Aug 18, 2026
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Add us on GoogleMost country clubs are known for catering to the rich and sometimes even the famous. But Indian Creek Country Club is so exclusive that even Jeff Bezos, one of the wealthiest people in the world, is still waiting for an invitation to join.
Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, already own property on Indian Creek, the famously guarded island enclave off the coast of Miami often nicknamed the “Billionaire Bunker.” But a deed on the island does not automatically come with a tee time. Membership to its nearly century-old country club remains a separate — and considerably more selective — matter.
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The couple recently got a glimpse behind the gates when they were welcomed as special guests at the club’s annual dock party, according to the Wall Street Journal. The surroundings certainly fit the clientele: a private golf course, a Mediterranean-style clubhouse and a swimming pool overlooking Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline.
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Bezos was reportedly hoping the visit would help his membership prospects.
An invitation money can’t buy
Founded in 1929, the Indian Creek Country Club has long attracted wealthy families with deep ties to South Florida, giving it the kind of old-money pedigree that even a massive fortune cannot instantly buy.
That may be part of the challenge facing Bezos. According to LuxuryLaunches, prospective members need the backing of seven existing members: two sponsors and another five willing to write letters of recommendation. Members have said applicants are expected to show up for cocktail gatherings, attend meet-and-greets and, naturally, spend time on the golf course.
Getting nominated is only the first hurdle. A six-person membership committee decides which prospective members move forward before their names are sent to the club’s 15-member board, led by club president and former AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson, for a final vote, one member told the Wall Street Journal.
For some famous applicants, the process has been relatively painless. The Journal reports that retired football star Tom Brady and Jersey Mike’s founder Peter Cancro made it in without much trouble. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon eventually did too, but only after another member reportedly organized an effort to block his admission. Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Aaron Rollins, meanwhile, tried for four years without success.
The club reportedly has about 350 members, with an initiation fee approaching $1 million and annual dues of roughly $44,000.
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Why billionaires buy in
Bezos has already spent roughly $234 million buying three homes on Indian Creek, according to public records cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Part of what makes membership so coveted is the island itself. The roughly 300-acre enclave in Biscayne Bay is home to just about 30 residences.
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For wealthy buyers, much of Indian Creek’s appeal comes down to privacy and security. Matias Alem, founder and CEO of Miami luxury real estate firm BRG International, and Christina West Alem, a sales associate at the firm, have described both as major selling points.
The island can be reached by just one bridge and has its own village council government, police force and marine patrol. Security stretches across both land and water, Alem told People, with radar, thermal cameras and other surveillance technology helping protect residents.
“That’s the number one draw for a lot of these clients,” he told People.
Bezos is hardly the only billionaire drawn to that level of privacy. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife reportedly purchased a home on the island for $170 million in March, with renovations still underway, according to The Palm Beach Post. Other high-profile residents include Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, DJ David Guetta and Brady, whose 25,000-square-foot mansion is reportedly worth about $150 million.
But owning a piece of Indian Creek and belonging to its country club are two very different things. On an island built for billionaires, money may be enough to get you through the gates. It still doesn’t guarantee a seat inside the clubhouse.
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Victoria Vesovski is a Toronto-based staff reporter at Moneywise covering personal finance, lifestyle and trending news. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and New York University, and her work has appeared on platforms including Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and Apple News.
