The Top 10 Most Expensive Home Sales of 2023

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Great Island, Darien, Connecticut — $85 million

The backstory: This 60-acre island, which has been with the same family for multiple generations, features a 13,000-square-foot mansion, an 18-stall horse barn, a polo field, indoor and outdoor riding rings, a separate three-bedroom house, a farmhouse, a beach cottage, and a bungalow. Initially put on the market for $175 million, the house’s buyerwas the town of Darien, whose plans for the island are still under deliberation.

26-32 Windmill Lane, East Hampton, New York — $91.5 million

The backstory: Three years after purchasing this 6.7-acre oceanfront compound for a reported $45 million, the owner flipped the property, which includes a 7,000-square-foot main house and a 1,500-square-foot guest house, netting a clean $46.5 million profit.

Aside from 300 feet fronting the ocean, the house comes with a pool, although multiple publications have noted that the property’s zoning allows for construction of a much larger home—meaning that this could become a $91.5 million teardown.

700 Meadow Lane, Southampton, New York — $112.5 million

The backstory: Seen one way, this was a bargain: The house originally came on the market for a reported $175 million. The property has eight acres, with 500 feet of ocean frontage. The sprawling 15,500-square-foot home has 11 bedrooms and 12 full baths. At one point, it was offered for rent, available the entire summer for $2.25 million.

499 Indian Field Road, Greenwich, Connecticut — $138.8 million

The backstory: Known as Copper Beach Farm, the 50-acre estate was sold by an LLC with ties to hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio, Bloomberg reported. The property includes a 13,500-square-foot main house with walled gardens, a swimming pool and a grass tennis court. Built during the Gilded Age, the house has two private beaches, a heated 75-foot-long swimming pool, and an additional carriage house, gate house, pool house and two greenhouses.

1495 North Ocean Boulevard, Palm Beach, Florida — $155 million

The backstory: This 2.7-acre property was purchased by billionaire cosmetics heir William Lauder from the widow of the late right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Palm Beach estate contains a roughly 24,000-square-foot main home and was “decorated by Mr. Limbaugh himself,” the Journal reported.

589 North County Road, Palm Beach, Florida — $170 million

The backstory: According to the Real Deal, this off-market sale was between the seller, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters founder Robert Stiller, and the buyer, luxury car dealer Michael Cantanucci. The 1.6-acre property has around 150 feet of ocean frontage; the house measures approximately 20,000 square feet with 10 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms and seven half-baths. Stiller and his wife reportedly paid $25 million for the property a decade ago.

27712 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California — $190 million

The backstory: This approximately 40,000-square-foot home, designed by celebrity architect Tadao Ando under commission from Maria and William Bell Jr.; Maria, a writer and producer, and Bill, a producer, are noted art collectors.

The buyers, however, eclipse both the house and its patrons: TMZ reported that the new owners of the home are none other than Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z. (The outlet reported that the purchase price was $200 million; Zillow’s official record is $190 million.) TMZ subsequently reported that the couple paid in cash.

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