Edgardo Defortuna

Edgardo Defortuna is an Argentine-American real estate developer and businessman. He is the President, CEO, and Founder of Fortune International Group, a Miami-based full-service real estate firm specializing in high-end luxury real estate in South Florida. Defortuna is fluent in both English and Spanish. 
==Early Life and Education== 
Edgardo Defortuna was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the age of three, his family relocated to Córdoba, where he spent his early years. In 1983, after obtaining his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Argentina, he moved to the United States. Defortuna later earned an MBA from the University of Miami. He began his career in real estate in 1983, managing properties for family and friends and acquiring a small brokerage in the Brickell area.
==Career==
Fortune International Group operates in real estate development, resale brokerage, and new development sales and marketing.
Defortuna initially focused on selling units within the Brickell Place complex, where he established his first office. He later acquired several real estate companies, consolidating them into a single entity known as Fortune International Group. The name was chosen to Americanize his surname, Defortuna. 
Defortuna targeted the Latin American market, providing services to South American clients interested in investing in South Florida real estate. He collaborated with legal and financial experts to simplify the purchasing process and established business relationships with local brokers in Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia.
In 1998, Defortuna and his wife Ana Cristina Defortuna launched Fortune International Group’s luxury-development arm, developing projects in Brickell, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Aventura, and Sunny Isles Beach.
In 2022, Fortune International Group strengthened its brokerage division, Fortune International Realty, by partnering with Christie’s International. The brokerage has expanded to over 600 agents across 11 Miami offices, with additional offices in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Edgardo's first development project was Jade Residences at Brickell Bay, a 48-story high-rise completed in 2004. Subsequent projects included Jade Beach (2008), Jade Ocean (2009), and Jade Signature (2018) in Sunny Isles Beach, the latter in collaboration with the architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Defortuna has overseen the integration of international architectural talent and designers in projects managed by Fortune International Group.
Fortune International Group has been involved in developments such as The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Pompano Beach and Ora by Casa Tua in Brickell.The company has also expanded into the European and Asian markets, with a focus on Spain, Britain, France, Turkey, and Russia. 
Fortune International Group has announced several future projects, such as the St. Regis Residences in Sunny Isles Beach and Nexo Residences in North Miami Beach. Fortune International Group has been appointed as the exclusive sales and marketing agent for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental Miami, Cipriani Residences Miami, Pagani Residences in North Bay Village, Bay Harbor Towers in Bay Harbor Islands, ELLE Residences Miami among others. 
==Family== 
The Defortuna family has been involved in the operations of Fortune International Group. Walter Defortuna, Edgardo's brother, previously led Fortune International Realty. Their sister, Monica Defortuna, serves as Vice President, contributing to the company's strategic direction. Ana Cristina Defortuna is the Executive Vice President of Sales, involved in the aesthetic and operational aspects of their projects. Edgardo and Ana Cristina Defortuna have five children. 
==Community Involvement== 
Defortuna serves on the advisory board of the University of Miami Business School and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Ransom Everglades School. He also holds a position as a board member of the Argentine-U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Miami. 
==Honors, Awards & Features==
* South Florida Business and Wealth, 2014 CEO of the Year Apogee Award 
* South Florida Business and Wealth, 2021 Circle of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award 
* Haute Residences, 2017 Florida Titan of the Year Award 
* RED Awards Florida, 2024 Developer of the Year 
* Expo Argentina, Argentine Developer Who Succeeds Abroad Award 2024
Defortuna was referred to as "Miami's condo whisperer" in a profile article by The Real Deal South Florida.
Category:Real estate developers
Category:Businesspeople
Category:People from Buenos Aires
Category:Argentine people