Facing the stone mansion that once belonged to King Constantine, the silence is only broken by the gentle rustling of olive leaves and the sound of water flowing in one of the fountains. With breathtaking views, a private beach, a 30-meter pool, and 12 bedrooms, the villa in Agios Emilianos resembles a scene from a European period production.

The new owner, 70-year-old Bulgarian businessman Spas Rusev, a former driver of a communist official now operating within international business circles, has been undertaking extensive renovation work since last year, focusing on both interior and exterior decor.

Last July, the villa hosted the wedding of his daughter, Krista-Maria Ruseva, to her beloved John Okemah. The couple exchanged vows of eternal love at the picturesque St. Emilia’s Church precisely at 7:30 pm, with the dress code for the evening being “Summer Formal,” adding an elegant yet relaxed tone to this special moment.

The current image of Porto Heli as part of the Greek Riviera gradually formed from the 1960s onward. At that time, the first summer homes of wealthy Athenians began to be built, attracted by the region’s tranquility, natural beauty, and easy access by sea or land. The area started gaining an international reputation in the 1980s when shipowners and entrepreneurs began investing in luxury residences, isolated from the crowds of fashionable islands.

The major leap came in the last two decades when European aristocrats and billionaires chose Porto Heli as their summer base — a choice accompanied by strict standards of security, privacy, and luxury. Its proximity to Spetses, the ability to reach it by helicopter, and the well-developed tourist infrastructure alongside private investments established the area as a residence for a select few. Today, it is one of the top destinations for sea lovers and owners of luxury yachts.

Its natural harbor, with its calm, turquoise waters and protected geography from the winds, offers ideal mooring conditions. In the heart of the bay operates one of the most modern and environmentally friendly marinas in Greece, with high-standard facilities and services that meet every visitor’s need. Its strategic location allows quick access to the Saronic Islands and serves as a starting point for excursions across the Mediterranean.

The story of the royal mansion is just the beginning of a broader mosaic of ultra-luxurious residences and iconic owners who have shaped a “golden triangle” of luxury living on the coasts of southeastern Argolis. Irish magnate Paul-Richard Collison, a major shareholder of Ardagh Group, loved Porto Heli so much that he didn’t limit himself to just buying property. He acquired two emblematic hotels in the area, “AKS Porto Heli” and “AKS Hinitsa Bay,” reportedly for around 50 million euros.

He is also said to have purchased the “Alexiou Estate,” covering 300 acres, paying a matching sum. The region’s business activity isn’t limited to buying luxury villas or hotels; its investment potential is also reflected in increased interest in seaside businesses.

According to local reports — though never officially confirmed — there was a proposal for a €20 million buyout from Collison for the well-known “Grandma’s Taverna,” located on the beach of Hinitsa, near the “AKS Hinitsa Bay” hotel. Although the deal didn’t materialize, it underscores the high value of land in the area. The taverna continues to operate normally, maintaining its family and traditional character.

Another example illustrating the huge investment interest is that of a 56-year-old Sheikh from Abu Dhabi, Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who, after receiving approval from Greece’s Council of State, plans to invest €203 million in nearby Ermioni. His project will include a five-star luxury hotel with 121 rooms, 15 furnished residences (including 9 branded residences with hotel services), and 6 exclusive villas.

Porto Heli: The neighborhood with… summer houses of kings, emirs, and millionaires – The famous residents, investments, and the historic “deal”
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, from the royal family of the United Arab Emirates, is set to invest in Ermioni.

Among the prominent owners of summer homes in the region is King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, who acquired a luxury mansion in a discreet location. The property, spanning four acres, has a private beach and an impressive pool. His purchase was just the beginning.

Porto Heli: The neighborhood with… summer houses of kings, emirs, and millionaires – The famous residents, investments, and the historic “deal”
The luxurious mansion in Porto Heli has been the summer retreat of the Dutch royal family for years.

