Seven sporting stars living in Florida: Serena Williams, David Beckham and more
The sunshine State of America provides the perfect place to call home for some of the planet's biggest sports stars due to its beautiful, attractive lifestyle and perfect climate conditions.
Miami, located on the southwestern coast of Florida, is a city that the biggest athletes and celebrities love to call home, known for its luxurious beaches, private and glamorous lifestyle, and tranquil atmosphere.
However, Miami is not the only hot spot in Florida for the biggest names, with athletes dotted across the state.
Here, Florida News Blitz writer Joseph Hannen takes a look at seven of the biggest sports stars living in Florida.
Lionel Messi
No better place to start than Lionel Messi, a footballer widely regarded as the greatest to ever grace the pitch and now plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami CF.
The Argentine currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, purchasing a 10-bedroom, nine-and-a-half-bathroom home for $10.75 million, situated in the gated community of Bay Colony.
Messi has revolutionised soccer in Florida and America, taking Inter Miami from the bottom of the MLS to the top, alongside some old friends, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Messi owned multiple properties in Florida, acquiring a handful of condos in Miami, including one at the Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach.
The 36-year-old’s contract expires at the end of 2025, but reports suggest an agreement for extension is in advanced stages, keeping the global sensation in the sunshine State.
David Beckham
English football icon and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, David Beckham, made his first purchase in 2020, when he and his wife, Victoria, secured a penthouse in Miami.
The unique condo stretches to 10,335 square feet and cost just shy of $20 million; however, the Beckhams weren’t finished there.
As of now, a purchase of an $80 million mansion in Miami Beach is pending for the family; this comes 11 years after Beckham secured the rights to bring an MLS club to Miami.
The Beckhams own a multitude of homes across three continents, with their property portfolio increasing as the years go by.
Beckham revealed in an interview last year that the idea of settling down in Florida was a key reason for bringing Messi to his football club.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Miami’s sporting landscape: Professional teams, college teams, F1 and tennis
Novak Djokovic
The most decorated male tennis player of all time owns multiple homes across the globe, including a home in Eighty Seven Park in Miami Beach.
Purchased in 2020, his home includes three bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as all-embracing views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean.
Like many athletes, it is believed that Djokovic chose Florida for its exclusivity and peaceful vibe.
His property includes an underground spa, a private park, a fitness centre, a pool and more.
The 37-year-old Serb is still active in tennis, ranking fifth in the world with a desire to add to his 99 singles titles, including 24 Grand Slam titles.
Serena Williams
Sticking with tennis, four-time gold medallist and 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams lives in the north of Florida following her retirement in August 2022.
In 2017, Williams bought an eight-bedroom Mediterranean mansion for $5.7 million, offering 6770 square feet of space.
The property is now estimated at $10 million, but this wasn’t her last purchase in the state.
In 2020, the 43-year-old secured an $8 million, 10,433-square-foot home in the town of Jupiter.
This luxurious property includes a home cinema, a chef’s kitchen, eight bedrooms and a tennis court.
Just like her mansion, the Jupiter home has risen in value, with the estimation north of $12 million.
Tom Brady
The NFL icon added to his impressive property portfolio in 2020, when he and his wife moved to Florida, buying a mansion owned by Derek Jeter, another star in this list.
The mansion is situated in Indian Creek, a village located in the Miami metropolitan area of South Florida, and was bought for $17 million before extensive renovation.
The legendary quarterback has opened up the possibility of selling the mansion, with January reports claiming bids of $150 million have been received.
Following his retirement, Brady is now a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders team and English football club Birmingham City. His shares are 5% and 3.3%, respectively.
Derek Jeter
Exclusive member of baseball’s 3,000-hit club and baseball executive Derek Jeter resides in Coral Gables in Florida.
In 2021, Jeter acquired his property for $16.6 million with his wife and four children; the waterfront home spans across two acres.
The 50-year-old had previously lived in New York, acquiring a property in the early 2000s and selling it last year before making the switch to Florida.
Jeter made history in 2022; his $22.5 million sale of his Tampa home was the largest sale in the Tampa Bay region.
Udonis Haslem
Finishing with some NBA inclusion, Udonis Haslem played for the Miami Heat for over 20 years before becoming their vice president of basketball development.
He, like Jeter, resides in Coral Gables, purchasing a glamorous six-bathroom home for $4.4 million in 2017.
Born in Miami, Haslem represented the Florida Gators before becoming the longest-serving Miami Heat player in history.
His property stretches over nine square feet of land with an abundance of living space for entertainment and gatherings.
READ NEXT: Miami travel news: The climate, culture, sports, cuisine and neighborhoods
