Robert Rivani, a commercial real estate maverick who bolted Los Angeles for Miami, recently arranged his latest coup: Playboy is moving its Hollywood headquarters to The Rivani, his newly rebranded, seven-story mixed-use project in Miami Beach.
Rivani started out as a sneakerhead and sold his collection for $150,000 as a teen. Even today, he’s unconventional, sporting a gelled mohawk and chest-length beard while doing deals like a Wall Street rainmaker.
His approach: Don’t wait for opportunity. Rivani’s habit of outbidding rivals and closing fast has upended Miami’s luxury hospitality sector including its restaurant scene, where he has landed trophy tenants like Delilah, Gekko, Catch and RosaNegra Miami in recent years. Now, the $40 million makeover of his building at 1691 Washington Avenue will host Playboy’s 250-employee operation in a sprawling penthouse suite, courtesy of a 10-year lease and a promise to revive the faded luster of an iconic brand — so long as the company gets an $800,000 city incentive for its headquarters relocation. The renovation is slated to finish in April 2026.
The Real Deal sat down with Rivani at his Miami home to talk about changing his firm’s name from Black Lion to Rivani, his latest projects, his outspoken persona on social media and in real life, becoming a father and why he is so bullish about Miami hospitality.
The interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity.
Born: April 3, 1990
Hometown: Los Angeles
Lives: Morningside, Miami
Family: Wife Krystal and son Ragna
How did you land Playboy as the penthouse tenant for The Rivani office project in Miami Beach?
They were looking at sites all over South Florida, especially in Miami Beach. When they saw the vision, hospitality and amenities that are coming with our building, it was just a perfect, harmonious match.
You’ve coined the term Class X to describe The Rivani. What does that mean?
I would never let anybody [describe] an office building of this caliber being Class A. So it’s called Class X.
What are some of the interior details that would give people a sense of why you’re spending $100 million to renovate this building?
Well, it’s $100 million total [including the $63 million purchase price]. We’re spending about $40 million in improvements. For example, valet for me is really important. We’re the only office building in Miami Beach with a [covered driveway]. We’re spending $5 million just on that. Our reception desks are almost $100,000 each because they are literally carved out of a mountain. And we have a speakeasy lounge where every VIP gets their own liquor cabinet. You can call ahead, “Please have my bottle of Scotch and four glasses ready for me and my clients.” [Landlords will spend] $125 a square foot for average Class A office space. We’re spending almost $300 a square foot.
“I’m completely and utterly micromanaging.”
So does that mean you’re going to charge Class X office rents?
I will have to break some records.
Are you micromanaging or delegating the build-out?
I’m completely and utterly micromanaging. I’m involved in every detail down to the carpet finishes, the handles of the kitchen cabinets, the toilets and the faucets.
Does The Rivani currently have tenants besides Playboy?
We are 85 percent occupied. For example, we already have a pretty robust tenant pool including Apple, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James, Williams Sonoma, Coldwell Banker, The Jills and The Peebles Corporation. We don’t just want to let in anybody who wants to lease space. It’s important to curate the right crowd.
Why did you decide to do this type of project in Miami Beach?
I love Miami Beach. It’s had a rough patch the past couple of years. But with the influx of wealth and all the high-net-worth individuals that are choosing to live on Venetian Island, Star Island, Palm Island and North Bay Road, an office building right there is overly convenient for those high-net-worth individuals, which is more of our target market.
In the last year or so, you’ve sold a large chunk of your restaurant space portfolio. How come?
I don’t raise money. I don’t have outside investors. Any time I buy and sell a deal, it’s my own money, so I need the capital in order to move on to the next project.
Why don’t you like having business partners?
I’m a very unique character when it comes to my concepts and my ideas. I’m sure you, just like everybody else, thought I was an absolute psychopath buying every single ground-floor vacant retail space that nobody can do anything with. And I have these weird, quirky ideas that I think will come to fruition, and I’ve blown my own money to bet on it.
In 2023, you sold “Rivani Castle,” your Los Angeles estate inspired by “Harry Potter”and “Game of Thrones,” including a replica of the Iron Throne, for $20 million. What happened to the contents of the house?
The “Game of Thrones” stuff is coming to my office headquarters. The throne is going to be front and center.
Do you have any plans to create a new castle in Miami?
I wish that land wasn’t so goddamn expensive. We had 2.5 acres in L.A. and it was a 15,000-square-foot home. It’s almost impossible to replicate that in Miami.
You have a big social media presence, and you talk to the media. Why do you feel comfortable being front and center?
It’s important for people to understand the vision, creativity and hard work of what you’re doing. I want people to see that I want to help the businesses that we sign up. I want to help promote Playboy and all these new restaurants that open up in the city. And I like to speak my mind. I think a lot of people in real estate are scared to have their voice because they’re getting money from outside investors. As soon as they do something that an outside investor doesn’t want, they’re going to slap their wrist or pull their investment or do something to control them.
