After selling Rockstar Energy to PepsiCo in a multibillion-dollar deal five years ago, founder Russell Weiner has shifted his focus to luxury real estate in South Florida. Weiner, who now goes by Russell Savage—a name he says honors his father’s radio persona—began his property investments with two North Palm Beach homes purchased from Swedish model Elin Nordegren, the former wife of golfer Tiger Woods, for $32.9 million in September 2020.
In October 2020, Savage sold those homes to billionaire Robert F. Smith for $48.2 million, marking a 47 percent gain in just over a month. Forbes valued the sale of Rockstar Energy at more than $4 billion and estimates Savage’s net worth at about $5.4 billion.
Savage has continued investing in high-end properties throughout the region. He recently signed contracts to buy two mansions in Stone Creek Ranch, an exclusive neighborhood in Palm Beach County where actor Mark Wahlberg is also a resident. The combined price for these homes exceeds $40 million. Although he has received offers to resell them for higher amounts, Savage told The Real Deal that “there is far more upside to go.” He described Florida as “the new Golden State,” citing its lack of state income tax, business-friendly environment, and perception of low crime as reasons for rising property values: “Everything keeps going up in Florida,” he said.
Among his latest acquisitions are an 11,500-square-foot estate on Hawk Shadow Lane listed for nearly $22 million with Douglas Elliman’s Senada Adžem and another mansion on Quiet Vista Circle purchased for $16.7 million through Talbot Sutter of Sutter & Nugent.
In August, Savage acquired a waterfront property at 43 Star Island Drive on Miami Beach’s Star Island for $35.3 million. The mansion previously belonged to Rosie O’Donnell and features extensive water frontage and multiple guest houses. Plans are underway to renovate and expand it into a larger estate that could be listed for over $100 million.
Savage also owns a home at 5300 North Bay Road that developer Keith Menin bought last year but which Savage claims ownership of; Menin was hired to renovate the house before listing it with One Sotheby’s International Realty for $32.5 million.
Additionally, Savage spent several years assembling land on Pine Tree Drive in Miami Beach with purchases totaling over $35 million from Leila and David Centner in 2021 and later foreclosed on an adjoining parcel earlier this year. Construction began on what is expected to be a massive compound valued at around $100 million but has faced delays due to litigation involving his former project manager Andrea D’Alessio.
