Mauricio Umansky – Founder and CEO of The Agency
Mauricio Umansky is the Founder and CEO of The Agency, a modern, tech-driven luxury real estate brokerage that has changed the way high-end properties are bought, sold, and marketed. Since launching in 2011, The Agency has distinguished itself through its innovative approach leveraging world-class technology, collaborative culture, and strategic marketing to support agents and clients alike.
Operating globally, with over 100 offices and more than 2,000 agents across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe, The Agency has grown rapidly while maintaining its boutique culture. As the founder in charge, Mauricio Umansky is the Founder and CEO of The Agency who built this empire from the ground up with purpose and passion.
Early Life and Education
Early Life
Mauricio Umansky was born on June 25, 1970, in Mexico City. He grew up raised in Mexico and moved to Los Angeles at a very young age. As a child, he suffered from neutropenia, a condition that led to frequent hospital stays. He comes from a culturally rich, Jewish family his mother, Estella Sneider, is a well-known media personality, and his father, Eduardo Umansky, was a psychologist and author.
Education
Mauricio enrolled at the University of Southern California, but he ultimately decided to leave before completing his degree to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions.
This foundation rooted in resilience, cultural richness, and bold decision-making set the stage for his future success as the Founder and CEO of The Agency.
Entrepreneurial Beginnings
Well before his real estate fame, Mauricio Umansky launched his first venture at age 26: a fashion brand called 90265. The brand capitalized on emerging trends in women’s loungewear and reportedly saw remarkable growth from $300K to $30M in sales making it an early entrepreneurial success. After selling the company, he entered the real estate world by joining Hilton & Hyland a luxury brokerage co-founded by his brother-in-law, Rick Hilton.
Founding The Agency
In 2011, driven by a desire to create a different kind of broker, Mauricio Umansky co-founded The Agency with Blair Chang and Billy Rose. He is the Founder and CEO of The Agency, a firm built on collaboration, creativity, and disruption of the traditional brokerage model. The Agency integrates cutting-edge proprietary technology including CRM systems, data platforms, algorithms, and predictive analytics to streamline the buying and selling experience
Under his leadership, The Agency handled billions in real estate transactions $4B to nearly $5B in sales personally attributed to Mauricio. He’s known for selling the most homes priced over $20 million in the U.S., including iconic properties like the Playboy Mansion (the first L.A. home to sell for over $100M), the Walt Disney Estate, and homes owned by Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Prince. The Agency represents major developers and luxury brands like One&Only, Rosewood, and The Ritz-Carlton.
The firm’s excellence has been recognized in many ways: featured in the Wall Street Journal’s REAL Trends list, ranked on Swanepoel’s Power200, named Entrepreneur of the Year (Greater Los Angeles) 2023, listed by The Financial Times among fastest-growing companies, and ranking on Inc. 5000 for consecutive years.
Media Presence and Influence
Mauricio’s journey as the Founder and CEO of The Agency has been chronicled on television. He appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, Dancing with the Stars, and most prominently on Netflix’s Buying Beverly Hills (2022–2024), which showcased him and his team’s work at The Agency. The show’s second season aired through March 2024 and gave audiences an insider’s look at the high-stakes world of luxury real estate and even depicted his separation from Kyle Richards on screen.
Leadership Philosophy & Philanthropy
Mauricio Umansky is the Founder and CEO of The Agency who places innovation, collaboration, and quality at the core of his work. He believes in building partnerships, leveraging shared expertise, and delivering best-in-class service to forge client trust and drive growth.
Beyond business, he supports philanthropic causes. He has served on the board of Giveback Homes and supported charitable efforts for children’s health and education notably the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and breast cancer awareness initiatives.
Legacy and Impact
Mauricio Umansky is the Founder and CEO of The Agency a visionary who built a global, boutique brokerage that defies the old real estate playbook. From his early years in Mexico to fashion entrepreneurship and luxury real estate dominance, his path is defined by bold decisions and relentless drive. With billions in sales, landmark deals, and a culture of innovation and collaboration, he continues to shape the future of luxury real estate. As both an industry leader and a television figure, Mauricio’s blend of authenticity and strategic acumen make him a standout and one of the most compelling stories in modern business.
