Naples billionaires named among America’s self-made elite by Forbes

Naples billionaires named among America’s self-made elite by Forbes

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Forbes has named the 250 greatest living self-made Americans.

Among the elite group: A few Naples residents, who also happen to be billionaires.

The new list is the latest installment of the Forbes 250 initiative — a year-long project launched in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

The Self-Made 250 List spotlights Americans whose journeys began with a “profound disadvantage” and whose success stories are defined by “resilience, reinvention and ambition.” Listees include well-known celebrities and icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Lebron James and Dolly Parton.

Locals on the list include long-time Naples resident Shahid Khan, ranked at No. 21.

Khan, 74, owns auto parts supplier Flex-N-Gate and the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. According to Forbes, he immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan with $500 in his pocket, before building his industrial and sports empire that includes the Fulham Football Club.

Per Forbes, the business mogul is also the richest man in Naples — and Southwest Florida. He sat at No. 193 on the 2026 World’s Billionaires list by Forbes, retaining his position as one of the top 200 wealthiest people on the planet.

Who else is on the list? Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Ready to explore the most exceptional properties of Southwest Florida? Contact me today to begin your journey. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Naples No. 1 for women-owned businesses among small U.S. metros

Naples No. 1 for women-owned businesses among small U.S. metros

Mark H. Bickel | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Women who own small businesses in Naples have something to brag about.

According to a study by Coworking Cafe. a listing service for flex workspace solutions, Naples-Marco Island ranks No. 1 among the top small U.S. metros for women-owned businesses.

The study was released in March in honor of International Women’s Month.

“We’re celebrating the women who don’t just break glass ceilings, they build the foundations beneath them,” the website said.

According to Coworking Cafe, female entrepreneurs represent one of the most dynamic forces reshaping the American economy.

Women-owned businesses now account for nearly 23% of all U.S. firms, and with business formation rates surging in unexpected corners of the country, the geography of women’s entrepreneurship is shifting quickly.

By the numbers: Naples businesses owned by women

  • Ranks #1 among small U.S. metros
  • 18.2% self-employment (#1 for this metric)
  • 2,409 business formations per 100K (#2)
  • 46.4% GDP growth since 2019 (#4)

Read what the Co-Working Cafe study said about Naples on naplesnews.com.

Are you seeking a home in the Bonita Springs – Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Marco Island’s JW Marriott sold. Find out to whom and for how much

Marco Island’s JW Marriott sold. Find out to whom and for how much

J. Kyle Foster | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

The iconic JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort on Marco Island is being sold, and the new owners plan major renovations.

Barings LLC, the $481 billion asset management arm of insurer MassMutual is selling the luxury hotel operated by Marriott International, along with its Hammock Bay and Rookery golf courses in Naples, to Sculptor Diversified Real Estate Income Trust, Inc., for $835 million cash, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Marriott did not return a request for comment by deadline.

One of the few JW Marriott properties located directly on the beach, Marco Island’s resort opened Dec. 18, 1971, as a Marco Beach Hotel and Villas. Built by the Mackle brothers and their Deltona Corporation development company, the property was sold to Marriott in 1979. It was later sold to MassMutual.

When did Marco Island’s Marriott become a JW Marriott?
On Jan. 1, 2016, after $320 million in renovations, the Marco Island Marriott officially re-branded itself as the luxury-tier JW Marriott Marco Beach Resort. The brand operates more than 100 hotels globally, with select, dedicated luxury beach resorts in key destinations including Marco Island, Los Cabos (Mexico), and Phuket (Thailand). These properties focus on direct beach access and high-end amenities.

Read more on naplesnews.com.

Sea cows are plying the Gulf again as coastal temperatures rise

Sea cows are plying the Gulf again as coastal temperatures rise

Chad Gillis | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

It’s that time of year ― the Florida manatee migration is underway.

Each spring thousands of manatees move from warm-water spring and winter havens to coastal bays, rivers and the Gulf beaches.

Wildlife experts are advising boaters and the public to be aware of the moving sea cows and some boating zone changes that will be in place April 1.

“During this time of year, manatees are more likely to be present in rivers, canals and nearshore waters,” a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission press release reads. “Manatees overwinter in Florida springs, power plant discharges and other warm-water sites, and will gradually disperse from these winter habitats as water temperatures rise each spring.”

Lee County typically produces more boat kills than nearly any county in Florida, but Collier County waters account for far fewer deadly encounters.

The Endangered Species Coalition and Save the Manatee Club sent out a press release in favor of manatee protection zones.

“Manatees were one of the first animals protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, and their recovery is deeply connected to the Act,” said Susan Holmes, executive director of the Endangered Species Coalition. “When they were first listed, there were fewer than 1,000 manatees in the United States. Today, there are over 8,000 of these gentle giants.”

Read more about the manatees on naplesnews.com.

Naples Beach Club opens wellness sanctuary. What does it cost to use?

Naples Beach Club opens wellness sanctuary. What does it cost to use?

Phil Fernandez | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

With our newest season of Spring here, the Four Seasons made it official this past week with the latest of its Southwest Florida rollouts at its sprawling 125-acre compound on the Collier County shore.

After a bit of a soft opening, the reinvented coastal Naples Beach Club location announced The Sanctuary is ready to begin treating Southwest Florida residents at its “wellness destination set across three serene levels, designed to elevate holistic health and vitality with offerings.”

What’s contained in those three relaxing levels of ahhhhh within the 30,000-square-foot “transformative refuge” at 801 Gulf Shore Blvd N.?

Let’s find out. Here’s what to know on the triple-decker, what some of its offerings cost, and what else is making debuts as the new venue formally known as Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, floats deeper into 2026.

Sanctuary’s ‘5 elemental pillars of Ocean, Sky, Plant, Air and Heat’
The idea here ― at least the way it was presented to In the Know ― is rooted a little bit with the philosophies of the Calusa, the indigenous stewards of our shores well before you were born.

And with the similar aim to cultivate strength, balance and vitality through every stage of existence, treatments are organized around five elemental pillars of Ocean, Sky, Plant, Air and Heat. Sorry, Homer, no sixth element of beer.

Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Will you be visiting Naples to explore the most exceptional properties of Southwest Florida? Contact me today to begin your journey. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

9 billionaires from SW Florida make Forbes list. See where they rank

9 billionaires from SW Florida make Forbes list. See where they rank

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

It’s no secret that Southwest Florida is home to some of the richest people on earth.

The latest World’s Billionaires list by Forbes includes eight from Naples and one from Marco Island. Most of the names are familiar, while two are new.

The list is based on the value of a person’s assets, including stakes in private and public companies, real estate, art and more – as best determined by Forbes.

Among the new names appearing on the list: Christina Rohde, 50, of Marco Island, who debuted at No. 1,440, with a net worth of $3 billion.

According to her Forbes profile, she’s the largest shareholder of a family-owned German technology company, Rohde & Schwarz, with annual revenue of more than $3 billion (in euros).

Find out who else is new to the list on naplesnews.com.