Man Bought House Next to Ex-Wife for Giant Middle Finger

Sometimes a divorce settlement isn't enough closure. When Detroit strip club magnate Alan Markovitz discovered his wife had been cheating, he didn't just move on—he moved next door. In November 2013, Markovitz purchased a home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, directly beside his ex-wife's place, with one very specific renovation in mind.

The centerpiece? A gleaming 12-foot-tall bronze statue of a middle finger, positioned to face what appeared to be her back window. But Markovitz didn't stop there—he installed a spotlight so the gesture would shine bright all night long, a permanent monument to his feelings about the affair.

The Affair That Started It All

Markovitz wasn't just being petty for the sake of it. He believed his ex-wife's new boyfriend was the same man who'd been having an affair with her while they were still married. The statue was his way of making a statement to both of them, visible 24/7 from their property.

The statue was meant to be a private matter between exes, but things went public when his former stepdaughter posted a photo of the illuminated finger on Twitter. The image went viral, turning a personal vendetta into international news.

Who Is Alan Markovitz?

Markovitz isn't your average jilted ex-husband. He's a successful strip club owner and author who built an empire in Detroit's adult entertainment industry. His larger-than-life personality matched the gesture—this was a man who believed in making bold statements.

When asked about the statue, Markovitz was unapologetic. The installation perfectly captured the intersection of wealth, revenge, and real estate—proof that sometimes the best way to get over someone is to quite literally tower over them.

The Ultimate Breakup Statement

Most people change their relationship status or block their ex on social media. Markovitz bought property. The sheer commitment required to purchase an entire house just to install a piece of spite art is almost admirable in its audacity.

The statue stood as a testament to the fact that some people handle heartbreak differently than others. While therapists recommend healthy coping mechanisms, Markovitz opted for bronze, spotlights, and strategic real estate investment. His ex-wife woke up every morning to a 12-foot reminder that some bridges aren't just burned—they're demolished, bronzed, and lit up for dramatic effect.