115M Florida – A Tampa-area lakefront estate listed for $115M reflects a nearly 600% markup after a 2021 purchase, offering a spa, equestrian setup and car museum.
A $115 million asking price is turning a Tampa-area estate into a high-stakes test of Florida’s luxury real estate market.
Steven Lempera. president of an energy company based in Illinois. is trying to set a new benchmark in the Tampa region with the sale of an 87-acre lakefront compound on Lake Thonotosassa.. The property. listed at $115 million. is far from South Beach in both distance and vibe. sitting about 16 miles from downtown Tampa while offering what brokers describe as a private. self-contained retreat.
Lempera and his wife, Jane, bought the estate in 2021 for $16.7 million, according to the listing details cited in the report.. That figure represents a dramatic markup from the amount paid just a few years earlier. as Lempera now positions the home for buyers seeking something closer to a private world than a conventional mansion.
Before settling in Florida, the couple reportedly assessed alternative options while based around Chicago during the pandemic.. Their broker said they were searching for property on a similar scale. with “massive acreage. ” and that while they looked elsewhere. they ultimately chose the Tampa area because the estate’s combination of land. seclusion. and readiness aligned with what they wanted.
Privacy is one of the main selling points the listing agent highlighted for ultrawealthy buyers.. With an enclave-like feel created by surrounding oak trees and even private interior roads. the property is designed to limit visibility and keep day-to-day life insulated from the fast pace of the city nearby.
As for why the Lemperas are putting the home up for sale. it isn’t about falling out of love with the property.. Instead, the family’s plans have shifted because Lempera’s daughter is pursuing a professional horseback riding career.. The family reportedly follows the competition circuit, making Tampa less central to their routine than it once was.
The decision also appears linked to the estate’s equestrian setup. The broker said the property includes a dedicated five-acre sector for the equestrian component, intended to support a serious training and event schedule without requiring constant travel to other facilities.
The home itself carries a French-Normandy Château-inspired theme, including spaces such as a dining room designed around that aesthetic.. At least one bedroom. however. diverges from the broader look. trading the château style for a Lamborghini-themed concept—painted black and yellow—positioned like a sports car museum.
The report also indicates that Lempera helped maintain the overall style consistency through a furniture purchase in a package deal. with a stated cost of $2 million.. The broker described the resulting interiors as curated for each space and “whimsical. ” framing the design as part of the estate’s overall appeal.
Lempera’s taste for collecting shows up beyond the décor, with extensive provisions for car storage and maintenance. The property includes a car museum with capacity for 22 vehicles, and the report says Lempera filled the space with his own Rolls-Royces and other expensive cars.
To support the collection on-site, the estate also features an on-site mechanic and a professional car painting booth, according to the broker. That means day-to-day servicing doesn’t require trips off the property—an element that may matter to buyers who treat vehicles as both hobby and investment.
Craftsmanship also appears built into the estate’s workflow.. The report describes workshops on the grounds, including a mill and metal shop, where detailed features were created.. French ironwork—such as decorative elements around a mezzanine overlooking lower levels of a closet—was reportedly produced on site.
One of the most distinctive examples is a two-story closet in the primary suite. described as having a staircase inside the closet.. The broker compared the experience to a “French Quarter” setting. adding that some of the surrounding finishing and ironwork ties into the wider theme of bespoke. property-specific craftsmanship.
Even as the estate markets itself as an escape, it is designed to reduce the need to leave for work. The report says there is an office complex with executive offices, plus a floating glass boardroom that looks down over the cars below, offering a blend of privacy and spectacle.
When it’s time to reset, wellness amenities are a central feature of the listing rather than an afterthought.. Along with a mile-long jogging path on the premises. the estate includes a state-of-the-art spa. which the broker said rivals hotel spas in South Beach.. The spa reportedly features an indoor saltwater pool, a steam hamam, a dry sauna, and dedicated treatment rooms.
The report describes the spa experience as flowing outward into a series of arched terraces. reinforcing the sense of a resort-like environment controlled entirely by the property.. For ultrawealthy buyers comparing estates. these features can function as a proxy for lifestyle convenience—especially when the home is meant to replace travel rather than accommodate it.
For entertainment, the estate also includes a go-kart track. The broker called the go-kart setup a “wow factor,” describing a proper circuit and winding roads that run near the lake edge, making it both a novelty and a dedicated recreational feature.
In the current market, the listing’s potential impact depends on what it ultimately sells for. The report says that if the property clears anywhere close to the $115 million tag, it would smash the local record for the most expensive sale in the Tampa area.
That current benchmark, according to the report, is a Derek Jeter-linked Davis Islands mansion that sold for $22.5 million in 2022.. The broker argued the comparison is imperfect. saying the Jeter-area deal involved a teardown and was limited to a much smaller land footprint than Lempera’s 87 acres. while also not being move-in ready.
Lempera’s broader real estate footprint also signals that his Florida plans have evolved over time. The report notes that he sold another home in the Coral Gables neighborhood to the Weeknd in October 2025 for $55 million, and later used the Tampa property as a primary residence.
With the equestrian career now taking center stage. the report says Lempera intends to spend more time in Wellington. Florida—often described as the winter equestrian capital—along with time in New York and Europe.. For a buyer evaluating whether the price reflects the property’s unusual blend of acreage. privacy. craftsmanship. wellness. and automotive infrastructure. the answer may hinge less on square footage and more on how fully the estate can support a mobile. high-profile lifestyle.
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