The House That Botox Built: Ex-Allergan CEO Lists Miami Home for $21.9 Million

Brent Saunders, former CEO of the Botox maker Allergan, is listing his contemporary Miami home for $21.9 million. 

Located in the Venetian Islands, a chain of artificial islands in Biscayne Bay, the waterfront house measures around 6,700 square feet with six bedrooms, according to the listing from Mick Duchon and Eloy Carmenate of the Corcoran Group. One of about 28 waterfront homes on Biscayne Island, which is connected via causeway to Miami, the house has a pool, dock and about 70 feet of water frontage, Mr. Duchon said.

Mr. Saunders said he moved to Florida from New York in late 2018 for tax and personal reasons, before a wave of buyers moved during the pandemic. “I was a little ahead of my time,” he said. 

He paid $10.75 million for the house in 2019, according to property records. He said he invested almost $5 million in a “substantial” renovation of the house, which was originally built in 2014. He gutted the entire first floor, installing Italian ceramic tile flooring and teak kitchen cabinets. On the second floor, he redid the primary bedroom and bath. 

“Coming from the Northeast, having the option of being able to live indoors and outdoors was extraordinary,” said Mr. Saunders, describing telescoping doors that open to water views. “I wanted it to feel grand and clean and light.”

On the grounds, Mr. Saunders said he redid the sea wall and dock, added a boat lift and overhauled the landscaping to create a “tropical oasis.” There is a seating area under a covered patio, as well as mounted televisions and a full outdoor kitchen. A large rooftop terrace has another kitchen and two fire pits. 

Mr. Saunders was chairman and CEO of the pharmaceutical company Allergan until May 2020, when the company was acquired by AbbVie in a $63 billion transaction. He is currently executive chairman of the board of Beauty Health Co., parent company of HydraFacial, according to company financials.

Mr. Saunders said it is “heartbreaking” to think about selling the house, but he and his wife, Daniela Botero, who wed in June 2022, want more space. “We need something just a little bigger,” he said. 

 “It’s been a special place for us,” he said, “but it’s time to move on to better things.”

In the second quarter, the median Miami sales price rose 23.5% year-over-year, according to appraisal firm Miller Samuel.