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Steve Wynn In NYC, Estate of the Day


As we mentioned a little while back, the New York Observer recently reported that casino mogul Steve Wynn's New York City apartment was up for sale. Now thanks to a post from the Real Estalker, we found out that the listing has gone live. Wynn's Fifth Avenue palace is a two-bedroom apartment that measures around 3,500 square feet.

Steve and Elaine Wynn are getting a divorce (actually it's their second divorce, they were first married in 1963 but divorced in 1986 and then remarried five years later). Their full-floor apartment was once a four bedroom home but the renovation trimmed the number of rooms and expanded the spaces with an eye toward the grand and bland. The main living area was once the living room, formal dining room and library and has views over Central Park. The master suite was created from three bedrooms and has his and hers bathrooms.

As the floor plan reveals the resulting layout is a bit odd. The master bedroom has been placed next to the living room to take advantage of the best views but this means that the two bathrooms are sequential rather than side by side. The kitchen is directly opposite the second master bathroom and the dining room has been shoved to the back of the apartment right in front of the laundry and utility areas. The home has been redone in shades that design books likely refer to as variations of honey, taupe, caramel and rattan but mostly it's just beige, elegant, but beige and with a hotel's anonymity. Particularly curious is the kitchen which seems to have matching granite floors and counters. The apartment is priced at an outrageous $25 million but it seems doubtful that the Wynns will get their price.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Kristen Johnston Lists Her New York City Apartment


Comedic actress Kristin Johnston was recently signed to a stage production at the Lucille Lortel Theater this fall so she's not leaving New York City but she may be leaving the West Village. Cityfile found the listing for Johnston's condo. Her colorful duplex measures 1,541 square feet and has two bedrooms. As the listing puts it, the best part is the solarium which enjoys a south-facing view of the planted terrace and has built-in seating and glass walls. In the main space a dining upholstered banquette seats 10 and the kitchen has an open counter to the living room. The style is a bit eclectic and busy with a hodgepodge of wallpapers and clusters of vibrantly-colored accent pillows. It is listed at $1.795 million.

Philip Johnson Hamptons House for Sale at $35 Million


A Hamptons beach house designed by Philip Johnson three years before the architect built his famous Glass House in New Canann, Conn. has come on the market for $35 million. Built in 1946 and based on plans drawn up by Mies van der Rohe, the modernist Farney House (above) is nestled in the dunes of Sagaponack supported on raised log piers. The house, which was expanded and updated by local architect Mark Matthews in 1989 - perhaps spoiling the purity of Johnson's work in the eyes of some - features a stunning glass-enclosed living room with spectacular ocean views. The 5,000-sq-.ft., 8-bed, 7-bath wooden residence sits on 3.6 oceanfront acres with 363 ft. of pristine Hamptons shoreline, and is accessed by a private road situated a substantial distance from any public beach access. The property includes a free-form swimming pool, tennis court, play area, putting green and basketball court incorporated into a beautiful landscape design, as well as a long boardwalk running from the house to the beach.

[via JustLuxe]

Shaq Slept Here, Estate of the Day


Shaquille O'Neal's name doesn't seem to have done much for selling his own home but maybe his former rental will have better luck. Shaq finally sold his Miami home after it had been on the market for years getting $2 million less than he paid for it and just about half of his original $32 million asking price. A home that he rented in Paradise Valley, Arizona has gone through a deep price cut too. Both Shaquille O'Neal and Emmitt Smith did each rent this large house for a year. Shaquille O'Neal recently moved out with his family.

The five-bedroom home was built in 2002 and has approximately 8981 square feet of space. The grounds include a pool and there is a master bath that features a tub that might even have been large enough for Shaq. The home is on a two-acre lot and is located near golf courses and restaurants. The listing agent reports that the home was originally offered at $6.5 million but it can now be had for $3.6 million.