But is social media engagement a strategy for you?
For sure. Instead of going on my website like a typical developer, you go to my Instagram and look at all the things I’ve done and what I’m about. People want to follow a person much more than follow a brand. I feel like I’m the guy out of left field. Like, “who the hell is this guy with the mohawk and the beard?” I was like, “I’m gonna play into that more.”
When did you get the mohawk and beard?
It happened during [the pandemic] because I couldn’t get a barber when everything was shut down. My wife asked me if I wanted her to cut my hair. She shaved the sides of my head and I just slicked the top of my hair. Then I just let the beard grow out and ended up looking like the Black Lion logo. At the time, I didn’t have public social media accounts.
Do you spend a lot of time and money grooming?
My wife still cuts my hair from time to time. I use oils [on my beard] every single day. I gel my hair a few times a week. The problem is with gel in Miami is the heat is fucking nuts. You got all the stuff streaking down the sides of your head.
You and Krystal recently had your first child: a son, Ragna. For how long did you both want kids?
We always wanted children since we met, but I made it clear in the beginning [of the relationship] that my first child is my career. Once we moved to Miami, we decided to have fun for a few years and then it was time to have a kid. Our little guy was born eight months ago, and that has completely changed my life.
I’ve seen pictures of him. He’s got a mohawk. Is he your mini-me?
Yes, he’s mini-me. But he’ll never be in commercial or any type of real estate.
How come? Most real estate tycoons set up a line of succession.
Because of the amount of pain and suffering that I had to go through to get [Ragna] to where he is financially set. He shouldn’t have to work in an industry because I mandate him to do it. One reason my company was called Black Lion is because I was the black sheep of my family. [My parents] wanted me to be a doctor or an attorney, I don’t want to force somebody’s direction in their life.
How many siblings do you have, and did they become what your parents wanted?
I have two siblings. They’re in another world in another place where they follow Mommy’s and Daddy’s footsteps. I decided to get up and get out.
You refer to your little family as the Meatballs. How come?
We just call [Ragna] a meatball because he’s super chunky.
What’s been your biggest surprise about being a father?
The biggest surprise is that all the things I thought were so important really aren’t. We almost lost him during the first two months of his life. It made me realize that any other problem in life is absolutely not [a problem].
Where do you get your fashion sense?
My wife would say it’s her. I would say that it is a blend of just being myself and wanting to stand out, even though I’m more shy than you can actually imagine.
How many custom-made lion T-shirts do you have?
I think 20, give or take.
How many sneakers did you have when you sold the collection for $150,000?
200-plus. All stacked up everywhere in my house.
What’s the most expensive pair of sneakers that you have today?
Nothing crazy. I’m more into watches now than I am into shoes. Rolex, Roger Dubuis and Hublot. But I am not going to spend half a million dollars to get a Richard Mille watch just because someone says it’s a fashion statement.
Are you still your wife’s patient zero when it comes out to trying new foods and health and wellness trends?
For sure.
What’s a food that you recently tried for the first time?
Passionfruit. It’s fucking great. I’ve had it in like nasty drinks, but not fresh by itself.
Do you still make your own sushi?
Oh yeah. We’re opening a sushi concept with Alvaro Perez, the chef behind [Miami restaurant] Ogawa. I will be one of the sushi chefs. It’s a hobby for me.
When did you start making sushi?
About six, seven years ago. I go to Japan every [year]. It’s my favorite place in the world.
Do you like cooking, preparing meals in general?
Absolutely not. Sushi is as far as I’ll go.
Working with your wife, how do you guys make it work?
It works great. She brings a feminine touch that I don’t have. She’ll do all the little intimate and delicate features that make [a space] really special. She also busts my chops.
Another thing you don’t have a problem with is sharing your political views and where you stand on issues. How come?
Where do you think I stand on politics?
Well, I know you’re anti-Gavin Newsom and anti-Karen Bass.
I’m anti-craziness. I’m not left, and I’m not right. I’m a very down-the-middle guy. If I do have a voice on social media or publicly, and I think that there’s something wrong going on, if I don’t speak up and say something, who’s going to? It’s been proven now that the politics of California and New York have caused this mass migration to Florida. It’s because of their actions. And if those actions spread to Miami, then what’s next? Miami is the last frontier. If Miami goes to shit or South Florida goes to shit, where are we all going to move to?
Have your political views hurt you professionally?
From a business side of things, I think most people love and appreciate what I’m doing for South Florida. I do get hate mail and crazy direct messages. I’ve talked about Jewish things and protecting Israel. I’ve gotten messages like, “I wish Adolf Hitler finished the job with your family and burned your bodies.”
