Israeli-American entrepreneur dies in fall from luxury Miami high-rise
An Israeli-American business owner died Monday night after falling from the 28th floor of one of Miami's most prestigious beachfront properties, the Acqualina Resort and Residences On The Beach in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.
Yakir Levi, 45, was identified by family members as the man who fell from the luxury 51-story tower, which sits on 4.5 beachfront acres with 400 feet of Atlantic Ocean coastline. The property has received Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards for both its hotel and spa, AAA Five Diamond Awards, and was ranked the number one resort and hotel in the United States by US News & World Report.
Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene shortly after 9:30 p.m. Emergency responders confirmed the adult male had fallen and determined he was deceased at the scene, according to a Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office spokesperson.
Investigation underway
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Homicide Bureau has assumed control of the investigation, which has been classified as an unclassified death investigation. Under Florida Statutes Chapter 406, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department investigates all non-natural deaths within the county's 34 municipalities, including Sunny Isles Beach.
Detectives are working to complete next-of-kin notifications, though the sheriff's office could not officially confirm Levi's identity. The manner and cause of death will be determined through autopsy results conducted by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner, the spokesperson said.
Successful entrepreneur and community figure
Levi founded 770 Water Damage & Restoration in Los Angeles in November 2018, building it into a company with 150 employees that experienced twenty-fold growth within three years. He named the business after the Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, reflecting his connection to the Chabad Lubavitch movement. He frequently posted photos of the Rebbe on social media.
Beyond business success, Levi was known for his distinctive hiring philosophy. He actively recruited former inmates, domestic abuse survivors, and individuals recovering from addiction, providing them with second chances and opportunities for rehabilitation.
Before immigrating to the United States, Levi served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. He also pursued a career as a musician and appeared on an Israeli reality television program broadcast by Reshet 13. In December 2025, just weeks before his death, he was featured in the Israeli docu-reality series "The Americans" on Reshet 13, which follows Israeli immigrants who built professional lives in the United States.
Community mourns loss
Levi was married to Meital Gershoni Levi, and the couple shared three children.
A woman listed as his sister on social media posted a tribute, writing,
My dear precious brother. I entrust his soul to the Creator. May someone wake me up from this crazy nightmare.
The Bukharian Community, described as the largest online community for Bukharian Jews—a Central Asian Jewish diaspora with significant populations in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and Denver—posted a memorial message.
The Israeli community is mourning the tragic passing of Yakir Levi, a Los Angeles resident, who died last night at the age of 45. Levi is survived by his wife and their three children. May his memory be a blessing, and may his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
The night before he died, Levi was tagged in a group photograph on Instagram captioned,
Nights we won't remember with people we won't forget.
A representative from Acqualina told reporters the property is cooperating with investigators.
We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and our thoughts are with the family and friends during this difficult time. In cooperation with the ongoing investigation by local authorities, we are unable to share further details. The safety and wellbeing of our guests and team members remains our highest priority.
Sunny Isles Beach ranks as the U.S. city with the fourteenth-most buildings exceeding 500 feet in height, with more than 30 buildings taller than 328 feet, reflecting the area's concentration of luxury high-rise residential towers.
