When high-profile figures list an apartment or townhouse, there are pros and cons to including their names and possessions in the listing. On the one hand, a famous name can drum up greater interest and attention in a crowded market, and potentially move the property quicker. At the same time, some celebrities may not want their private residences on public display, and it can be hard for agents to know who’s attending these open houses as serious buyers or curiosity seekers. For such reasons, many turn to whisper listings to sell their property. Coincidentally, several of December 2023’s highest-priced celebrity transactions took place in off-market transactions.
In this article:
Sting — Listed for $48,000,000
15 Central Park West, #PH16/17B (The Agency Brokerage); Sting (Raph_PH - QueenbdayRAH210418-34, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76810661)
In fall 2017, rock star Sting and his wife, actress Trudie Styler, sold their duplex penthouse at 15 Central Park West for $50 million. The power couple enlisted the help of SheltonMindel to combine two apartments into one magnificent home; however, the current buyer took it one step further and enlisted Pritzker Prize laureate Lord Norman Foster to create an extraordinary private residence, one of the few he has ever done. It has been listed with permit plans in place to finish the transformation.
From the Listing:
Upon entering the approximately 5,417-square-foot home through the semi-private landing, the grand entrance gallery greets you and your guests with a wrapping staircase that is a piece of art all on its own. The entire first level of the home is dedicated to your living and entertaining spaces.
The 44-foot living room features a stunning partial gas fireplace wall dividing the seating areas with a luxurious ambiance to create multiple spectacular seating spaces where one can soak in the incredible views east across Central Park and the dazzling city skyline. The entire room opens to the nearly 400-square-foot terrace with complete privacy for perfect indoor/outdoor living experiences. The rest of this level is completed with a large formal dining room that is directly adjacent to a chef’s kitchen that would rival kitchens you’d expect to see in a large estate outside of the city. The upper level of this home is where you will find all five bedrooms, and can be accessed from the stairs or the separate elevator entrance.
From the Listing:
Upon entering the approximately 5,417-square-foot home through the semi-private landing, the grand entrance gallery greets you and your guests with a wrapping staircase that is a piece of art all on its own. The entire first level of the home is dedicated to your living and entertaining spaces.
The 44-foot living room features a stunning partial gas fireplace wall dividing the seating areas with a luxurious ambiance to create multiple spectacular seating spaces where one can soak in the incredible views east across Central Park and the dazzling city skyline. The entire room opens to the nearly 400-square-foot terrace with complete privacy for perfect indoor/outdoor living experiences. The rest of this level is completed with a large formal dining room that is directly adjacent to a chef’s kitchen that would rival kitchens you’d expect to see in a large estate outside of the city. The upper level of this home is where you will find all five bedrooms, and can be accessed from the stairs or the separate elevator entrance.
Ronald Lauder — Sold for $19,999,999
Rockefeller Guest House (Elisa.rolle - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57303602); Ronald Lauder (Michael Thaidigsmann - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35663931)
When philanthropist/MoMA board member Blanchette Rockefeller commissioned Philip Johnson to build a two-story Modernist house, it was conceived as an art gallery and entertaining space with no kitchen and an unheated upstairs. That does not appear to have been a deterrent -- Mr. Johnson and his partner lived in the house for eight years in the 1970s (and reportedly ate all their meals out); years later, business executive Ronald Lauder bought the house in 1989, sold it to a London gallery owner, and then rebought it at auction for $11.6 million in 2000. Most recently, Curbed announced that Mr. Lauder had sold it again in an off-market deal. (P.S. The sale comes about six months after Mr. Lauder's nephew, Estee Lauder executive chairman William Lauder, bought investor Ronald Perelman’s full-floor Park Avenue apartment.)
Dounia Benjelloun — Bought for $17,000,000
One Central Park West (CityRealty)
One Central Park West, #43A (Brown Harris Stevens)
As a documentary filmmaker, Dounia Benjelloun divides her time between New York and her native Morocco. It appears she has picked up a new pied-a-terre for her time in New York – public records list her as the buyer of a three-bedroom apartment at One Central Park West, the rebranded residential component of Trump International Hotel, previously owned by art dealer/philanthropist Donna Perret Rosen. While there, she can enjoy access to the hotel's services, health club, spa, and Jean-Georges restaurant.
