An exclusive community in southern Florida is emerging as a major player in the luxury real estate market, challenging established powerhouses like Palm Beach and Miami in a high-stakes contest of wealth and prestige.
For decades, Florida’s wealthiest residents gravitated toward Miami and its surrounding areas, drawn by a lifestyle of unmatched luxury. But now, that dominance is being tested by a little-known enclave in Delray Beach, roughly 90 minutes north of the famed “Magic City.”
Last month, Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg made headlines by spending $37 million on a newly built megamansion in the community. Shortly after, Rockstar Energy Drink founder Russ Weiner entered contracts on two properties totaling $43 million.
What is it about this secretive sanctuary that attracts such high-profile buyers?
On paper, Stone Creek Ranch—a prestigious neighborhood of fewer than 40 luxury homes—seems worlds apart from Miami, Manalapan, or Palm Beach. It has no beaches, no celebrity nightlife, and no flashy designer shopping. Yet, it is precisely this understated exclusivity that has captured the attention of the ultra-wealthy.
An aerial view captures Mark Wahlberg’s new mansion in Delray Beach’s Stone Creek Ranch neighborhood.
But what truly sets this enclave apart isn’t its architecture or location—it’s a level of privacy and security that has become a major draw for the ultra-wealthy. The community is protected around the clock by armed professionals, most of whom come from military or law enforcement backgrounds.
Entry into Stone Creek Ranch is just as tightly controlled. Prospective buyers hoping to purchase one of the 37 private residences must undergo extensive criminal background checks before they can even attempt to secure a home.
For the rich and powerful, this level of security and seclusion often outweighs the appeal of beaches or private docks, says real estate agent Senada Adzem of Douglas Elliman, whose team has handled the majority of sales in the community.
In October, Mark Wahlberg spent $37 million on his Stone Creek Ranch estate.
According to Senada Adzem of Douglas Elliman, there’s been a notable shift in what ultra-wealthy buyers are seeking. Once, private beach access or a yacht-ready dock were must-haves for Florida mansions. Now, many are prioritizing seclusion over flashy amenities.
“I’m currently working with a very high-profile couple who no longer want to live on Star Island in Miami,” Adzem told Realtor.com®. “They feel they can’t truly enjoy their pool or yard with boats passing by and people taking pictures. They just want peace.”
She added, “Privacy is what’s truly valuable to them. They’d rather have complete seclusion—where no one is watching—so they can relax, spend time with their kids, and live freely. That’s what really matters.”
In their search for true privacy and luxury, the high-profile couple has turned to Stone Creek, Adzem revealed. She’s currently working to secure them a home through an off-market deal—necessary because none of the enclave’s mansions are publicly listed.
Many of Stone Creek’s homes sit along a private lake, offering water views without the downside of strangers drifting past—an issue that persists even in Miami and Palm Beach’s priciest enclaves, including Indian Creek Island, where residents like Tom Brady and Jeff Bezos contend with constant attention.
This deep sense of seclusion is further reinforced by the community’s expansive lot sizes, which place significant distance between properties and create the feeling of having no neighbors at all.
Another advantage often overlooked by outsiders is Stone Creek’s proximity to five of Palm Beach County’s top private schools—a major draw for affluent families seeking both luxury and convenience.
Inside the gates, the residences themselves take extravagance to new heights. Wahlberg’s new estate, Palazzo di Lago, spans 18,206 square feet and features seven bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms, two powder rooms, a home theater, cigar lounge, wine cellar, gym, sauna, guesthouse and a resort-style pool.
Designed by developer Aldo Stark, the mansion channels Italian architectural influences and has been hailed as an “architectural masterpiece” offering “the pinnacle of luxury living in South Florida.”
Wahlberg’s Stone Creek Ranch estate spans an impressive 18,206 square feet.
Every room showcases high-end finishes and craftsmanship, including custom “exquisite crystal chandeliers” designed to cast an “ethereal glow” throughout the home. Among its standout features is a hidden cigar lounge equipped with an advanced air-purification system.
Across the private lake sits another lavish residence—currently under contract by Rockstar founder Russ Weiner—known as Villa Ananda. The nearly 11,500-square-foot mansion sits on a 2.5-acre waterfront lot with an extraordinary 660 feet of private water frontage. Its amenities are equally striking: an expansive primary suite that takes up an entire wing, a sparkling pool, and a club room outfitted with a 150-inch projection screen.
Developer Aldo Stark, the creative force behind several Stone Creek properties, is also constructing an even more spectacular home expected to hit the market “in the $75 million range,” Adzem revealed.
Wahlberg’s purchase further underscores another lesser-publicized advantage of Stone Creek Ranch: the community’s strong return-on-investment potential.
Wahlberg’s Stone Creek Ranch estate spans an impressive 18,206 square feet.
Every room showcases high-end finishes and craftsmanship, including custom “exquisite crystal chandeliers” designed to cast an “ethereal glow” throughout the home. Among its standout features is a hidden cigar lounge equipped with an advanced air-purification system.
Across the private lake sits another lavish residence—currently under contract by Rockstar founder Russ Weiner—known as Villa Ananda. The nearly 11,500-square-foot mansion sits on a 2.5-acre waterfront lot with an extraordinary 660 feet of private water frontage. Its amenities are equally striking: an expansive primary suite that takes up an entire wing, a sparkling pool, and a club room outfitted with a 150-inch projection screen.
Developer Aldo Stark, the creative force behind several Stone Creek properties, is also constructing an even more spectacular home expected to hit the market “in the $75 million range,” Adzem revealed.
Wahlberg’s purchase further underscores another lesser-publicized advantage of Stone Creek Ranch: the community’s strong return-on-investment potential.
A living room inside Wahlberg’s Stone Creek Ranch home.
“I no longer have to explain what Stone Creek Ranch offers because there are so many big names in business and entertainment who live there,” Adzem said.
“The buyers who appreciate Stone Creek understand that they can still go to the ocean, but they also don’t have to worry about their family when they’re traveling. They have full-time security personnel, and they don’t have to think about people walking past their home and looking into their backyard.”
Stone Creek is also ideally positioned at what Adzem calls a “nexus” of several desirable South Florida destinations. The community sits between Delray Beach’s artsy, vibrant scene, the cosmopolitan energy of Miami, and the luxury of Boca Raton—offering residents access to all three.
“Delray is a new hot spot with a really cool vibe,” she added. “You have fabulous restaurants, an art scene—I almost compare it to Soho in New York. It’s very vibrant and young.”
“A lot of our clients love that they can enjoy their spacious resort-style mansions in total privacy, then be in Palm Beach in 30 minutes or in downtown Delray and at the beach in minutes. And Miami is only about an hour away.”
“Boca Raton is also less than half an hour away and has amazing restaurants and a beautiful, affluent scene.”
