Tamir Poleg, the Chief Executive Officer of Real Brokerage, publicly addressed allegations surrounding a romantic relationship that led to a lawsuit filed by Michael Steckling. In a company-wide message sent on Friday, Poleg responded to claims that he offered Steckling’s wife, Paige, substantial financial incentives, including hundreds of thousands of dollars and a luxury house in Park City, Utah, in exchange for the dissolution of their marriage.
While denying the allegations that he attempted to buy Paige’s freedom from the marriage, Poleg did admit to sending her an email offering $1.5 million just three days prior to her filing for divorce on February 6, 2025. He clarified that their brief relationship began after his separation from his spouse and concluded nearly a year ago.
Poleg emphasized in his message that the lawsuits against him were baseless and contained numerous inaccuracies. “I view this lawsuit as a clear attempt to exploit my public standing for personal reasons and I have rejected and continue to reject any suggestion of wrongdoing,” he asserted. Paige Steckling also expressed confidence that the legal proceedings would clarify the situation, suggesting that the claims made by her husband do not accurately reflect reality.
The lawsuit, which includes assertions that Poleg sold company stock to finance his alleged offer to Paige, was initially filed in Provo County District Court last October before moving to the U.S. District Court of Utah in November. Poleg has denied the allegations regarding the sale of stock and claims all meetings with Paige were strictly business-related.
This is not the first legal challenge facing Poleg. Previously, he was sued by the brokerage’s former Chief Financial Officer, Michelle Ressler, who alleged wrongful termination and discrimination after returning from maternity leave. That case was settled last November, with Ressler required to reimburse the company for personal charges made on her corporate card, while Real did not compensate her.
In response to inquiries regarding these lawsuits, a Real spokesperson stated that these “isolated cases” do not reflect the company’s culture and that Real prides itself on a thriving workplace environment. The brokerage has seen notable growth, adding over $23 billion in transaction volume from 2023 to 2024, ranking it second in growth behind Compass.
Despite Real’s expansion, the company’s stock has experienced a decline of over 22 percent over the past year, and significant stakeholders, including its largest investor, Insight Partners, reduced their holdings earlier than planned. This contrasting narrative of growth amid legal challenges highlights the complexities within the company as it navigates its future in a competitive market.