Latest news with #CharlesSimonyi
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The cosmetics billionaire, the rock star, and a series of very mysterious property deals in prime Palm Beach
Nestled along an idyllic beachfront street in Palm Beach, Florida, lie a series of multi-million dollar mansions, each one draped in shrubbery to protect the privacy of their wealthy, sometimes world-famous, residents. As if the day-to-day curiosity about the homeowners wasn't enough, one particular block of properties is currently being targeted by an ultra-wealthy but mysterious buyer seemingly looking to create an enormous compound. Between February and June, the buyer has spent an estimated $250 million to $350 million on approximately four properties that form a square on North Ocean Boulevard, located just five miles from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago golf club. Two of the properties were purchased from William Launder, heir to the Estée Lauder Companies. Another was bought from Cathleen Black, the former chairwoman of Hearst Magazine, and her husband, Thomas Harvey. Rumors suggest that the buyer is also eyeing a neighboring property that belongs to rock musician Jon Bon Jovi — who has so far refused to sell. The buyer is reportedly billionaire and former Microsoft employee Charles Simonyi, according to The Real Deal and New York Post, although he has not confirmed that and it's unclear what is planned for the mega-property. Mr. Simonyi goes to Palm Beach Simonyi, 76, is a Hungarian–American engineer, Martha Stewart's ex-boyfriend, and space enthusiast who served as the chief architect during the development of Microsoft Word and Excel. With an estimated net worth of $8.48 billion, Simonyi has used his vast wealth to continue advancing technology and supporting educational programs. He's also used some of it to support mostly Republican candidates over the years, including $2,700 to Trump in 2016 and $200,000 to his 2020 campaign. Palm Beach, where Trump's sprawling, but questionably valued, Mar-a-Lago residence is located, has become the nucleus of the MAGA movement. Florida itself has also become a central hub for Republicans, rapidly losing its status as a swing-state when Trump rose to political prominence. The estate on North Ocean Boulevard would be a short 15-minute car ride to the president's golf club, although it's unclear Simonyi plans to spend any time there. Mostly, it appears Simonyi's money goes toward establishing a comfortable lifestyle. In 1997, Simonyi upgraded his 21,000 square foot home in Medina, Washington to become a smart home, an early proponent of the technology alongside his neighbors in the Seattle suburbs, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. The billionaire's mansion Villa Simonyi is immediately recognizable with an intensely modern exterior that contains no right angles, and includes an art gallery and boat dock. Now, he appears to be targeting Palm Beach with his real estate investments, sources confirmed to The Real Deal. The Independent has reached out to Simonyi for comment. A quiet snag from the cosmetics billionaire In a hush-hush purchase, the unnamed buyer reported to be Simonyi reportedly shelled out nearly $200 million to Lauder for 2.8 acres of prime beachfront property with 360-degree views of the ocean back in February. Lauder, 65, served in executive positions at Estée Lauder until 2009 when he stepped down as CEO. He now serves as executive chairman in the family beauty business. He is estimated to be worth $1.5 billion. Lauder had been sitting on the land, which was made up of two lots, for several years. Initially purchased in 2021, the cosmetics heir demolished what was once a monstrous home, intending to use it for himself before choosing to put it on the market for a whopping $177 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. For nearly two years, the valuable plots sat empty on the palm-tree-lined street in Palm Beach before the unnamed buyer approached Lauder with an offer he couldn't refuse — although it's unclear exactly how much was paid. The sale was made confidentially, so deed records aren't available online. The only indication of the lofty price was when the Lauder's agent, Ryan Serhant, a real estate mogul with his own Netflix TV show, made a cryptic Instagram Story the day before news of the sale dropped. 'Sold and closed the most expensive home of my entire career today for just under $200 [million]. And I did the deal over the phone,' Serhant wrote, according to Bravo TV. The Independent has reached out to Serhant for comment. An unsolicited offer to the former magazine head Months after the quiet deal was made, the unnamed buyer reached out to the neighbors across the street who owned a 3,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style mansion, offering four times the amount that they initially paid for it. The owners, publishing pioneer Black and lawyer Harvey, handed over the deed to 1066 N. Ocean Blvd., a home they purchased in 2018 for roughly $4 million, in exchange for $18 million. Public records indicate the purchaser was listed as Creekshore LLC, a limited liability company incorporated in Delaware back in May. The LLC's address is tied to Rabideau and Klein, a real estate law firm with an office in Palm Beach. The firm, which specializes in high-end residential real estate, declined to comment for this story. Harvey told the Wall Street Journal he did not know the identity of the buyer but that they made an unsolicited offer on his home. A third purchase on a neighbor's home Weeks later, 1072 N. Ocean Blvd., a terracotta-roofed home located next to Black and Harvey's, was purchased for $30 million – six times the amount that the previous owners bought it for in 2017. This time, Mango Leaf LLC, a limited liability company also incorporated in Delaware in May, was listed as the buyer. However, the address associated with