Inside the Four Seasons penthouse where former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz retired
Mick Duchon of the Corcoran Group gives Fox News Digital a tour of the $21.95 million unit at the Four Seasons Residences in Surfside, where former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz recently bought a bathroom.
From the moment you step through the private foyer and into the sun-drenched living area, it’s clear that $44 million buys more than just looks; buys fine art.
At the famous Four Seasons Surf Club in Surfside, Florida, the modern aesthetic of the beach is defined by stunning architecture and warm lighting all around, an illuminated mill and feature walls of sliding wood. Outside, rows of white umbrellas line the tranquil pools reflecting resort-style luxury.
For high-profile players like former Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz, this is the new “Wall Street South” — a place where floor-to-ceiling glass blurs the line between a high-rise boardroom and the blue Atlantic horizon.
“It seems like the common thread we’re talking about is, if they can’t do business here, why would they do it in the coldest place? They might as well do it sitting next to the ocean,” Mick Duchon of the Corcoran Group told Fox News Digital during a showing of the $21.95 million unit in the same building Schultz recently moved into.
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“What I find from many buyers who are looking at this space in the market, they have never really retired,” he continued. “So they’re looking for the next step in their journey, like [Schultz]and it’s an exciting place to take that step.”
Four Seasons Private Residences at The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida, Monday, March 23, 2026. (Getty Images)
Last month, Schultz and his wife announced that they have moved to Florida in their “retirement phase,” leaving Washington state after half a century. Schultz shared the news on his LinkedIn page, recounting how he, his wife Sheri, and their golden retriever, Jonas, moved from New York City to Seattle 44 years ago.
“We were starting a new life,” Schultz wrote, recalling how Sheri would become their main earner as she started a new job “at a place called Starbucks” in September 1982.
“The spirit of progress has long underpinned our way of life—in business, in helping people and most importantly, as a family,” Schultz continued to write. “We will always be grateful for the memories made in Seattle and the relationships built along the way… To the family, friends and colleagues who have made Seattle our home for so many years, thank you.”
The unit’s balcony overlooks the resort-style pool and the Atlantic Ocean.
He and his wife bought a $44 million penthouse at the Four Seasons Surf Club Residences, The Wall Street Journal first reported, down from the original listing price of $55 million. It has five bedrooms, a rooftop terrace, a central courtyard, a detached garage and an oceanfront cabana.
Schultz’s announcement came as Washington state works to pass a so-called “millionaire tax,” which would impose a 9.9% income tax on households earning more than $1 million a year. The Washington State House of Representatives passed the controversial bill by a vote of 51-46, and it was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday.
“Wealth taxes as a threat to the states that could be implemented… it’s a big motivator for these high net worth people to move here, and where we are right now at the Four Seasons Surf Club is a great place for them because of everything it has to offer,” Duchon said.
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Staying at the Four Seasons Surfside means buying into history where Winston Churchill used to paint and the Rat Pack hangs outside. In 2026, it was updated to a modern business leader with Thomas Keller’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant and a state-of-the-art hammam and spa.
The Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club opened on New Year’s Eve 1930.
“The history of the 1930s… it creates this historical significance, and it just adds character to the area, which makes sense. It has an issue built into the area that these people value so much,” Duchon noted. “It creates an environment where these people are comfortable.”
“The lifestyle here is amazing, the weather is amazing, and the landscape is unbelievable and there are few properties – the Surf Club being one of them – that match the criteria they are looking for in terms of service, exclusive view, security, architecture, design and location,” he added.
The multimillion-dollar condo that Duchon has pending sale has four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, and is just over 5,000 square feet. Upon entering, guests are greeted with beautiful artwork, dramatic lighting and cool white and beige furniture. In the restaurant, there are bespoke travertine wine towers to the ceiling. The main lounge feels large and spacious, while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
When it comes to greater Miami, some may see a cooling market. However, insiders argue that in the luxury segment, traditional real estate rules do not apply.
“The market dictates the price, and sellers have the right to ask whatever they want,” he continued. “Price points are being opened more often, there is no space… Many times they are willing to spend more money than any other payments to get what they want.”
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“That market is different from other markets,” he added, “and there are certain places that only those high-end people would consider, including Indian Creek, the Four Seasons… It’s a target demographic, and only a certain type of product will be interested in it.”
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As the sun sets over the emerald green lawns and white cabanas of the Surf Club, the message to the rest of the country is clear: Miami is the new capital and culture of America. Billion dollar sales are not isolated events; they are the catalysts for a “recession” economy that is “really growing” at a record pace.
“The transactions that are happening now at this price point, create a lot of pressure in the whole market, and have a downward effect,” said Duchon. “In every other market on the islands and single-family homes and other condos … It’s created a lot of demand and the appreciation comes from that. But it’s a market within itself. So there are other spaces within the Miami market that are stable and stable and affordable.”
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FOX Business’ Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
