Donald Soffer was given the primary responsibility to develop the Florida project. Turnberry Isle Resort quickly earned a reputation as the playground for the rich and famous; Soffer even chartered a fleet of yachts to dock at the Turnberry Isle marina to attract the requisite clientele (including a yacht named
Monkey Business, which Colorado Democratic
U.S. Senator and presidential candidate
Gary Hart would charter in 1987 and be photographed with
Donna Rice sitting on his lap). and in 1989, Jackie, his daughter joined the firm. In 1988, Soffer sold half his interest in Turnberry Isle Resort to Rafael Hotels for $20 million; in the early 1990s, he sold the remainder to Rafael. from
Stephen Muss for $165 million. After 25 years as partners in 2019 the Soffer siblings divided the company assets into two separate companies. Jackie Soffer is the current chairman and CEO of
Turnberry Associates, the development firm launched 50 years ago by Donald Soffer. Turnberry was the principal owner of
Aventura Mall, the Town Center Aventura, and three hotels in Aventura —
Residence Inn by Marriott,
Courtyard by Marriott, and
Hampton Inn — as well as another hotel in
Orlando. Jackie Soffer and Turnberry are also developing an 800-key
Miami Beach Convention Center hotel in partnership with Terra Group and David Martin. As of July 2015, Donald Soffer and his family were worth $4.2 billion. ==Philanthropy==