[Thanks, Mika]

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Villa Rockledge, Estate of the Day


We don't have many pictures of this one but Villa Rockledge is a beautiful older home in the expensive seaside town of Laguna Beach in Orange County, California. Unlike many of the town's expensive cliffside homes this one has a long history. The Press-Enterprise reports that it was built over a four year period from 1918 to 1922 for Frank Miller, former owner of the Mission Inn in Riverside, who built the home as a gift for his second wife Marion and called it Mariona, a name which is still shown on a brick arch in one of the home's entry points. The residence was added to the National Registry of Historic Places by the State of California and the U.S. National Park Service in 1984.

The 8,065 square foot compound includes a main house, six guest houses which are rentals and a secluded beach. The current owner, Roger W. Jones, bought the home in 1973 for $420,000 and has researched the history of Villa Rockledge even writing a book "The History of Villa Rockledge," published in 1991. Celebrities from the grand ages of moviemaking including Errol Flynn, Clifton Webb and Bette Davis visited the home which was designed so that even the bathrooms have ocean views. Jones has said that he he restored Villa Rockledge closer to its original condition exposing beams and brick.

The fact that the home is on the National Registry of Historic Places means it can't be torn down but it does seem to be in need of some major renovation. It is listed with Susan Weir for $34.9 million but an MLS listing shows a couple more pictures that reveal a very dated kitchen. It's likely that any new owners would want to spend a significant amount of money on renovation. Because of its idyllic location and charm Laguna Beach hasn't been hit as hard by the real estate market slump as other parts of Southern California but prices in this town have fallen off in the past year. This home seems to combine the best parts of Laguna Beach, the stunning ocean views clear to Catalina as well as the quirky rustic style that graces some of the older homes in the area.

Trumps's Former Palm Beach Mansion Part Of Major Divorce Dispute

palm beach mansion
The mansion that Donald Trump sold in Palm Beach, Florida last year might be at the center of a major divorce battle. Russian billionaire fertilizer mogul Dmitri Rybolovlev and his wife bought the house for $95 million back in 2008. Now Elena Rybolovlev says her husband has been unfaithful and she wants 50 percent of the couple's marital assets, a number she puts between $6 billion and $12 billion. One of the items at issue will be the 33,000-square-foot property. She has asked the court to take jurisdiction over property because she is worried her husband will begin hiding and transferring his assets. Already she says that an art and furniture collection worth around $670 million has been moved out of her reach.

The Palm Beach Post reports that in July 2008, through County Road Property, Rybolovlev paid $95 million cash for the home. Trump had bought the mansion for $41.35 million in 2004 and restored it, asking at one point, for $125 million for the home. Rybolovlev said he purchased the mansion as an investment, the couple spend most of their time in Switzerland. If he has to sell he might be in trouble. For a while Palm Beach was faring well amidst Florida's real estate turmoil but lately it seems like the bigger mansions are slower to move. One that we've been keeping an eye on, Casa Nana, has been on the market for $72.5 million since last summer. Check it out in the gallery below.

Malibu Beach House, Estate of the Day


Today's Malibu, California beach home has a bit of celebrity provenance, this beach home high up on a bluff was once owned by rock star and restaurateur Sammy Hagar. Hagar's former beach house has enviable waterviews. A rustic seaside garden leads to a staircase and the beach below. A sundeck on the bluff edge includes a hot tub and lounging area. The home itself has a funky and distinctive look that harks back to an older Malibu style when it was a surf-driven beach community rather than a celebrity enclave. There are beamed ceilings, a pitched roof, polished teak floors and fireplaces that look like they've seen a lot of use on foggy nights. The home has six bedrooms including a truly stellar master suite. The expansive suite has a fireplace and sitting area and a balcony that opens out to the ocean. The current decor is a bit eccentric in some places. The combination of a pot rack and greenery in the kitchen is the type of decorating move that makes the Real Estalker call for nerve pills. Overall though, this is a beautiful and private abode. It is listed at $10.9 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Villa Shamballa, Estate of the Day


