless sun. Robin Hill/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Tucked next to the leisure rooms underneath the main house is the half-indoor swimming pool, in which Deering is said to have only swum once. Designed as the main entry point to the mansion, the east side of the mansion opens up to a stone barge in the Biscayne Bay. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider When he first moved into his winter home in December 1916, Deering arrived by sea on what he intended was the front entrance to Vizcaya. Opening up to the Biscayne Bay, the waterfront side of the property features a stone barge, a sculpted structure that acts as a breakwater and protects the main house from changing tides and waves. Today, the mansion hosts private events and has become a local staple for Quinceañera pictures. The mansion is often used for private events. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider Purchased from the Deering family by Miami-Dade County for $1 million in 1962, Vizcaya today operates as a museum open to the public and for private reservations. The estate often serves as the backdrop for Quinceañera pictures among Miami's large Hispanic population. Walking around the gardens, I saw multiple young women dressed in extravagant gowns posing in the many stunning locations of the estate. Along with being a photographic hot spot, Vizcaya also hosts private events, from Miami Swim Week runway shows to floral-decorated weddings in the gardens. Today, the estate remains an icon of Miami, a city that many would often relate to modern luxury rather than the old and classic wealth on display in Gilded Age-style mansions like Vizcaya. The Vizcaya Village could be the future home of Ken Griffin's Villa Serena. Robin Hil Photography/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens After purchasing the historic Villa Serena estate in Coconut Grove in 2022, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin proposed relocating the 1913 Mediterranean Revival mansion to Vizcaya's Village campus. The home, designed by architect August Geiger for William Jennings Bryan, a three-time Democratic presidential candidate and former US secretary of state, is considered one of Miami's earliest grand waterfront residences. The proposal would move the century-old home from Griffin's property to Vizcaya's Village grounds, where it would be open to the public for the first time in its history and would benefit from an additional $5 million endowment provided by Griffin for its preservation. Any relocation would require extensive planning and government approvals, which have not yet been cleared. Skeptics have said that moving the structure would be an ambitious undertaking that wouldn't align with preservation goals. "Moving a historic structure is absolutely a last resort solution, to be done only if (there) is no other way possible to save a structure… It is not a preservation-minded alternative just because someone bought it and now doesn't want it," Kathleen Slesnick Kauffman, Miami's former historic preservation officer, told the Chicago Tribune in 2023. The Village originally served as Vizcaya's self-sufficient farm and the servants' quarters. Robin Hil Photography/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens The Vizcaya Village, which covers about 12 acres of agricultural fields and includes nearly a dozen buildings, was originally built as the quarters for the mansion's servants and farmers. Today, the campus houses a café and hosts a weekly farmers market, and is undergoing construction and expansions to transform the grounds into a cultural and community space. The Citadel CEO's $20 million donation will expand the village's role in the community. Robin Hil Photography/Courtesy of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens In November 2025, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens announced a $20 million capital donation from Griffin and said that the funds would be used toward building a brand new Center for Learning and Discovery in the village grounds. Once open, the center will offer educational programming like "hands-on artmaking and urban-agriculture experiences," the museum organization wrote in the announcement. The expansion will seek to expand Vizcaya's role in its community. Read the original article on Business Insider

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