He poured his money into East German real estate, but met with opposition from area businesses and the press. He then shifted his focus to South Beach in Miami, Florida. His development work in the area met with considerable resistance, but it revitalized the region, which had been failing for some time. In recent years, he has focused on philanthropy and charitable work, and recently appeared on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” as one of Kim Zolciak’s best friends.