Celebrity Homes in the Hamptons
Celebrity is synonymous with the Hamptons. From Billy Joel and Sir Paul McCartney to Steven Spielberg and Jerry Seinfeld, the A-List of the rich and famous goes on. It’s not surprising, the Hamptons’ beautiful, sandy beaches and elegant real estate offerings are attractive to many including celebrities. Whether they’re buying, selling or renting, the market has definitely taken a few unpredictable turns in the last few years.
Recently in the news, reality star, author and model, Kelly Killoren Bensimon dropped the price of her Further Lane, East Hampton home for a second time. Killoren Bensimon’s original asking price of $12 million was slashed down to $8 million and then again to $6.999 million. The five-bedroom property has also been available for rent the past few seasons and is the perfect Hamptons retreat.
This elegant 1.2-acre Hampton home boasts 5,800 square feet of Hamptons charm. The home offers five bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, a formal living room with a fireplace and French doors, a luxurious master bedroom with a fireplace and private terrace, a state-of-the-art kitchen with an open floor plan leading to a spacious dining area and a family/entertainment room. Additional amenities include: vaulted ceilings, rustic wood beams, powder room, spacious den, extensive decking and the option for an additional guest room. In addition, the landscaping is impeccably designed and maintained as well with a Gunite pool and garden pond. For more information on 125 Further Lane visit www.Prudential Douglas Elliman.com.
Billy Joel finally took his oceanfront home in Sagaponack off the market this January after dropping the asking price down to $16.75 million from the original price of $22.5 million. Joel bought this oceanfront beauty in 2007 from actor Roy Scheider, during Joel’s marriage to Katie Lee. After their split in 2009, he decided to put it on the market. Since then, Joel has had a change of heart (about the house, of course) and opted to hold on to this lovely gem. Designed by television host and celebrity designer, Nate Berkus, this 5,500 square foot home offers, four bedrooms, six baths and spectacular panoramic views of the ocean. Not too shabby.
Unfortunately divorce usually leads to one or both parties opting to sell their home or homes, unless they can come to an amicable agreement or had some sort of prenuptial agreement in place. For actor Kelsey Grammer, this was a costly lesson. Many, myself included, witnessed the 13-year marriage of Kelsey and Camille Grammer crumble before our eyes on reality television and in the tabloids – it was not a pretty picture.
After all was said and done, and things seemed to be anything but amicable, they decided to move forward with the division of property with their Hamptons home at the top of the list. The Grammers’ 8,000 square foot home located in Bridgehampton offered seven bedrooms, seven baths, a master suite with fireplace, sitting room with private porch, a guest house, tennis courts, home theater, gym, steam room sauna, heated pool, wine cellar and elevator. Everything and anything you could ever want in a Hamptons home – all nestled on 1.7 acres of sprawling open land. Luckily, the home was priced right at $10 million with Sotheby’s and it didn’t take long for someone to buy it for $9.95 million at the end of 2011. On to the next home in the Hamptons for Grammer.
Celebrities like to indulge and the Hamptons provide the perfect playground for living in luxury. Lavish galas and fundraisers are everywhere in the summer on the East End and celebrities are more than happy to participate. Some may choose a low key and inconspicuous lifestyle, while others prefer to be living out loud and celebratory. It’s not at all uncommon to run into big names dressed down at the local grocery store, farmers market or gym. The realm of lifestyle possibilities is endless here in the land of the rich and famous.