From the Listing:
Spacious and sunlit, the home encompasses 3,663 square feet, with three bedrooms and 5.5 baths. 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows flood the main living spaces with natural light while offering views of Central Park from multiple exposures. Its expansive corner living room overlooks Central Park and is flanked by a formal dining room and a library-perfect for both entertainment and leisure. There is also a powder room just off the home’s welcoming foyer. A spacious kitchen with plenty of storage further allows for grand entertaining. It boasts a breakfast area with park views. Next to the kitchen is a staff room with an ensuite bath.
From the Listing:
Spacious and sunlit, the home encompasses 3,663 square feet, with three bedrooms and 5.5 baths. 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows flood the main living spaces with natural light while offering views of Central Park from multiple exposures. Its expansive corner living room overlooks Central Park and is flanked by a formal dining room and a library-perfect for both entertainment and leisure. There is also a powder room just off the home’s welcoming foyer. A spacious kitchen with plenty of storage further allows for grand entertaining. It boasts a breakfast area with park views. Next to the kitchen is a staff room with an ensuite bath.
Charles Bendit — Sold for $16,500,000
40 West 74th Street, #1 (The Corcoran Group)
Just before the holidays, and over a year after his purchase at an Emery Roth-designed co-op a short distance away, Taconic Partners co-founder and co-CEO Charles Bendit sold his Upper West Side townhouse. Crain’s New York Business points out that it had been in the Bendit family since the 1980s, when Mr. Bendit’s parents bought the building with another couple; while listed as a two-family home, it was recorded in Acris as three condos. Public records show that in the early 2000s, Mr. Bendit purchased portions of the property from family members or family-related entities.
From the Listing:
40 West 74th Street is an architectural masterpiece! This palatial 25-foot wide Neo-Georgian limestone and brick mansion was originally designed by Percy Griffin in 1906. On this historical block, 18 Neo-Georgian townhouses were built at the turn of the century by the Clark family, who also built the Dakota.
Drenched in sunlight, the mansion is currently configured as a two-family home and boasts timeless elegance with an abundance of original prewar architectural details. The interior features six stories plus a windowed finished basement which total just over 11,000 square feet. The exterior spaces total 1,349 square feet and include a south-facing garden, a large dining terrace off the kitchen, and on the 6th floor a roof garden and south-facing terrace.
From the Listing:
40 West 74th Street is an architectural masterpiece! This palatial 25-foot wide Neo-Georgian limestone and brick mansion was originally designed by Percy Griffin in 1906. On this historical block, 18 Neo-Georgian townhouses were built at the turn of the century by the Clark family, who also built the Dakota.
Drenched in sunlight, the mansion is currently configured as a two-family home and boasts timeless elegance with an abundance of original prewar architectural details. The interior features six stories plus a windowed finished basement which total just over 11,000 square feet. The exterior spaces total 1,349 square feet and include a south-facing garden, a large dining terrace off the kitchen, and on the 6th floor a roof garden and south-facing terrace.
Turgay Ciner — Listed for $15,500,000
The Plaza, #1509 (Douglas Elliman)
Turkish industrialist Turgay Ciner is the founder and majority owner of chemical company WE Soda, and his conglomerate also owns stakes in shipping firms, entertainment media, and a Turkish Premier League football team. His personal investments include an apartment at The Plaza, purchased for $15.7 million in 2009, but Crain’s New York Business announced that he has put it on the market.
From the Listing:
This magnificent home features 3 bedrooms with 3 full bathrooms in the most desired corner of the building directly facing Central Park, as well as Fifth Ave. This residence has been thoughtfully constructed and designed by renowned interior designer Wade Hallock, using the finest quality of materials and finishes throughout.
The exceptional layout has a glamorous and inviting entry foyer that beautifully flows into the grand living room and luxurious formal dining room. The windowed state of the art kitchen also features a separate butlers pantry, perfect for entertaining. Additional features include central air conditioning, custom motorized shades, Lutron lights and washer/dryer. Never before offered to the market until now.
From the Listing:
This magnificent home features 3 bedrooms with 3 full bathrooms in the most desired corner of the building directly facing Central Park, as well as Fifth Ave. This residence has been thoughtfully constructed and designed by renowned interior designer Wade Hallock, using the finest quality of materials and finishes throughout.
The exceptional layout has a glamorous and inviting entry foyer that beautifully flows into the grand living room and luxurious formal dining room. The windowed state of the art kitchen also features a separate butlers pantry, perfect for entertaining. Additional features include central air conditioning, custom motorized shades, Lutron lights and washer/dryer. Never before offered to the market until now.
