Who Is Gale Brophy? From Horse Racing to CEO and Reality Star

Netflix’s latest reality series, Members Only: Palm Beach, offers a glimpse into the lives of the ultra-wealthy residing in Florida’s most exclusive enclave. The eight-part show follows five main cast members, each navigating different levels of Palm Beach’s social hierarchy, from newcomer Ro-mina Ustayev to established socialite Hilary Musser.

As wellness guru Taja Abitbol bluntly remarks: “If Palm Beach society were a high-rise building, Hilary and I are definitely in the penthouses, and Ro-mina’s in the basement.”

While not part of the primary cast, one standout personality is the ‘Grande Dame’ Gale Brophy. Appearing throughout the series as a mentor to philanthropist Rosalyn Yellin, Gale offers advice on maneuvering through the often cutthroat world of the ultra-rich. She even informally crowns Yellin the island’s new ‘queen,’ complete with a baton and crown, much to the surprise of other cast members.

Gale also shares remarkable stories about her life and career, quickly dispelling any doubts about her credibility by distributing her extensive CV and a stack of magazine features about herself.

Today, Gale Brophy serves as CEO and owner of a property company, managing two luxury estates in New York’s Catskill Mountains, marketed as alternatives to The Hamptons and suitable for large groups.

Prior to this, she held senior roles across finance, PR, and notably horse racing, where she spent decades breeding thoroughbred horses. She co-owned the 1991 Kentucky Derby winner, Strike the Gold, and managed two multi-million-dollar horse farms. Reflecting on her racing career, she once said in a 2019 radio interview: “MC Hammer was trying to buy the horse. And kept offering money, and I was like you’re not buying this horse. This horse is going to win the Kentucky Derby.”

Her expertise in spotting winners, combined with philanthropic work in equine welfare, children’s health, and female empowerment, has earned her widespread respect. Now, she adds reality star to her diverse and impressive CV.