Misha Ezratti leads one of Florida’s most recognized homebuilding companies, but his path to the top office was not a straight line handed to him by birthright. He worked his way through nearly every department at GL Homes before taking the president’s chair in 2016.
This article breaks down his career, his rise within the company, his recognition among Florida business leaders, and the philanthropic work tied to his name, based on verified public information rather than speculation.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Misha Ezratti |
| Current Role | President, GL Homes |
| Birthplace | Hollywood, Florida |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Questrom School of Business, Boston University |
| Joined GL Homes | 2002 |
| Became President | 2016 |
| Father | Itzhak “Itchko” Ezratti, founder of GL Homes |
| Company Founded | 1976 |
| Company Type | Privately held, family owned |
| Wife | Jessica Millman Ezratti |
From Finance Plans to Construction Sites
Misha Ezratti grew up around the homebuilding business his father started, but his early career plans pointed toward Wall Street rather than construction sites. He originally intended to build a finance career in New York City, a plan that changed after the events of September 11, 2001 sent him back to South Florida.
That shift brought him into GL Homes in 2002, and he did not begin in an executive office. He started out working in construction, an experience he has described as valuable even though he does not miss the early mornings and Florida heat.
Over the following years, Misha rotated through several parts of the business rather than settling into one function. He worked across sales, operations, and land acquisition, along with construction, building a broad understanding of how the company actually functions. By the time he became president, he had nearly 25 years of combined experience in land acquisitions, development, construction, entitlements, and business operations.
This ground level experience is often cited as the reason his leadership style leans practical rather than purely strategic. Executives who have worked through operations tend to understand where projects break down long before it shows up on a spreadsheet.
Rising to President of GL Homes
GL Homes was founded in 1976 by Itzhak Ezratti, and the company grew steadily over the following decades into one of Florida’s largest privately owned homebuilders. In 2016, leadership formally passed to the next generation.
Itzhak Ezratti stepped down as president of the company in 2016 while continuing to serve as chairman, with his son Misha taking over as president. Misha had started his career with the company in 2002 and held several positions before being appointed president in 2016.
Since taking the role, GL Homes has expanded significantly:
- Geographic reach: Active communities in Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Collier, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Lee counties.
- Employee base: The company employs around 580 people across its Florida operations.
- Homeowner reach: More than 100,000 families now live in a GL home.
- Revenue standing: Builder Magazine ranked GL Homes as the ninth largest private builder in the United States by revenue in 2024.
- Flagship project: The 12,000 unit Riverland community in Port St. Lucie has been recognized as one of the top 50 master planned communities in the country.
Under his leadership, the company has also stayed active on the land acquisition side, adding large parcels for future development while continuing to build out existing master planned communities aimed largely at active adult and luxury buyers.
Recognition in Florida Business Circles
Misha Ezratti’s name appears regularly on regional business honor lists, which reflects sustained visibility rather than a single high profile moment.
| Recognition | Detail |
| South Florida Business Journal Ultimate CEO | Named an Ultimate CEO in November 2024 |
| South Florida Business Journal Power Leaders 250 | Recognized in this list across multiple consecutive years |
| Florida Trend’s Florida 500 | Named to the list for four consecutive years as of 2022, recognized among Florida’s most influential business leaders |
He has appeared on the South Florida Business Journal’s real estate Power Leaders list for five straight years as of 2022. These lists are compiled through editorial review rather than public nomination, which is part of why repeated appearances tend to carry weight within the regional business community.
Philanthropy Runs Through the Company
Community involvement is presented as a core part of how GL Homes operates, not a side project. The company’s philanthropic focus centers on homelessness, hunger relief, children, and education.
Some of the organizations connected to this work include:
- Habitat for Humanity, through direct volunteer builds and CEO participation events.
- Boys & Girls Clubs, supporting youth development programs.
- The Legal Aid Society, tied to community support services.
- Feeding South Florida, addressing hunger relief across the region.
Misha has personally taken part in hands on volunteer work, including a Habitat for Humanity of Broward County CEO Build where he worked alongside other South Florida executives. He has also spoken about wanting philanthropy taught earlier in life, saying he would like to see it built into school curriculums so children develop empathy at a younger age.
This pattern, combining corporate giving with direct personal involvement, is consistent across multiple years of company communications and independent business publications.
Who Is Jessica Ezratti
Jessica Millman Ezratti is Misha’s wife, though public information about her remains limited by design rather than by lack of interest. The couple married on December 15, 2012, and multiple sources confirm the ceremony took place in Miami Beach.
What is consistently and reliably documented about Jessica Ezratti is fairly narrow:
- She goes by Jessica Millman Ezratti.
- The couple has a son together.
- She maintains a low public profile and does not hold a corporate role at GL Homes.
- She is associated with community and philanthropic initiatives connected to the company, though no official title has been confirmed.
Some online profiles add additional biographical detail about her background, such as a claimed career before marriage. Because these details are not independently verified across credible sources, they should be treated as unconfirmed rather than established fact. What can be said with confidence is that she keeps a private life while remaining connected to the family’s community work in South Florida.
What the Numbers Actually Support
A lot gets written online about GL Homes and the Ezratti family, and not all of it holds up equally well. Here is a breakdown of commonly cited figures and how well supported each one actually is.
| Claim | Support Level |
| GL Homes founded in 1976 by Itzhak Ezratti | Well supported across company sources and business press |
| Misha Ezratti became president in 2016 | Well supported, repeated consistently across multiple years of reporting |
| Boston University finance degree | Well supported through business award profiles |
| Around 100,000 residents live in GL homes | Well supported, cited in official company materials |
| Company ranked 9th largest private builder in 2024 | Sourced to Builder Magazine, well supported |
| Personal net worth figures in the hundreds of millions | Estimates only, not independently confirmed |
| Detailed personal history of Jessica Ezratti’s earlier career | Inconsistent across sources, treat with caution |
This distinction matters for anyone researching the family. Company leadership facts and award recognitions are consistently documented. Personal wealth figures and detailed biographical claims about family members outside the business are largely estimates or unverified aggregator content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Misha Ezratti the founder of GL Homes?
No. GL Homes was founded in 1976 by his father, Itzhak Ezratti. Misha became president in 2016 and represents the third generation of the family involved in the business.
What did Misha Ezratti study in college?
He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business before joining GL Homes in 2002.
When did Misha Ezratti join GL Homes?
He joined the company in 2002, starting in a construction role before moving through sales, operations, and land acquisition over the following years.
Who is Misha Ezratti’s wife?
His wife is Jessica Millman Ezratti. The couple married on December 15, 2012 in Miami Beach and have one son together.
Is GL Homes a publicly traded company?
No. GL Homes is a privately held, family owned company. It is not listed on any public stock exchange.
Conclusion
Misha Ezratti’s story is less about inheriting a title and more about earning one through years inside the company his father built.
From an early detour away from a finance career, through construction work, and across nearly every department at GL Homes, his path to the presidency in 2016 followed a pattern of hands on experience rather than a fast track.
