A mystery billionaire recently purchased the most expensive residence in New York City history, doling out more than $100 million on the duplex penthouse apartment at the One57 condominium on West 57th Street (a.k.a. ‘Billionaires Row”).
Award-winning French architect Christian de Portzamparc designed the controversial skyscraper, where billionaires prefer to reside.
The deal shatters the previous high luxury mark for a New York City apartment which was set in 2012 by the daughter of Russian billionaire and fertilizer czar, Dmitry Rybolovlev who plunked down a shocking $88 million for former Citigroup chairman Sandy Weill’s 6,744-square-foot apartment at 15 Central Park West—presumably with help from daddy.
The sale was first announced way back in May 2012, but it only officially closed on December 23, 2014, according to Curbed. One previous name attached to a penthouse at One57 was hedge funder Bill Ackman but most prospective buyers at One57 have operated under a veil of secrecy, including the latest big spender. According to Fox News, the secret buyer joins fellow tenants Lawrence Stroll and Silas Chou, both of whom initiated the public offering of Michael Kors.
One57's duplex penthouse occupies the 89th and 90th floors, offering its new owner expansive views of Manhattan in every direction.
The new anonymous buyer of the One57 penthouse, although intensely private (the identity is protected by an LLC), he or she wasn’t shy about dropping $100,471,452.77 for the nearly 11,000-square-foot duplex which occupies the 89th and 90th floors of the exclusive condominium--which was designed by Pritzker-prize-winning French architect Christian de Portzamparc.
One57's penthouse offers exceptional views of Central Park view.
Massive picturesque windows enhance the panoramic view.
Manhattan skyline view at night.
The controversial skyscraper, completed in 2014, has been a lightning rod for civil suits (nearly 20) and bad luck. The building exceeds 1,000 feet, and redefines midtown Manhattan’s skyline—obscuring views of other Manhattan residents while casting a dark shadow across parts of Central Park—usurping duties usually reserved for tall trees. Plus, during construction, Hurricane Sandy’s intense winds collapsed a crane that dangled dangerously over the area for days.
However, if you’re lucky enough to reside there, the condo also redefines modern “elevated” luxury living despite neighboring pre-war buildings such as the Essex House. The One57 condominium features an indoor pool complex, private dining hall, library, dynamic views of Central Park, discreetly opulent interiors by Danish designer Thomas Juul-Hansen, and personal service from Park Hyatt’s new five-star flagship hotel.
One57's discretely opulent interiors were designed by Danish designer Thomas Juul-Hansen.
The secret penthouse buyer, surely a billionaire, will benefit from the Park Hyatt's five-star white glove service.
One57 was briefly Manhattan’s tallest residential building, but it was eclipsed by 432 Park Avenue which is now billed as the tallest apartment tower in the western hemisphere, according to the New York Daily News. That is, until the next one. Manhattan is growing taller each year.
One57 was briefly the tallest residential building in New York City.
Surely, the secret buyer of One57’s penthouse duplex will own one of the best residential views in all of Manhattan (if not the world). And considering the number of billionaires in the condominium, we doubt another skyscraper will ever block its view.
As for whom the mystery billionaire buyer is, we can only reveal who it isn’t. It’s not Donald Trump, because we’d bet $100 million dollars he couldn’t keep such a penthouse trophy a secret.