the LLC is tied to a residential home in Vero Beach, Florida. Once again, Rabideau appeared to be involved in the deal, representing a trust that previously owned the home. Given the home is located next door to the most recent purchase, and across the street from Lauder's former home, it seems likely they are connected. An inquiry with a rock star The alleged buyer appears dedicated to snatching up the neighborhood homes and has reportedly inquired with the neighbors who live on either side of the property purchased from Lauder, South Florida Business & Wealth reported. But he may have run into some issues, specifically with one famous neighbor: Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi, 63, purchased the $43 million home in 2020. He moved from his home state, New Jersey, to the seven bedroom, 12-bathroom mansion designed by famed architect Thomas Kirchhoff, complete with columns, arches, marble and stunning ocean views. It's no wonder, when asked if he'd be willing to sell it, the 'Livin' on a Prayer' singer has reportedly resisted efforts. A spokesperson for Bon Jovi declined to comment. Breadcrumbs lead back to Microsoft executive There are no public documents that state Simonyi is the buyer, though the Wall Street Journal, New York Post, and The Real Deal all named him as the likely buyer. Incorporation records of the LLCs, reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, indicate Creekshore LLC and Mango Leaf LLCs are tied to Seattle-based lawyer, Greyson Blue. Blue works for K&L Gates, a law firm with ties to billionaire Bill Gates through his late father. He also previously worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Simonyi was the 40th employee of Gates' Microsoft. The Independent has reached out to Blue for comment. Sources familiar with the situation told the Journal that Gates is not the buyer of the Palm Beach properties. While Simonyi is widely believed to be the buyer, it's unclear what he plans to do with the land he's been snapping up. He could merge the properties to create a massive compound, similar to his Washington residence. That would rival others nearby – such as those located on 'Billionaire's Row' on South Ocean Boulevard or Trump's own Mar-a-Lago residence. He could be looking to create the newest high-tech home, embodying his work in the field. Or he could be looking to take up residence in Florida due to it's financial benefits and political alignment. While Simonyi has not stated his political beliefs publicly, his recent donations to Republican John Barrasso and the National Republican Senatorial Committee indicate he'd likely be content with the state's politics.
Telegraph
30-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Bon Jovi standing in way of mega-deal for mystery Palm Beach buyer
Jon Bon Jovi is standing in the way of a mystery buyer and one of the biggest real estate deals in US history. The American rock star is the last obstacle to an anonymous client who has been quietly assembling one of the most valuable private estates in the country. So far, the unnamed buyer, whose identity is a closely guarded secret, has paid roughly $250 million (£182 million) for four separate homes in Florida's Palm Beach – and is pushing for more. The mystery investor wants the $42 million (£31 million) mansion belonging to Bon Jovi, who has resisted staggering overtures to sell his property, people familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal. Palm Beach is a sought-after address for the US and international elite. Possible buyers suggested by estate agents include Bill Gates and the Microsoft-linked billionaires Steve Ballmer and Charles Simonyi. 'The buyer is looking for privacy and safety, and they want to be comfortable within their four walls. And as a result of that they buy their neighbours,' Dana Koch, a local agent of the Corcoran Group, told The Telegraph. Bon Jovi's home would be the fifth separate property to be added to a growing assemblage on the exclusive North Ocean Boulevard. The properties, which are situated five miles from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, so far include two ocean-front lots previously owned by William Lauder, the billionaire cosmetics heir. Mr Lauder is said to have listed them for a combined $200 million (£146 million) in 2023 before they were sold for an undisclosed figure earlier this year. In early June, the same deep-pocketed buyer paid $18 million (£13 million) for the Mediterranean-style house across the street. The sellers, retired attorney Thomas Harvey and media executive Cathleen Black, had purchased it for $4.25 million (£3.1 million) in 2018, according to the Wall Street Journal. Mr Harvey is said to have been unaware of the identity of the buyer. Then, earlier this week, the property next door to the former Harvey home sold for $30 million (£22 million) to a limited company tied to the same buyer. The same property, around half an acre, sold for around $5.25 million (£3.83 million) in 2027. 'Make-me-move prices' 'They are what we call 'make-me-move prices',' Mr Koch added. 'They're significantly above the market, so you're going to be open to having that conversation.' The property market in Palm Beach has been on an unprecedented upswing since 2020, with record deal after record deal. The area's luxury lifestyle, pristine beaches and exclusivity have attracted wealthy buyers at home and abroad, especially those relocating from high-tax states like New York. The accumulation of seafront properties and the buying out of neighbours is not unusual for the tropical safe haven, yet it is the mystery around the buyer that has garnered attention. Ken Griffin, the enigmatic financier, turned heads with his plans to build the most expensive home on earth, a $1 billion (£730 million) mega-estate. He has spent more than $400 million (£292 million) since 2012 to piece together an ocean front compound in Palm Beach.
