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Buffett Now a Billionaire

April 5th, 2023


According to Forbes, 150 people joined the Billionaire club this year and Jimmy Buffett is one of them:

This year, Forbes counted 2,640 people on the annual World’s Billionaires List–28 fewer than last year and 115 fewer than in 2021. But it wasn’t a bad year for everyone. In fact, Forbes found 150 new members that joined the ten-figure ranks this year.

Together, these 150 markets-defying new billionaires are worth $344 billion. They got rich in everything from finance and fitness gear to Formula 1 and fashion.

The most famous newcomers include some of the world’s most famous faces. Musician Jimmy Buffett has made a $1 billion fortune turning his carefree, island vibe into a lucrative branding business that has stamped the Margaritaville name on restaurants, hotels and casinos. Tom Ford joined the list after selling his clothing, fragrance, cosmetics and skin care business to Estée Lauder for $2.8 billion in November. And Tiger Woods (net worth: $1.1 billion) and LeBron James ($1 billion) have joined the ranks as the only two active athletes who are billionaires after turning their massive sports earnings and endorsement income into ten-digit fortunes through savvy business moves.

Read the full article at Forbes, as well as an article dedicated solely to Buffett and his business empire: “Beach Bum Billionaire”


Tagged in Business Empire, Personal/Family

Margaritaville to be Title Sponsor of Major League Pickleball

December 15th, 2022


It was announced today that Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville will become the title sponsor of the professional Major League Pickleball.

Major League Pickleball and Margaritaville today announced title sponsorship of the fast-growing professional pickleball league, branding the league as “MLP by Margaritaville.” This marks a seminal moment for the sport with one of the largest commercial deals ever for MLP, adding a world class partner to elevate the live experience for fans and players.

Margaritaville will play a large part in the branding and strategy of on-site fan activations and immersive entertainment, bringing a Margaritaville state of mind to the MLP community at tournaments nationwide. Tonight kicks off the 2023 campaign for MLP with the airing of the MLP Premier Level draft at 9:00pm EST live on Tennis Channel.

“I am happy to be in the same boat with MLP,” said Jimmy Buffett. “The first time I played pickleball, I was hooked. Fun has always been a part of life to me and I think of pickleball as the perfect ratio of work to play. We can’t wait to bring this partnership to life for MLP players and fans. See you on the court. Fins Up, Paddles Up!”

Margaritaville has been connected to pickleball and a driving force behind the growth of the sport in the travel and hospitality space for over five years. The brand has more than 30 dedicated courts across their lodging locations, with enthusiastic residents always on the courts at the brand’s Latitude Margaritaville active-living communities in Daytona Beach, FL; Hilton Head, SC; and Watersound, FL.

“We take pride in our longstanding support of the sport through multi-faceted event sponsorships and the growing number of courts at our lodging destinations,” said John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville. “It’s exciting to be part of pickleball’s continued success and evolution, so we look forward to keeping the momentum going with Major League Pickleball and the league’s one-of-a-kind events and impressive collection of team owners, players, and executives.”

Margaritaville has collaborated with various integrations and tournaments, including serving as the title sponsor of the USA Pickleball National Championships since 2018, the Powered by partner of the US Open in Naples since 2017, and as the Official Lodging Partner of the PPA. A line of Margaritaville pickleball paddles and gear is also available through HEAD, a leading sports equipment company.

“Since the inception of MLP, the league has been deliberate about bringing on partners who unlock new strategies and opportunities for us as a league,” said MLP Founder and Chairman, Steve Kuhn. “As we continue to innovate the live experience for partners, fans, and players, there is no better partner than Margaritaville. Their brand is certainly a lifestyle and we can’t wait to bring the Margaritaville experience to MLP events in 2023 and beyond.”

This week, MLP unveiled a dynamic league format for 2023 including 24 teams featuring high profile ownership groups, two seasons with major events across the U.S., a promotion and relegation system, and expanded prize money up to $5M. This made MLP the first major American professional sports league to implement a promotion and relegation system by introducing top-tier MLP Premier Level and upstart MLP Challenger Level with teams competing in two 3-event seasons to solidify their spot in the top Level.

Get more information on the league at majorleaguepickleball.net.


Tagged in Business Empire, Sports

Free Cruise on Margaritaville at Sea for Military Members, First Responders, and Teachers

September 8th, 2022


Honoring those who work tirelessly to serve others, Jimmy Buffet and Margaritaville at Sea offer a small bonus to all active servicemembers, Veterans, First Responders, and Educators with a free cruise onboard its first and only cruise ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.

“Welcome aboard heroes, with a big Fins Up thank you for your service,” said singer, songwriter, and best-selling author Jimmy Buffett. “Now we feel honored to serve you—at sea.”

