Billionaire Barry Diller and fashion designer wife Diane von Furstenberg pay $45million for 1.5-acre waterfront LOT in Miami - joining growing list of celebs moving to Sunshine State

Media mogul Barry Diller has become the latest billionaire to put down roots in Florida after splashing out on a waterfront plot of land in Miami Beach for an eyewatering $45million.

The senior executive and chairman of IAC, 82, and his fashion icon wife Diane von Furstenberg, 77, closed on the deal for the 1.5-acre lot last week, nearly two months after the property went under contract, insiders told DailyMail.com. 

The empty lot is situated in an exclusive residential community on North Bay Road - overlooking Biscayne Bay - where fellow residents and neighbors include Bee Gees star Barry Gibb. 

IAC chairman Barry Diller, 82 - who is married to fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg - closed on a $45million deal for a residential lot in Miami Beach last week, DailyMail.com can confirm

The 1.5-acre plot of land overlooks the Biscayne Bay and is situated on one of Miami Beach's most exclusive and affluent residential communities 

The property was once the site of the Whitehall Mansion on North Bay Road, where fellow residents and neighbors include Bee Gees star Barry Gibb

In a deal brokered by Reid Heidenry and Marko Gojanovic of One Sotheby's International, Diller acquired the land from fellow businessman Bruce Beal Jr., who had owned the property since 2018, when it was still the site of the Whitehall Mansion.

The 13,600 square-foot home was later demolished after Beal purchased the property from two convicted tax evaders Mauricio Cohen Assor and his son, in 2018, according to The Real Deal. 

Details of the Expedia Group chairman's development plans were not provided, but the acquisition of the residential lot suggests he could be planning to build his dream home in South Florida with fashion designer wife Diane von Furstenberg.

The move, which adds to Diller's already impressive real estate portfolio, has also earned the couple a spot on the growing list of well-heeled celebrities, entrepreneurs, and billionaires alike who have recently headed south to make Florida their home. 

The Sunshine State has become a popular destination in recent years among politicians and wealthy public figures, including the Trump family, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, NFL star Tom Brady. 

Diller and von Furstenberg, who have been married for 23 years, are also reported to own homes in Connecticut and New York City. 

The empty lot is still within a gated community 

Details of Diller's development plans are unclear, but the acquisition of the residential lot suggests he and his wife could be planning to build their dream home in South Florida 

Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller - who married in 2001 - were spotted enjoying a night of culture in New York City earlier this year in February 

Diller owns a $200million yacht, on which he and his wife were seen hosting celebrity guests, last summer 

The two were also major financial backers of Little Island park in Manhattan, which opened in 2021. 

The pair also owns a $200million yacht, on which they were seen hosting celebrity guests, including Emma Thompson, Diane Sawyer, and Candice Bergen, and others last summer. 

Diller - one of the original Fox network co-founders with Rupert Murdoch who is said to be worth $4billion - purchased his 305-foot mega-yacht known as Eos back in 2006.

The yacht was well known as the largest luxury yacht in the world until Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos's 500-foot mega-yacht Y271, which reportedly cost $500million.

Earlier this year, the couple were spotted enjoying a night of culture in New York City just days after her former sister-in-law, model and socialite Ira von Furstenberg, passed away at the age of 83. 

The 77-year-old Belgian-born designer, who invented and popularized the wrap dress, was snapped walking out of the Joyce Theater in late February with Barry, who she wed in 2001. 

Diane posted two photos on Instagram from the night the following morning, with the caption: 'The joy and talent of NYC!'