Buenos Aires-born, Miami-based Edgardo Defortuna established Fortune International in 1983, growing it into one of South Florida’s largest independently owned real estate firms.
Today, it handles primary and secondary sales, plus financing, management and development.
That last deep-pocketed division will soon debut South Florida hot spots in affiliation with Auberge Resorts and Hyde nightclubs, as well as Jade Signature, a 57-story condo tower in Sunny Isles Beach designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and French interiors master Pierre-Yves Rochon.
Here, Defortuna shares with Alexa the digits behind his development.
450
You’ll find this many feet of Atlantic Ocean beachfront at Auberge Beach Residence & Spa, which Fortune International will open late this year in Fort Lauderdale in a tie-up with Auberge Resorts.
1
Defortuna only carries one type of currency in his wallet. “Typically, the only currency I need is the US dollar; credit cards work everywhere,” he says. He keeps euros, pounds, Peruvian sols and Argentine and Uruguayan pesos in his safe.
27K
The number of miles he’s flown so far this year, on trips to Aspen, Colo.; Toronto; Buenos Aires (pictured); and Punta del Este, Uruguay, mostly for work.
3
Defortuna has three works by Uruguayan sculptor Pablo Atchugarry in his art collection. “My wife and I always visit him and his wife when we’re in Punta del Este. I enjoy the experience of meeting the artist and becoming friends.”
6
How many times a month, on average, Defortuna eats out. His favorite Miami restaurants are Cipriani and Zuma (dish, above).
15
The tally of Brioni suits he owns. “As far as a uniform, during the week I always wear a customtailored suit.”
6
Jade Signature’s team made six trips to Italy and Greece to source the stone and marble used in the building.