I was raised in Coral Gables, Florida, in a family with strong entrepreneurial roots. My father, the eldest of five siblings, faced a tough start in life. He left home at 14, but through the support of the military and the pursuit of education, he was able to turn his life around. My mother, a fashion designer, left home at 18, driven by a desire to explore the world. It was during her travels that she met my father. When they married, they had only $123 to their names, unable to afford a traditional wedding. Their friends came together to help: one provided the dress, another the food, while others contributed the photography and alcohol. My mother still keeps the receipt for their wedding cake, which cost just $26.

After marrying, my parents worked together at their optometry practice, where my father developed UV 400, a protective lens coating that has since become a global standard for sunglasses. On the day I was born, they also launched their business, which was the start of their remarkable success. Over time, they invested their wealth in a variety of businesses, eventually earning a spot on the Forbes 400 list of billionaires. Our family has donated hundreds of millions of dollars, mostly to higher education, fully embodying the American Dream.

After graduating from the University of Miami, I followed in my parents’ footsteps by embracing entrepreneurship. My husband and I started a clothing manufacturing company, raised two children (now in their 20s), and have traveled to every continent. Now, with our children grown, I’ve transitioned into a new phase of life as a consultant for luxury brands while my husband now runs our family office. Writing has always been more than a skill for me; it’s a true passion. From an early age, I’ve been drawn to the power of words and the way they can shape thoughts, spark emotions, and create lasting connections. Whether crafting stories, articles, or creative pieces, I find joy in the process of weaving ideas together, each sentence an opportunity to communicate something meaningful. For me, writing isn’t just about expression—it’s about exploration. It allows me to dive into new perspectives, discover fresh ideas, and share those insights with others. Over the years, my passion has only grown. I had the privilege of being the West Coast Contributing Editor for Town & Country magazine, and I am currently a contributing writer for Forbes. I’ve always been deeply involved in philanthropy, organizing charitable events, producing educational experiences for my YPO chapter, and creating luxury brand experiences. My expertise in the UHNW sector has been invaluable to the luxury brands I work with, advising them on sales, marketing, and communication strategies, and connecting them with new opportunities.

Because of the evolution of my family’s financial situation, I have had the opportunity to get to know and understand many UHNWIs. I have not only met them; I have become good friends with them. I have traveled and enjoyed many personal and professional moments with these individuals and their families. I have had the good fortune to become an UHNWI myself, so I understand the lifestyle! But I wasn’t always so fortunate. I was raised in a different world and ingrained with values that you don’t always see in the UHNWIs. That gives me an even better perspective, one that they may not even have about themselves.

One of my objectives for this book is to demystify the perception of the UHNWI through my own stories and peel back the curtain a bit to show you how UHNWIs really live, what is important to them, and how to successfully build long-lasting, high-performance relationships with them. In this book, we will leverage the key insights we have developed regarding those of HNW and UHNW, and the great luxury brands that have learned to serve them. We will educate and empower anyone who seeks to build a customer relationship with the same, at any level of product, service, or customer.

To learn more about Erica, please visit www.EricaZohar.com