David Sitt — Sold for $12,200,000
Google Streetview of 2043 East 4th Street
Real estate investor David Sitt's resume includes time at family firm Sitt Asset Management and an executive position at Status Capital. His savvy appears to apply to his personal holdings as well – when Crain’s New York Business announced that he had sold his Gravesend house in an off-market transaction, it noted that the house went for more than eight times the neighborhood’s median listing price, and was one of the highest-priced sales in all of Brooklyn.
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Cathie Black — Sold for $9,625,000
941 Park Avenue, #PHC (Christie's International Real Estate Group)
Nearly halfway through December 2023, public records indicated that former Hearst Magazines chair/former NYC Schools Chancellor Cathie Black and her husband, attorney Thomas Harvey, sold their Park Avenue penthouse. Crain’s New York Business notes that the couple had originally listed it for $12 million in 2021, 25 years after they bought it for an undisclosed price.
From the Listing:
Enter into the great gallery, where sunlight illuminates the impressive millwork that welcomes you. The drawing room’s centerpiece, a floor-to-ceiling wood-burning fireplace, showcases south-facing, incredible city views. Natural light cascades upon the rich wood throughout the private library, which includes a hidden powder room. The generous gourmet chef’s kitchen features a Garland stove, custom cabinetry, a massive island, and a breakfast room for spacious cooking and dining. The dining room is a perfect size for entertaining large gatherings. Custom artwork creates a visual transcendence into the lush countryside as you walk up the ornately carved staircase to the second floor, where a primary suite and additional two bedrooms await.
From the Listing:
Enter into the great gallery, where sunlight illuminates the impressive millwork that welcomes you. The drawing room’s centerpiece, a floor-to-ceiling wood-burning fireplace, showcases south-facing, incredible city views. Natural light cascades upon the rich wood throughout the private library, which includes a hidden powder room. The generous gourmet chef’s kitchen features a Garland stove, custom cabinetry, a massive island, and a breakfast room for spacious cooking and dining. The dining room is a perfect size for entertaining large gatherings. Custom artwork creates a visual transcendence into the lush countryside as you walk up the ornately carved staircase to the second floor, where a primary suite and additional two bedrooms await.
Milos Raonic — Sold for $9,296,000
London Terrace Towers, #PHA (Sotheby's International Realty)
Full-block cooperative London Terrace Towers offers a half-Olympic-sized pool and a fitness center, but no tennis court, and the nearest tennis facility has closed. Perhaps that was a factor in professional tennis player Milos Raonic's decision to sell his penthouse in the building. While it went for less than the $9,995,000 he listed it for in March 2022, Mr. Raonic nevertheless makes a profit, having bought it from Emmy Award-winning showrunner David Chase for $7.55 million in 2019.
From the Listing:
Upon entering this quintessential penthouse aerie, one is instantly imparted with a sense of space and serenity so elusive in Manhattan. The dramatic, expansive entrance gallery sets the tone and provides seamless flow between the homes’ public and private spaces. The impressively scaled great room is a showstopper boasting south, east and west exposures, river and city views a large wood-burning fireplace and steel casement French doors which open to East, West and South terraces. The elegantly appointed chef’s kitchen features a full coterie of high-end appliances and is open to a large dining area with its own wood-burning fireplace and terrace offering views over the High Line and Hudson River beyond.
From the Listing:
Upon entering this quintessential penthouse aerie, one is instantly imparted with a sense of space and serenity so elusive in Manhattan. The dramatic, expansive entrance gallery sets the tone and provides seamless flow between the homes’ public and private spaces. The impressively scaled great room is a showstopper boasting south, east and west exposures, river and city views a large wood-burning fireplace and steel casement French doors which open to East, West and South terraces. The elegantly appointed chef’s kitchen features a full coterie of high-end appliances and is open to a large dining area with its own wood-burning fireplace and terrace offering views over the High Line and Hudson River beyond.
2 Available Listings for Sale from $865,000
William Nuti — Sold for $6,400,000
22 Central Park South (CityRealty)
At the beginning of December, public records show that in what appears to have been an off-market deal, former NCR Corporation CEO and Chairman William Nuti sold his apartment in an annex to The Plaza. It is one of only seven full-floor units in the building, and his family, like all residents, enjoyed Central Park views and access to The Plaza’s amenities and services.