Last week we covered the Wall Street Journal's mention of a luxury villa on the French Riviera. Now we are zooming in for a closer look. Villa Shamballa is in the town of Cap,D'Ail a seaside resort town in southeastern France that borders Monaco. The contemporary style villa was completed last year and spreads over 9,300 square feet. It has ten bedrooms, two terraces, a stone guest house and a wine cave. The home's hillside location delivers incredible views of the Mediterranean Sea. The home was built by retired real estate developer Jean-Claude Rahn and his wife Ursula Neuerberg, of the German cigarette manufacturer Haus Neuerburg and the home has been visited by celebrities including Prince Albert of Monaco, Claudia Schiffer, Michael Shumerer. The home is listed at 38.5 million euros.

Broad Key For Sale


Need to really get away from it all? Broad Key in Florida offers 63 acres of private island bliss. The island includes a five-bedroom main house, a guest and caretaker's cottage, boathouse and a 33 foot dock. The island has its own water storage, solar generator power system, satellite dish communication and video security equipment. There is also a helicopter landing area. The island is listed at $20 million putting it at the higher end of Florida private islands for sale.

Gallery: Broad Key

Bernie Kosar In Weston, Florida, Estate of the Day


Like quarterback Dan Marino, former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar has a home in Weston, Florida for sale. But Kosar's situation is a bit more urgent. Kosar has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with his top 20 debts clicking in at $19.5 million including around $1.5 million to his former team the Cleveland Browns. Small wonder then that his Florida home is up for sale. Kosar has not paid the property taxes on the home for the last couple of years.

Kosar's home in Weston is a 9,900 square-foot mansion on the lake which has a large backyard area with a summer kitchen, pool, spa and cabanas. It is located in the same community, Windmill Ranch Estates, that Marino lives in and the home has a similar Florida Mediterranean style. This ample residence includes an office/library, a kitchen and a separate butler's kitchen and seven bedrooms. This home is listed at $3.5 million.

Kosar's financial woes seem to stem from a number of factors including Florida's depressed real estate market and some bad investing advice. His top creditor is Florida Bank which is owed $9.7 million in real estate development foreclosures. He also owed KeyBank $3.2 million for loan guarantees and a personal line of credit and owes his ex-wife Babette Kosar $3 million from the couple's divorce settlement. Like many ex-football players, he was also in the restaurant business. His Bernie's Steakhouse, a Miami-area restaurant closed last year. Kosar is said to be optimistic about his ability to get out from under his debt and he has many supporters in Cleveland and elsewhere cheering him on.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

[via Move Trends]

Oak Ridge Ranch Offers A Piece Of Unspoiled California Land


Jim Kirk is the name of a fictional character but it's also the name of the former CEO of NationsRent who happens to own a huge California cattle ranch. The Wall Street Journal reports that Oak Ridge Ranch, his 6,375-acre California cattle ranch is on the market for $33 million. This huge unspoiled property is located around 23 miles east of Carmel-by-the-Sea in Northern California. The property includes a 5,700-square-foot, four-bedroom stucco main house, a three-bedroom guest house, and a caretaker's residence. There is also a two-car garage, pool and hot tub. The ranch has an extensive road system that makes all areas of the ranch accessible. It offers good water with 12 developed springs and 21 stock ponds and it is home to deer, turkey, quail, bobcat and Russian wild boar.

The barn includes a tack room large enough to accommodate 25 saddles, a full bath, kitchen and dining area used for entertaining, two second-floor studio apartments used for live-in workers as well as a full set of working corrals on site. A maintenance shop includes several storage areas, a full bath, walk-in cooler, supply and tool area with several work benches with a fueling station and a supply shed outside the shop. The ranch is currently home to 150 mother cows (black angus) and has a total carrying capacity around 400 head.

The ranch estate is being offered through Hall and Hall for $33,000,000 or individual large parcels starting at $5,000,000.

