Misha Ezratti leads GL Homes, a company that generated over $2 billion in revenue in 2024 and ranks as Florida’s second-largest private homebuilder. His position in the real estate industry comes not from sudden success but from 23 years of working through nearly every department of the family business before becoming president in 2016.
People search for information about him because GL Homes has built homes for over 100,000 families across Florida, making the company and its leadership relevant to both the housing market and the broader economy. Understanding his background helps explain how a family-owned business competes successfully against publicly traded corporations with significantly larger resources.
His career path offers insight into how second-generation business leaders navigate the challenge of honoring a founder’s vision while adapting to changing markets and customer expectations.
Early Life and Family Backgound
Misha Ezratti was born in 1982 in Hollywood, Florida, into a family already deeply embedded in the real estate industry. His father, Itzhak Ezratti (also spelled Itchko), founded GL Homes in 1976—six years before Misha’s birth. The company name “GL” stands for “Good Luck,” reflecting the founder’s optimistic approach to business.
Growing up, Misha was immersed in the homebuilding business from childhood. According to his statements in industry interviews featured on Florida Trend 500 profile, his childhood hero was and remains his father, indicating the strong influence Itzhak had on his development and career aspirations.
His upbringing provided exposure to business operations, customer interactions, and the challenges of building quality homes in Florida’s unique climate and regulatory environment. This early immersion gave him practical understanding that formal education alone couldn’t provide.
Education and Early Career Path
Misha attended Boston University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. This educational foundation gave him the analytical skills needed for business management, financial planning, and strategic decision-making that would later prove essential in running GL Homes.
During his senior year at Boston University, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks occurred. The event significantly impacted his career plans. “I really didn’t want to go to the city after that,” he explained in interviews, referring to his original intention to work in New York’s financial sector.
Instead of pursuing finance in Manhattan, he returned home to Florida and joined GL Homes in 2002 as a construction superintendent. This was not a ceremonial position given to the founder’s son—it was hands-on work requiring early morning starts, dealing with Florida heat, and managing construction crews on active building sites.
“When I started with the company, I worked in construction. While I loved the experience, I do not miss the early hours and heat,” he recalled. This ground-level experience gave him credibility with long-term employees and taught him construction realities that executive positions don’t typically provide.
Working Through the Company
Over the next 14 years, Misha worked in multiple departments throughout GL Homes, gaining comprehensive understanding of how each function contributes to the overall operation. This wasn’t rapid advancement—it was methodical preparation for eventual leadership.
He spent time in construction management, project coordination, customer relations, and various operational roles. This extended apprenticeship under his father’s guidance created deep institutional knowledge that outside executives typically lack.
The average tenure of GL Homes managers exceeds 22 years, indicating a culture of loyalty and stability. Working alongside these experienced professionals while learning the business gave Misha both technical knowledge and relationship capital within the organization.
Becoming President
In 2016, at age 34, Misha was named President of GL Homes. His father Itzhak transitioned to Chairman, maintaining involvement while passing operational leadership to the next generation. This transition happened smoothly because of the years of preparation and proven competence Misha had demonstrated.
The timing was significant—the housing market had recovered from the 2008 financial crisis, and Florida’s population growth was accelerating. Taking leadership during a growth phase rather than a crisis allowed him to focus on expansion and innovation rather than survival.
His appointment represented continuity in company values while bringing fresh perspective on design trends, technology adoption, and changing customer preferences across different age demographics.
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Company Growth Under His Leadership
Under Misha’s presidency, GL Homes has expanded significantly while maintaining its Florida-only focus. The company currently employs 580 people and has approximately 10,000 homes in its development pipeline.
In 2024, GL Homes generated $2.089 billion in revenue with 2,062 home closings in 2023, according to Builder Magazine data. This represents substantial growth from previous years while competing against much larger publicly traded homebuilders.
One notable success is the RiverCreek community near Naples, which ranked number one nationally for highest average sales in 12 months according to Zonda data. This achievement came from Misha’s decision to shift from traditional Mediterranean architecture to modern transitional designs, differentiating GL Homes from competitors in the market.
The company specializes in three segments: luxury move-up homes, active adult communities (55+), and family-oriented neighborhoods. This diversification across age demographics provides stability through different economic cycles.
Personal Life and Family
Misha is married to Jessica Millman, a professional ballet dancer. Their relationship represents a blend of business leadership and artistic creativity, with Jessica maintaining her own career while supporting his role at GL Homes.
They have at least one son, continuing the Ezratti family legacy. Misha keeps details about his children relatively private, similar to how he approaches other aspects of personal life.
Fourteen family members, including his wife and his sister who previously played hockey at the University of Wisconsin before graduating, represent the close family dynamics that influence how GL Homes operates as a family business.
Business Recognition
Misha has received several industry honors recognizing his leadership:
- Named to South Florida Business Journal’s “Ultimate CEO” list in November 2024
- Featured in Florida Trend’s Florida 500, highlighting the state’s most influential business leaders
- Regular speaker at industry conferences on topics including design innovation and customer satisfaction
These recognitions reflect both GL Homes’ business success and his personal leadership approach within the competitive Florida real estate market.
Net Worth and Financial Standing
Financial Disclaimer: Net worth estimates for business executives vary significantly across sources and represent approximations rather than confirmed figures. Private company ownership makes exact valuations difficult to determine.
Estimates of Misha Ezratti’s personal net worth range from several hundred million to potentially higher, though exact figures are not publicly disclosed. His wealth comes primarily from ownership stake in GL Homes, a privately held company valued based on revenue and comparable company multiples.
The Ezratti family’s collective net worth, which includes his father Itzhak’s holdings and other family members’ interests, has been estimated at approximately $1.9 billion in some reports, though this figure should be viewed as speculative given the private nature of the business.
His compensation as president of a company generating over $2 billion annually would be substantial, but specific salary and bonus figures are not publicly reported as GL Homes is privately held and not required to disclose executive compensation.
Physical Appearance and Public Presence
Misha maintains a professional appearance appropriate to his role leading a luxury homebuilder. He appears regularly at industry events, community functions, and company activities but doesn’t seek personal publicity beyond his business responsibilities.
His public presence focuses on GL Homes’ achievements, community contributions, and industry developments rather than personal profile building. This understated approach aligns with the company’s family-business culture and long-term orientation.
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