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.
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.
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.