Michael Jackson's Estate is Worth...

michael jacksonWell, the answer to that question will be hard to come by for quite some time. It seems almost everything in Jackson's roller-coaster life remains unsettled and unquantifiable at this juncture. From the remodeling and hopeful future sale of Neverland Ranch to the would-be profits of his anticipated summer concert tours, everything within Michael's complicated estate will be even more murky as his three children and immediate family wade into the big picture.

It is estimated that MJ's current debt settles around $500 million which was accumulated over years of frivolous spending, two large molestation lawsuits, the yearly upkeep of the Ranch for nearly $10 million annually, property rentals since leaving the Ranch costing $100,000 per month, and other various expenses. Neverland Ranch is expected to sell for roughly $70 to $90 million, of which Michael would receive a sizable chunk, and his summer tours could have netted the comeback star $50 to $400 million depending if he added more concert dates across the globe.
One bright spot in his finances includes music copyrights to 251 Beatles' tunes as well as his own compositions which are most likely worth $500 million to $1 billion.

There isn't any cut-and-dry method that can solve this conundrum but surely when the estate is finally settled, or more likely as pieces of the puzzle come together, it will be a spectacular sum covered by eager entertainment news sources no matter if that number is in the red or the black.

Jason Statham At The Broadway, Estate of the Day

the broadway
Action star Jason Statham may life in a home in mid-Century home in the Hollywood Hills but he also owns a spare and bare apartment in the Broadway Building on Vine in Hollywood. Statham's unit at the Broadway is on the eight floor and takes up 2,140 square feet with two bedrooms. The Real Estalker Mama reports that he picked up this home for $1,543,515. If this was an investment property it may not have been such a great investment. He has listed the home at $1.395 million.

The corner apartment has views over Hollywood Blvd. including a nice view of the Capital Records building.The living room tries for the sexy lair look with a huge white sofa, low slung coffee table and white shag rug. There's a clean and cool kitchen and a pair of rather clinical bathrooms. Not a lot of warmth in this place.

The Boradway does have a few celebrity owners including Danny Masterson, WIlmer Valderama, Jack Osbourne, Emma Henning and Charlize Theron. It offers Kelly Wearstler designed common areas, valet parking, a fitness center and the main draw a swimming pool, spa, sun deck, outdoor fireplace and lounging cabanas up on the roof over looking the lights of Hollywood.

What Is Tyndal Point Really Worth?


Just how much is relatively undeveloped land in the Hamptons worth? We've seen the Tyndal Point property on the market for several years. The 55-acre property first hit the market in 2007 for an astounding $80 million. Ah those were heady days. Newsday's Real LI reports that the property, which was priced at $75 million last year, is now down to just $49.9 million. Real LI reports that Scott Strough of Strough Associates says that since the price reduction he's had major interest from a variety of sources.

The land, which has 3,000 square feet of beachfront, can be subdivided into three estate parcels of two lots each. Right now there is a main house and two additional residences on the property. There are also two deepwater docks. The owner of Tyndal Point is retired lawyer Robert Rust, who inherited the property from his aunt. She paid about $200,000 for the land more than 50 years ago.

Gallery: Tyndal Point

Another Palazzo Chupi Price Chop - Save $31 Million!

Palazzo Chupi
Larger-than-life art star Julian Schnabel has cut the price on his outrageous Palazzo Chupi (above) in NYC yet again, and is now asking only $27.9 million for five floors combined of the pink palace. The 7,676-sq.-ft. spread consists of a duplex and triplex penthouse that were originally listed at $32 million and $27 million respectively when they were our Estate of the Day last year. The new price reflects an astounding discount of $31.1 million, less than the triplex itself originally. The apartments are also available separately with the triplex priced at $14.95 million and the duplex $12.95 million, Curbed reports. The previous reduction had them at $20 million and $18 million, respectively. As my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported recently, Schnabel has also been trying to rent the apartments out for $50,000 and $40,000 per month, respectively. Meanwhile he has had to sell a Picasso to finance the debt incurred in the building's construction.

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