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Billionaire Larry Ellison buys famous Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Billionaire Larry Ellison, renowned for founding the Oracle software empire, has recently acquired the beachfront Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. Ellison already holds the distinction of owning the largest residential estate in Manalapan, the affluent town south of Palm Beach.


In 2022, Ellison made headlines by paying a recorded $173 million for his Manalapan estate at 2000 S. Ocean Blvd. This transaction set a Florida residential sales record. The estate, which stretches from the ocean to the lake, also includes a portion of nearby Bird Island in the Intracoastal Waterway. It was purchased from a trust controlled by fellow software billionaire, Jim Clark. In total, the estate and its island encompass more than 22 acres. Notably, this Manalapan estate is situated about 2½ miles south of the resort property.


Billionaire Larry Ellison buys famous Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Beyond co-founding Oracle, Ellison has been actively engaged in a diverse range of luxury hospitality ventures. His portfolio includes esteemed establishments such as the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Sensei Lanai, Nobu Ryokan Malibu, Nobu Hotel Palo Alto, the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, and Sensei Porcupine Creek.


Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa recently underwent a yearlong, multimillion-dollar improvement project that reached completion in 2022. This remodeling project followed other renovations at the resort, notably the redesign of ballrooms and meeting spaces in 2018.



The 8-acre resort and hotel boasts a range of appealing features, including seaside swimming pools, a 42,000-square-foot spa, 32,000 square feet of meeting space, and several restaurants. Eau Palm Beach has consistently garnered high ratings from travel magazines and hospitality organizations, further solidifying its reputation.


The resort's history is intertwined with the Ritz-Carlton brand. It was a Ritz-Carlton branded property when it changed hands in 2003. Following the Lewis family's acquisition of the resort for $67.5 million, they invested over $100 million into the property.



In 2013, the hotel underwent a rebranding and adopted the name Eau, which translates to "water" in French and also serves as the name of the hotel's award-winning spa. Additionally, the Eau joined the Preferred Hotels Group reservation system, a distinguished collection of boutique upscale hotels worldwide.


The property's origins can be traced back to La Coquille Club, a beloved beach club and social hub for the elite. Towards the late 1970s, the late shopping-center magnate Melvin Simon and his wife, Bren, acquired the property. They demolished the club and constructed The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, which opened its doors in the early 1990s.


 

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