Under the ‘Heroes Sail Free’ cruise program, all U.S. military service members (active duty and veterans), police, fire, EMS personnel, and educators are invited to enjoy a free cruise to the Bahamas.

“To show our sincere gratitude for their ongoing service, we wanted to offer these frontline heroes a chance to kick off their boots and work shoes and flip flop into a relaxing getaway,” said Kevin Sheehan, Jr., President, and CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. “We hope a little downtime to recover from the demands of their day-to-day responsibilities is just what they need.”

Although many cruise lines have done special promotions for some of these groups before, Margaritaville at Sea is the first cruise line to offer a free cruise to such a wide variety of first responders, servicemen and women, veterans, teachers, and other educators.

Visit MargaritavilleAtSea.com for more information and to book!


Tagged in Business Empire, Charitable Causes

Buffett Unveils ‘Margaritaville at Sea’ Cruise Line

December 8th, 2021


Jimmy Buffett today announced a new “offshore resort experience” called Margaritaville at Sea.

The first cruise ship, Margaritaville Paradise, will offer the fun, escapism, and state of mind synonymous with the global lifestyle brand.

“To me, the only thing better than being on a beach by the ocean, is to be on the ocean. Now you can follow in our wake,” said singer, songwriter and best-selling author, Jimmy Buffett.

Departing on her first passenger sailing on April 30 from the Port of Palm Beach Florida to Grand Bahama Island, Margaritaville Paradise will include 10 passenger decks and 658 cabins in various stateroom categories. Following a multi-million investment and refurbishment, the ship’s cabins and common spaces will feature Margaritaville’s signature casual-luxe design with subtle nautical details and colors influenced by the surrounding sea, sand, and sky.

“Margaritaville at Sea will be a new, exciting, and fun way for guests to escape and vacation in Margaritaville,” said John Cohlan, CEO of Margaritaville. “From oceans to lakes, Margaritaville has an organic tie to the water and with Margaritaville at Sea, we’re able to put our iconic lifestyle, resort experiences, and elevated service directly on the sea. We look forward to seeing guests on, and in, Paradise.”

Margaritaville Paradise, formerly Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s flagship vessel, Grand Classica, will feature gourmet food and beverage options, including JWB Prime Steak & Seafood, Frank and Lola’s Pizzeria, Port of Indecision Buffet, LandShark Sports Bar, and Margaritaville Coffee & Pastry Shop as well as the Euphoria Lounge, Sunset Bar, and 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar. Additionally, the ship will offer onboard leisure activities and entertainment, including the Par-A-Dice Casino, a Stars on the Water Theater, St. Somewhere Spa, Fins Up! Fitness Center, pools, a retail shop, and more. The ship was built at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and entered service as a pioneer ship. She has opened many new markets and frontiers during her lifetime, so it is fitting that Margaritaville Paradise will again be a pioneer for Margaritaville at Sea.

Margaritaville at Sea is a floating island vacation at sea that brings together the brand’s iconic hospitality and resort experiences with the ability to escape and see the world. The inaugural ship, Margaritaville Paradise, features 658 casual-luxe cabins with nautical details and colors influenced by the sea, sand, and sky. Amenities include several dining venues, pools, entertainment programming, retail stores, a St. Somewhere Spa, Fins Up! Fitness Center, and more. In addition to Margaritaville at Sea, Margaritaville features over 25 hotels and resorts, two gaming properties, RV resorts, and over 60 food and beverage venues – as well as real estate communities, vacation clubs, and consumer lifestyle products. To learn about Margaritaville at Sea, visit margaritavilleatsea.com.


Tagged in Business Empire, Cruises

Margaritaville Expanding RV Resorts Nationwide

October 13th, 2021


After the tremendous success of the first two Camp Margaritaville RV Resorts in Lake Lanier, Georgia and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the brand has plans to expand nationally with 30 to 50 new locations in the next five years.

Business Insider has more:

Margaritaville’s brand might not immediately evoke RVing. But so far, Camp Margaritaville has seen massive success at its first two locations in Lake Lanier, Georgia and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, it said.

The first Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Lodge opened in Lake Lanier — about an hour north of Atlanta — following a “happy accident,” Jim Wiseman, the president of development at Camp Margaritaville, told Insider.

When Margaritaville had plans to sublease part of Lake Lanier, there was already a defunct RV park sitting unused on the land.

Instead of scrapping the camp, Margaritaville decided to revive and rebrand the resort as “Camp Margaritaville.”

The revamped camp reopened in spring 2019. In retrospect, this timing was fortuitous: Shortly after, the US underwent a pandemic-induced camping and RV boom.

This road travel trend then helped boost Camp Margaritaville’s business, which has since seen “off the charts” reception and reviews, according to Wiseman.

Read the full article here.


Tagged in Business Empire