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· collected 2026-09-06 · by TOI World Desk
Entrepreneur Mark Pentecost has listed his 104-acre Florida island, known as Little Bokeelia Island, for $89 million after spending millions on renovations and improvements. The property was purchased by Pentecost in 2015 for $14.5 million, a significant discount from its original asking price of $29.5 million. According to records, the island now features a private nine-hole golf course, multiple recreational facilities, and 29 developable residential lots. With an asking price of $89 million, Little Bokeelia Island is among the most expensive private island properties listed in the US.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Mark Pentecost, a former high school mathematics teacher and basketball coach who made his fortune founding the multi-level marketing company It Works! in 2001, has listed his 104-acre island property off Florida's west coast for $89 million, a sharp increase from the $14.5 million he paid for it in 2015. The property, which was originally valued at $29.5 million, has undergone significant transformations, including the addition of a private nine-hole golf course, upgraded infrastructure, and 29 developable residential lots. This transformation has made the island a potentially exclusive residential community or a large estate. Pentecost's vision for the property was to create a private retreat that could serve as a getaway from the mainland.
Written for “Florida Island Purchase Deal” on 2026-09-07,
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No political leaning scored for article 5760 · logged 2026-09-06
Eleven years after buying a private retreat off Florida’s west coast for $14.5 million, entrepreneur Mark Pentecost has listed the 104-acre property for $89 million after spending millions on its transformation.
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Pentecost → buy → transformation
The estate, historically known as Little Bokeelia Island, was listed through Coldwell Banker Realty and featured in Realtor.com's round-up of high-value American homes.
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estate → know → homes
The sharp rise in its value follows major improvements, including a private nine-hole golf course, upgraded infrastructure and 29 developable residential lots.
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rise → follow → course
Pentecost, a former high-school mathematics teacher and basketball coach, made his fortune after founding the multi-level marketing company It Works! in 2001.
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It → make → 2001
The health and beauty business grew into a company worth hundreds of millions of dollars, allowing Pentecost and his wife, Cindy, to buy the island in July 2015.
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Pentecost → grow → July
The couple paid much less than the property's original asking price of $29.5 million.
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couple → pay → million
At the time, the sale was recorded as one of the most expensive residential property deals in South-West Florida.
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sale → record → Florida
Speaking shortly after the purchase, Pentecost described his vision for the private retreat.
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Pentecost → speak → retreat
“Little Bokeelia is a slice of paradise that allows you to enjoy friendship, fun, freedom and to unplug from the chaos of today,” Mark Pentecost said in a statement released at the time.
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Pentecost → allow → time
“It's in these moments when you're able to relax that you can brainstorm and innovate.”
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you → relax → moments
Located in Pine Island Sound between Sarasota and Naples, the island has a history dating back to the early 20th century.
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island → locate → century
Industrialist and dry-cell battery inventor Charles Frederick Burgess bought the property in 1924 and built a Spanish-style villa in 1928.
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Burgess → buy → 1928
He hosted notable guests there, including inventor Thomas Edison.
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He → host → Edison
During his 10 years of ownership, Pentecost transformed the island into a fully equipped corporate retreat and family compound.
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Pentecost → transform → retreat
The estate is centred around the restored 1920s Addison Mizner-style main mansion, along with four guest cottages, a clubhouse, a caretaker's home and several recreational facilities.
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estate → centre → cottages
Together, the buildings contain 11 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms and three half-baths.
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buildings → contain → bedrooms
Along with the new nine-hole golf course, the property now has a pickleball court, full tennis and basketball courts, four deep-water docks, a resort-style swimming pool and a commercial-grade helipad for travel to and from the mainland.
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property → have → mainland
Property records from listing brokerages Coldwell Banker Realty and SWFLMLS show that the estate covers 104 acres with a large amount of shoreline.
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estate → show → shoreline
The 29 subdivided, developable lots could allow a future owner to turn the private island into an exclusive residential community or keep it as one large estate.
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owner → subdivide → estate
With an asking price of $89 million, Little Bokeelia Island is now among the most expensive private island properties listed in the United States.
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Island → list → States
Property records show annual taxes of about $115,166.
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records → show → 115,166
Although the island is secluded and can only be reached by helicopter or boat, it is close to deep-water tarpon fishing and coastal areas near the historic Gasparilla Inn on nearby Boca Grande.
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it → reach → Grande
Coldwell Banker and Pentecost's representatives have not publicly said whether the property will be sold as one unplatted parcel or whether developers will be able to buy individual subdivided lots.
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developers → say → lots