Tamir Poleg, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Real Brokerage, has found himself at the center of a highly publicized and contentious lawsuit that blends corporate power, personal relationships, and allegations of moral misconduct. The case, filed by Michael Steckling, accuses Poleg of deliberately interfering in his marriage by offering Paige Steckling, a senior employee at Real Brokerage and Michael’s then-wife, millions of dollars in cash, property, stock-derived funds, and luxury travel in an effort to persuade her to leave her husband.
While the allegations remain unproven and are contested by Poleg, the lawsuit has drawn significant attention due to the stature of the individuals involved and the serious implications for corporate governance and workplace ethics.
The dispute has also sparked broader discussions about the boundaries between professional authority and personal influence, particularly in environments where senior executives wield immense financial and institutional power over subordinates. As the legal process unfolds, the case offers a detailed look into the background of Tamir Poleg, the rise of Real Brokerage, and the specific claims that have placed both under intense scrutiny.
Tamir Poleg and the Rise of Real Brokerage
Tamir Poleg is widely known within the U.S. real estate industry as a technology-focused executive who helped build Real Brokerage into one of the fastest-growing real estate firms in the country. Founded in 2014, Real Brokerage positioned itself as a cloud-based brokerage model, emphasizing lower fees for agents, equity incentives, and a digitally streamlined operational structure.
Under Poleg’s leadership, the company expanded rapidly across dozens of U.S. states and later into Canada, attracting thousands of agents and gaining a reputation for aggressive growth. Poleg’s professional background includes experience in real estate technology and brokerage operations, with a public persona shaped around innovation, disruption, and scaling traditional industries through digital tools.
As CEO, he became closely associated with Real Brokerage’s equity-driven compensation model, which allowed agents and executives to receive company stock as part of their earnings. This structure played a central role in the lawsuit, as Michael Steckling alleges that Poleg used company stock and proceeds from its sale as part of the financial inducements offered to Paige Steckling.
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Before the lawsuit, Poleg maintained a relatively low public profile outside of industry circles, known primarily through investor presentations, real estate conferences, and company communications. His leadership style was often described as hands-on, particularly with senior staff. The current allegations, however, have prompted renewed examination of executive conduct within fast-growing, founder-led companies where personal influence can blur professional lines.
Allegations of an “Indecent Proposal” and Marital Interference
The lawsuit filed by Michael Steckling paints a detailed and troubling picture of what it describes as a sustained campaign by Poleg to dismantle the Stecklings’ marriage. According to the complaint, Paige Steckling was a married mother of two and a subordinate employee at Real Brokerage when Poleg allegedly began pursuing her. The filing claims that the couple had not seriously contemplated divorce prior to Poleg’s involvement and that the executive’s actions directly contributed to the collapse of the marriage.
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Central to the lawsuit is the allegation that Poleg offered Paige Steckling more than $3 million in combined financial benefits. These purported incentives included cash derived from the sale of Real Brokerage stock, a $1.5-million home in Park City, Utah, access to lucrative real estate deals, and luxury travel. The complaint characterizes these offers as an “indecent proposal” designed to entice her to leave her husband and begin a life financially supported by Poleg.
The filing further alleges that in January 2025, Poleg made explicit promises to “take care of her needs” if she left her marriage. Around the same time, Poleg is said to have separated from his own wife, while Paige Steckling filed for divorce in February 2025. The timing of these events is cited by Michael Steckling as evidence of a coordinated effort that culminated in the dissolution of his family.
Additional claims include that Poleg sold approximately $600,000 worth of Real Brokerage stock and earmarked the proceeds for the alleged arrangement. The lawsuit also states that Poleg booked a hotel room in Miami for himself and Paige Steckling within weeks of these financial discussions, although it remains unclear whether she accepted the invitation or traveled with him. In early February 2025, the complaint alleges, Poleg sent Paige Steckling an email outlining how to access the $1.5 million in two installments, a communication that has become a focal point in the case.
Paige Steckling, for her part, has publicly confirmed her divorce but disputed the narrative presented in the lawsuit. In a statement, she said her marriage ended for personal reasons and that the claims made by her former husband do not reflect the reality of those circumstances. She expressed confidence that the legal process would address any inaccuracies in the complaint.
Denials, Legal Stakes, and Broader Implications
Tamir Poleg has firmly denied the central allegations of the lawsuit. While acknowledging that he sent the email referenced in the complaint, Poleg has stated that the communication was intended to provide financial support that Paige Steckling had requested, not as part of a romantic or coercive arrangement. He has rejected claims of offering inducements to interfere in her marriage, stating there were “no offers, no romance, no interference.”
Poleg has also asserted that Paige Steckling frequently raised concerns about her marriage independently and that he believed the relationship between her and her husband lacked genuine affection. These statements form part of his broader defense that the divorce was not caused by his actions but by preexisting marital issues. At this stage, these competing narratives remain unresolved, with the court expected to weigh documentary evidence, testimony, and the credibility of all parties involved.
Michael Steckling is seeking $5 million in damages, alleging emotional distress, loss of consortium, and deliberate interference with his marital relationship. While such claims are relatively rare and difficult to prove, particularly in jurisdictions that scrutinize the concept of marital interference, the case has nonetheless drawn attention due to the alleged scale of the financial offers and the power imbalance between a CEO and a subordinate employee.
Beyond the immediate legal outcome, the lawsuit raises broader questions about executive accountability, workplace ethics, and the use of corporate resources or influence in personal matters. In an era when companies face increasing scrutiny over leadership behavior, even unproven allegations can carry reputational consequences. For Real Brokerage, the case underscores the challenges faced by high-growth firms when personal conduct at the executive level intersects with corporate identity and public trust.
As the lawsuit proceeds, Tamir Poleg’s legacy as a real estate innovator is now intertwined with a high-profile legal battle that could shape perceptions of his leadership and the culture of the company he helped build. Whether the allegations are substantiated or dismissed, the case serves as a reminder of the complex legal and ethical terrain navigated by powerful executives operating at the intersection of business success and personal relationships.