New York Post
27-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
A mystery Microsoft mogul has been quietly assembling the priciest Palm Beach estate near Mar-a-Lago
In a string of blockbuster deals unfolding just north of Mar-a-Lago, a mystery buyer linked to Microsoft has quietly assembled what could become one of the most valuable private estates in the U.S. — a sprawling oceanfront compound in Palm Beach with an estimated price tag between $250 million and $350 million, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal and The Real Deal. The buyer — whose identity remains unconfirmed but is widely rumored to be Microsoft billionaire Charles Simonyi — has spent the past several months scooping up prime properties on North Ocean Boulevard. According to the Journal, the buyer paid roughly $250 million across four separate deals, while The Real Deal pegs the total value closer to $350 million. Advertisement 8 In Palm Beach, a mystery buyer is quietly assembling one of the most valuable private estates in the country, spending around $250 million so far on a series of high-priced acquisitions near Mar-a-Lago. Getty Images The core of the assemblage comprises two rare oceanfront lots at 1063 and 1071 N. Ocean Blvd., previously owned by cosmetics heir William Lauder. Together, the 2.3-acre parcels offer 360 feet of beach frontage. Lauder, who initially intended to keep the land for personal use, had listed the properties for a combined $177.8 million. Advertisement Sources told TRD the sale went through in February via a transfer of LLCs, rather than a deed, for more than $160 million. 8 The buyer has snapped up four parcels, including two oceanfront lots formerly owned by cosmetics heir William Lauder, a Mediterranean-style home across the street, and a neighboring inland property — all at prices well above market value. Google Maps In June, the same buyer picked up two non-oceanfront homes across the street in separate off-market transactions. A Delaware entity called Creekshore LLC acquired a 3,600-square-foot home at 1066 N. Ocean Blvd. from former Hearst executive Cathie Black and her husband, attorney Thomas Harvey, for $18 million. Advertisement The couple had bought the property for $4.2 million in 2018. 8 The roughly 3-acre assemblage boasts 360 feet of beachfront on North Ocean Boulevard and rivals recent megadeals by Ken Griffin and Jeff Bezos. MEGA 8 Charles Simonyi REUTERS In an email to the Journal, Harvey said he did not know the 'true identity of the buyer,' adding that the offer was unsolicited. Advertisement Next door, another Delaware LLC named Mango Leaf paid $30 million for a 5,800-square-foot home at 1072 N. Ocean Blvd., which last sold for $5.3 million in 2017. Both sale prices far exceeded market value, local brokers told the Journal. Altogether, the assemblage now spans nearly 4.2 acres. If completed as rumored, it would rival Palm Beach's most legendary compounds. 8 One remaining holdout is rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who reportedly rebuffed overtures to sell his adjacent $43 million estate. Drew Gurian/Invision/AP Billionaire Ken Griffin holds the current record with a 19.3-acre estate assembled for $350 million and expected to be worth over $1 billion upon completion, The Post previously reported. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, meanwhile, has spent about $234 million on Indian Creek Village properties in nearby Miami. While the buyer remains publicly unidentified, incorporation records reviewed by the Journal show ties to Greyson Blue, a Seattle-based attorney with K&L Gates who previously worked for the Gates Foundation. Blue's name appears in the registration of the Delaware entities used in the deals. He did not respond to requests for comment. A person close to the Gates Foundation told the Journal that Bill Gates is not behind the purchases. 8 Though the true buyer remains unidentified, incorporation records link the inland purchases to Seattle-based attorney Greyson Blue, who has ties to the Gates family through his past work at the Gates Foundation. Meghan McCarthy / The Palm Beach Daily News / IMAGN 8 While some speculate Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer or Charles Simonyi could be involved, none have confirmed, and the Gates Foundation denies involvement. Advertisement Simonyi — credited with creating Microsoft Word and Excel — has an estimated net worth of $8.2 billion, according to Forbes. Sources told TRD he is likely the buyer. Other names floated include former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, whose net worth exceeds $140 billion, and Gates himself, whose daughter Jennifer Gates has owned a $33 million equestrian compound in nearby Wellington. Despite the buyer's aggressive push, not every property on the block has been secured. Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who owns the mansion at 1075 N. Ocean Blvd., has so far rebuffed offers. 'We just don't have these kinds of large properties available for sale,' said Dana Koch of the Corcoran Group, speaking to the Journal. 'After buying all of these properties at a mind-boggling number, [the buyer] is protecting his investment and affording himself even more privacy.' Advertisement 8 149 E. Inlet Drive. Google Maps Bon Jovi paid $43 million for his 0.7-acre estate in 2020. Records show the 10,000-square-foot home includes six bedrooms, a wine cellar and a gym. Sources told TRD that the buyer is also eyeing the neighboring property at 1055 N. Ocean Blvd., owned by real estate investor William Rickman Jr., who purchased the 1930s-era home for $13.1 million in 2016.