Danielle Michaan — Sold for $3,650,000
99 Jane Street, #6G (Compass)
During her time in New York, Coco et Sel creator/chef Danielle Michaan undoubtedly drew inspiration from the Abingdon Square Greenmarket a stone’s throw from her West Village apartment, which features a deluxe kitchen with marble countertops, high-end appliances, and custom cabinetry. However, her website bio says she and her family now live in Montecito, and public records show that the apartment has sold.
From the Listing:
Offering lovely eastern treetop and city views, Residence 6G at 99 Jane Street is a recently renovated two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in one of the West Village’s most sought-after, full-service buildings. The home features an east- and south-facing terrace that is accessible from both the living room and principal bedroom; because of the setback from the street by the Washington Commons, the terrace and the residence benefit from additional quiet, privacy, and views. Almost 28’ in length, the living/dining room has ample room for a formal dining area plus multiple living room configurations.
From the Listing:
Offering lovely eastern treetop and city views, Residence 6G at 99 Jane Street is a recently renovated two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in one of the West Village’s most sought-after, full-service buildings. The home features an east- and south-facing terrace that is accessible from both the living room and principal bedroom; because of the setback from the street by the Washington Commons, the terrace and the residence benefit from additional quiet, privacy, and views. Almost 28’ in length, the living/dining room has ample room for a formal dining area plus multiple living room configurations.
Erica Jong — Sold for $3,400,000
Imperial House (The Corcoran Group)
Imperial House, #27G (Coldwell Banker Warburg); Erica Jong (Milton H. Greene - uploader's personal still, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41736061)
Appropriately enough, the centerpiece of novelist Erica Jong’s Upper East Side apartment was a living room with wall-to-wall custom bookcases. She and husband Kenneth David Burrows regularly entertained fellow writers and creatives there, but ultimately chose to downsize in order to live closer to their grandchildren in another part of Manhattan. Public records show that it sold at the end of 2023.
From the Listing:
This exceptional residence presents a unique opportunity to own a luxurious and expansive home, where breathtaking views, ample space, and a touch of literary inspiration come together. As you enter, you’ll be greeted by an impressive over 30-foot long gallery, leading to the oversized south-facing living room which boasts a custom bookcase that spans the length of the room and houses the irreplaceable collection and books of the owner, Erica Jong. The grand gallery leads to the enclosed solarium, a serene space where you can relax and soak in the sweeping vistas of Central Park and the vibrant city skyline.
From the Listing:
This exceptional residence presents a unique opportunity to own a luxurious and expansive home, where breathtaking views, ample space, and a touch of literary inspiration come together. As you enter, you’ll be greeted by an impressive over 30-foot long gallery, leading to the oversized south-facing living room which boasts a custom bookcase that spans the length of the room and houses the irreplaceable collection and books of the owner, Erica Jong. The grand gallery leads to the enclosed solarium, a serene space where you can relax and soak in the sweeping vistas of Central Park and the vibrant city skyline.
4 Available Listings for Sale from $1,025,000
Jennifer Rubell — Listed for $2,595,000
39 Gramercy Park North (Compass)
39 Gramercy Park North, #3C (Nest Seekers International); Jennifer Rubell (Flickr - Nasher Museum Blogs/Nasher Museum of Art at Duke U)
Less than a year after her purchase of an Upper East Side apartment, conceptual artist Jennifer Rubell has listed her Gramercy Park apartment. The New York Post announced the listing and noted that her father, doctor/art collector Don Rubell, used to have a medical office on the ground floor of the building.
From the Listing:
Discover the allure of Gramercy Park with the exclusive offering of Residence #3C at 39 Gramercy Park North. This exceptional south-facing residence boasts three bedrooms, a home office, and four full baths, accompanied by a delightful balcony showcasing sunny southern exposure and picturesque views of the tree-lined 21st Street and Gramercy Park. Upon entering, a grand foyer sets the tone for the residence, leading to a sun filled living room that seamlessly connects to a spacious eat-in kitchen/dining room. Your key to Gramercy Park!
From the Listing:
Discover the allure of Gramercy Park with the exclusive offering of Residence #3C at 39 Gramercy Park North. This exceptional south-facing residence boasts three bedrooms, a home office, and four full baths, accompanied by a delightful balcony showcasing sunny southern exposure and picturesque views of the tree-lined 21st Street and Gramercy Park. Upon entering, a grand foyer sets the tone for the residence, leading to a sun filled living room that seamlessly connects to a spacious eat-in kitchen/dining room. Your key to Gramercy Park!
1 Available Listing for Sale for $2,595,000
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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