Billionaire Yuri Milner’s recent purchase of a French chateau-style mansion in Silicon Valley has emphasized on the value of some of the luxury properties in the U.S. despite the housing slump. Last year, the world’s richest man Carlos Slim Helu purchased a century-old Beaux Arts townhouse on Fifth Avenue for $44 million, which is one of the most expensive townhouse sales ever in the city. After the jump are the top 10 most expensive residential properties sold in the U.S. over the last few years.
1. Yuri Milner buys Silicon Valley mansion for $100 million
Year of sale: 2011
This French chateau-style mansion in Silicon Valley was lately sold for a reported $100 million, which is the highest known price paid ever for a single-family home in the U.S. The buyer of the luxurious chateau is Yuri Milner, the billionaire founder of Moscow-based venture firm Digital Sky Technologies (DST). Mr. Milner has bought the house from Fred Chan, founder of ESS Technology, and he currently has no immediate plans to move into the new home. The 11-acre estate on Paloma Road in Los Altos Hills, California offers magnificent panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay.
2. Dmitri Rybolovlev buys Rybolovlev estate for $95 million
Year of sale: 2008
Donald Trump sold the Rybolovlev estate at 515 N. County Road in Palm Beach to Russian fertilizer billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for $95 million back in 2008. The 33,000-square foot mansion enjoys an unobstructed oceanfront of 475 feet. Trump bought the property in 2004 for $41.4 million.
3. Gary Winnick buys a Bel Air estate for over $90 million
Year of sale: 2000-2001
Former Global Crossing chairman Gary Winnick purchased this Los Angeles estate in the Bel Air neighborhood in around 2000-01 for around $94 million. Built in 1938, the house is also known as the “Weber Mansion” after a prior owner. The mansion features 20 bathrooms and is spread oner 28,725 square feet on 7.47 acres.
4. Dwight Schar buys Palm Beach house for $70 million
Year of sale: 2004-2005
NVR Inc. chairman and chief executive officer Dwight Schar bought this property from billionaire Ron Perelman, and his then actress wife Ellen Barkin, for a cool $85.6 million. The 26,000-square-foot main house includes seven bedrooms, 18 bathrooms and a movie theater. The estate also has an oversized outdoor pool, a pool house, guesthouses, a spa and a gym
5. Anonymous LLC buys ‘Le Belvedere’ for $50 million
Year of sale: 2010
Developer Mohamed Hadid sold the 48,000-square-foot French chateau “ Le Belvedere” to an anonymous LLC for a cool $50 million. The lavish mansion was built in 2006 and features 19 fireplaces, 10 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms and a three-flight elevator. There is a Moroccan entertaining room, a Turkish steam bath room, an infinity pool, an industrial kitchen with pizza oven, a grand ballroom, a screening gym, a game room and a 5,000-bottle wine cellar.
6. J. Christopher Flowers buys a Manhattan townhouse for $53 million
Year of sale: 2006
J. Christopher Flowers, a private equity investor and founder of J.C. Flowers & Co., purchased a Manhattan townhouse on East 75th Street in 2006 for a whopping $53 million. The single-family townhouse sits over around 20,000 square feet.
7. Harry Macklowe buys $51.5 million condo at the Plaza Hotel
Year of sale: 2007
The 13,000-square-foot-condominium on the seventh floor of Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel was bought by developer Harry Macklowe in 2007 for a cool $51.5 million.
8. Len Blavatnik buys a Manhattan townhouse for $50 million
Year of sale: 2007
Russian oil magnate Len Blavatnik paid $50 million for his Seagram heir friend Edgar Bronfman Jr.’s townhouse at 15 East 64th Street, which makes it the second biggest New York townhouse deal in 2007. Mr. Bronfman was reported to have being paid only $4.375 million for the building in 1994.
9. Tommy Mottola buys Crystal Island Ranch for $47 million
Year of sale: 2006
Music-industry veteran Tommy Mottola paid $47 million for a 949-acre ranch near Aspen, Colo. In 2006. Called Crystal Island Ranch, the property is located about 33 miles northwest of downtown Aspen. Crystal Island Ranch is spread over 1,705 acres with a 12,000-square-foot home, a barn with a guest house, two cabins, four bedrooms and four bathrooms and more.
10. Roland Arnall buys Mandalay Ranch for $46 million
Year of sale: 2004
Mortgage company executive Roland Arnall purchased the 650-acre Mandalay Ranch from Hollywood movie mogul Peter Guber in 2004 for $46 million. The property includes wildflower meadows, ponds and the 15,000 sq. ft main home with seven bedrooms and 7 1/2 bathrooms.