The residence was extensively renovated to fully meet the needs and aesthetic preferences of Queen Maxima, who reportedly had the final say in every decision. The main building is surrounded by independent guesthouses and staff residences, with clusters of trees planted around to keep the property away from prying eyes.

Among Greek magnates choosing Porto Heli for their summer escapes is financier Nikos Devletoglou, the Papathanou family, and Minas Tanes, former president of Athens Brewery and Greece’s longest-serving manager in a multinational company.

His villa is just a few meters from the beach, in one of the most idyllic spots in Agios Emilianos. However, the scale of luxury is elevated further by the property of shipowner Diamantis Diamantidis. His mansion — or rather, “the estate,” as locals call it — spans 300 acres, comparable only to the presidential residence at Camp David. It functions as an impregnable fortress, with independent wings, a helicopter pad, and private sea access.

Porto Heli: The neighborhood with… summer houses of kings, emirs, and millionaires – The historic “deal” that made history

A summer afternoon in 2018, in Kranidi, away from the media spotlight, saw a silent standoff among billionaires. In a simple office of a local notary, three powerful men — two Greek shipowners and a Swiss investor — silently competed with each other, armed not with words but with bank guarantees of €1.5 million and bids rising at €500,000 increments. Their target was none other than the iconic villa of the once-powerful publisher Stavros Psycharis in Agios Emilianos, Porto Heli — a legendary property now turning into a trophy.

This villa, sprawling over 26 acres with exclusive views of the Argolic Gulf and access to a private beach, had long been Psycharis’ “summer palace.” He often boasted about how he acquired it: in 2006, he bought much of it at auction for about €15 million, with an estimated value of around €45 million. The transfer from the Peratikos family to Psycharis was a complex deal that fascinated the market at the time. Now, however, the property was passing into the hands of a global player.

Swiss investor and startup legend, “the Midas of Europe,” Neil Rimer, managed to win the auction, outbidding two heavyweight Greek shipping tycoons, Dinos Martinos and George Prokopiou. With persistence, composure, and ready capital, he made the final bid of €11.75 million and secured one of the most iconic residences on the Greek Riviera.

This deal was not just another property transfer. It was a strategic move with high symbolism. Porto Heli — especially Agios Emilianos — is no longer just a fashionable summer destination. It has become a privileged arena where Greece’s most powerful entrepreneurs write their personal stories through the properties they acquire. This purchase proved that in this “game,” it’s not just money that counts but also the will to claim, persist, and ultimately conquer. Neil Rimer succeeded, and Porto Heli gained another influential resident.

Other residents of the Greek Riviera

It’s not only the mansions of auctioned properties and the villas of foreign tycoons that elevate Porto Heli and Agios Emilianos’ profile.

For decades, some of Greece’s most prominent business elites have maintained their summer bases in the broader area. These are houses that are not just vacation homes but gathering points for powerful figures, private spaces, and secret dealings.

One of the most historic properties belongs to the Kyriakou family. Built literally on the waves of Agios Emilianos, it was created by the late Minos Kyriakou and today serves as the summer retreat of his son, Thodoris, a prominent figure in media and shipping.

He spends his summers there with loved ones, away from the media spotlight, in a space that carries memories but also the discreet luxury of a bygone era.

Also relaxing in this seaside paradise is Yiannis Mytilinaios, brother of Evangelos and co-owner of the Mytilineos Group. His presence in Agios Emilianos adds further prestige, as he is among the influential figures who see land not just as an investment but as a personal space of added value.

Among the “old-timers” is Afroula Lanara, descendant of the well-known Naoussa family and sister of Thoma Lanara — last owner of Klonatex before its collapse after the stock market bubble burst. She maintains an impressive villa in Porto Heli. Far from the media, her presence reminds us of a time when industry, shipping, and political power intersected on equal footing.

In all these homes, the common point is not just luxury but their symbolic weight. They are signatures of the personalities who own them, echoes of success, relationships, decisions — and a quiet, steady reminder that Agios Emilianos is not just a seaside settlement but the courtyard of Greece’s major players.