Our Story
Born in Miami.
Built for Every Ocean.
For over 25 years, BuyPrivateIsland.com has connected the world's most discerning buyers with extraordinary private islands β guided by a team that traces its roots to the sun-soaked shores of South Florida.
Our Founding Story
From Biscayne Bay
to the World's Oceans
"Growing up in Miami, the water was never a backdrop β it was the world. Islands were places you pointed to on the horizon and wondered: what would it take to make one yours?"
In 1998, childhood friends and lifelong sailors Marcus Reid and Elena Vega launched BuyPrivateIsland.com from a small office on Brickell Avenue in Miami. Both had grown up navigating the waters between Miami Beach and the Florida Keys, spending weekends anchoring off sandbars and dreaming about what lay beyond. After years working in luxury marine real estate along Florida's coast, they spotted a gap no one had filled: a specialist platform dedicated entirely to private island transactions worldwide.
What began as a directory of Caribbean listings β close to home, easy to reach from Miami β grew into the world's foremost private island marketplace. Today BuyPrivateIsland.com spans 47 countries, has facilitated over $2 billion in island transactions, and maintains regional offices on four continents. But the Miami spirit β the boldness, the sun, the understanding that the ocean is opportunity β runs through everything we do.
Headquartered at 1221 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131
The People Who Started It All
Meet Our Founders
Marcus Reid
Co-Founder & CEO
Raised in Miami Beach and schooled on the waters of Biscayne Bay, Marcus spent his twenties working in Florida Keys luxury marine real estate before co-founding BuyPrivateIsland.com in 1998. A licensed captain and seasoned sailor, he has personally visited over 220 private islands across the Caribbean, Pacific, and Mediterranean. He splits his time between Miami and the Exumas, Bahamas.
Elena Vega
Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer
Born and raised in Coral Gables, Elena earned her law degree at the University of Miami before specialising in international real estate transactions. Her legal acumen and fluency in four languages made her the natural architect of BuyPrivateIsland.com's global expansion strategy. From negotiating landmark acquisitions in the Bahamas to structuring corporate ownership vehicles in Southeast Asia, Elena has touched virtually every major transaction in the company's history.
Why Miami?
The Gateway to Every Island in the World
Miami is the only city in the continental United States where you can board a plane and reach the Caribbean in under an hour, close deals in both English and Spanish, access the most sophisticated network of luxury marine professionals anywhere, and feel the ocean as a lived reality rather than an abstraction. For a company built on islands, there was never any other city. Miami is not where we started β it is what we are.
What We Stand For
Our Core Principles
Integrity First
Every recommendation we make is grounded in honest counsel. We represent your interests above all else β your trust is the only currency we value.
Deep Expertise
Island acquisition is a specialist discipline. Twenty-five years mastering the legal, environmental, and logistical nuances of island ownership across 47 jurisdictions.
Absolute Discretion
Our clients include heads of state, Fortune 500 executives, and celebrated visionaries. Confidentiality is not a feature β it is the foundation of how we work.
Vision-Led Matching
We don't show you listings. We understand your vision β and find the island that fits your life, not just your budget.
Sustainability
Island ecosystems are precious. We champion responsible development and connect buyers with advisors who protect what makes islands extraordinary.
Lifelong Partnership
The transaction is the beginning. We remain your island partner β for development, management, staffing, resale, or whenever you need a trusted voice.
The People Behind the Islands
Meet Our Specialists
James Caldwell
Head of Caribbean & Atlantic
14 years closing Caribbean island deals. Based between Nassau and Miami, James is the team's Bahamas authority.
Isabelle Fontaine
Mediterranean & Europe
Fluent in four languages, Isabelle navigates European island ownership with precision. Based in Monaco.
Marcus Chen
Pacific & South-East Asia
Based between Fiji and Singapore, Marcus is the go-to for Pacific island acquisitions and resort development.
Sofia Marchetti
Indian Ocean & East Africa
A former conservation attorney, Sofia brings unmatched environmental law expertise to island transactions across the Maldives and Seychelles.
Our Journey
A Miami Story, A Global Legacy
Founded in Miami
Marcus Reid and Elena Vega launch the platform from Brickell Avenue, Miami. The first listings are all within 500 miles of Florida.
Caribbean Dominance
BuyPrivateIsland.com becomes the leading platform for Caribbean island sales. First international offices open in Nassau and Belize City.
Global Expansion
European and Pacific offices open. Listings expand beyond the Americas for the first time. The team grows to 20 specialists across 6 countries.
$1 Billion Milestone
Cumulative transactions surpass $1 billion. The Miami HQ expands to a full floor at Brickell Avenue with a dedicated legal and due diligence team.
$2 Billion & Beyond
Total transactions exceed $2 billion. A sustainability charter is launched committing the company to carbon-neutral island development standards by 2030.
As Featured In
Ready to Find
Your Island?
Speak with our Miami-based specialists today. Private consultations available worldwide β no obligation, completely confidential.