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      Billionaire Steve Schwarzman Is Turning One of His Mansions Into a Private Museum

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      Billionaire Steve Schwarzman is unlocking the ornate, wrought-iron gates to his Neoclassical mansion in Newport, Rhode Island.

      The Blackstone CEO, who currently ranks as the 30th richest man in the world with an estimated net worth of $43.9 billion, says he and his wife plan to open Miramar estate to the public following their deaths. “Christine and I intend to set Miramar up as a private museum at the time of our deaths for the benefit of the public in perpetuity,” he told Town & Country. “We are honored to have been able to do this for the community and contribute to Newport’s historic preservation.”

      Located on tony Bellevue Avenue, Miramar represents all the glitz and glamor of the Gilded Age. Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer originally designed the extravagant abode for streetcar magnate George Dunton Widener and his wife, Eleanor in the early 1990s. George sadly died aboard RMS Titanic in 1912, before the home was completed in 1915. Eleanor later moved into Miramar with her second husband Alexander Hamilton Rice, Jr., and the couple lived there till the 1950s. The storied property changed hands a few times before former Goldman Sachs banker David B. Ford snapped it up for a record $17.15 million in 2006.

      A view of the Miramar mansion in 1917.

      Heritage Images

      The Schwarzmans bought Miramar for $27 million in September 2021 in a deal brokered by Gustave White Sotheby’s agent David Huberman. The couple then treated the century-old pad to a meticulous, three-year renovation to restore it to its former glory. They have carefully curated period-correct art, such as paintings and portraits by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, John Singer Sargent, Vigée Le Brun, and Peter Lely. They have also sourced the finest antique furniture and decor. “In the great tradition of the Gilded Age of Newport and the Gilded Age of New York, they are really taking this seriously and trying to get the very best objects they can find to make this house sing,” Ian Wardropper, director of the Frick Collection in New York, told the magazine.

      An interior view of Miramar mansion in 1917.

      Heritage Images

      Miramar and the rarities within will eventually be on show for all to appreciate. The museum, one of Schwarzman’s many philanthropic endeavors, will be run by a private foundation, with an endowment covering operation and upkeep costs.

      An interior view of Miramar mansion in 1917.

      Heritage Images

      Miramar isn’t the only historic Newport mansion open to the public—Marble House and the Breakers also offer tours—but the city sounds as if it is ready to welcome another landmark. “Steve and Christine clearly have a love of preservation and that is a trait the people in this community share,” Trudy Coxe, CEO of the Preservation Society of Newport County, told Town & Country. “They know the value of our history and have amassed a remarkable, culturally significant collection. What is even more impressive is that the collection is housed at Miramar, an exceptional example of architecture that could be a museum in its own right.”

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      Rachel Cormack
      Digital Editor

      Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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      Alexandra Daddario Lists Midcentury Treehouse in L.A. for $3 Million

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      Back in spring 2023, almost a year to the date after Alexandria Daddario and Andrew Form paid $7.6 million for an alluring midcentury-modern fixer home in Los Angeles crafted in the 1950s by noted modernist architect Allen Siple, the Mayfair Witches and White Lotus star and her film producer husband went on to dole out $2.8 million for another smaller property nearby. Now the couple has decided to pare down their real estate holdings, having flipped the latter residence in the leafy Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Brentwood back on the market for a smidge under $3 million.

      Originally built in the late 1950s by surfer-turned-architect Matt Kivlin, the 2,418-square-foot dwelling underwent an extensive renovation and reimagining at the hands of its previous owners in collaboration with designer Claire Thomas and subsequently appeared in an April 2022 issue of Architectural Digest.

      Tucked into a steep hillside parcel of land spanning just over a third of an acre, the treehouse-like structure’s first level is comprised mostly of storage space and a bedroom that could double as an office, plus an accompanying two-car garage. Up above are three bedrooms, three baths, and open-plan living spaces boasting blonde hardwood floors topped with post-and-beam ceilings.

      RELATED: Helen Hunt Just Scored Another L.A. Home for $6.45 Million

      Highlights include a combined living and dining area separated by a large wood-burning fireplace clad in glazed Fireclay Tile and sporting sliding glass doors spilling out to a wraparound deck. An adjacent kitchen outfitted with oak cabinetry, a terrazzo tile backsplash, golden-hued marble countertops, and stainless appliances connects to a lofty den decked out with green shag carpet.

      Elsewhere in the house is a primary suite flaunting an eye-catching bath spotlighted by dual vanities and a glass-encased wet room holding a rainfall shower and a Japanese-style hammered copper soaking tub. A pair of guest bedrooms share a bath adorned with pink-and-marigold tile. And outdoors, the turf-clad grounds are laced with mature oak and sycamore trees and host a cold plunge and a barrel sauna.

      Back in late 2022, Daddario and Form sold a French-Mediterranean property in L.A.’s historic Hancock Park community to Sweetgreen co-founder Nathaniel Ru for $7.7 million, or nearly $400,000 more than they paid Shameless creator John Wells for the place in summer 2021 before they spruced up the premises with the interior design firm Nickey Kehoe. The couple, married since June 2022, are currently expecting their first child together. More

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      A Colorado Ranch Tied to Walmart’s Founding Family Seeks $48.5 Million

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      A sprawling Colorado ranch owned by the Walton family just hit the market. Nestled amid a scenic alpine valley tucked into the peaks of the Front Range, about 30 minutes from Boulder and just outside the historic town of Nederland, the entire spread is asking a substantial $48.5 million. That includes several structures paired with a wealth of recreational pursuits, plus the notoriety of having once served as an 1880s mining base camp, an Arabian horse-breeding operation, and a recording site for legendary musicians ranging from Michael Jackson to Stevie Nicks.

      “The rarity of the Caribou Ranch officially presented back to the market is just that: an incredibly rare opportunity,” says listing agent Jeff Buerger of Hall and Hall. “The true rareness of this property includes its location, accessibility, privacy, landscape, views, infrastructure, diverse topography, abundance of surface water, unique history, and overall physical features.”

      The storied recording studio at Caribou Ranch spawned more than 45 top-10 albums, 18 Grammy awards, and 20 No. 1 Billboard hits. 

      Hall and Hall

      As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the owner of the 1,700-acre spread is a Colorado-based LLC easily linked to Walton Enterprises, a family office of the Walton family. Widely known for their ownership of the Walmart retail empire founded by the late Sam Walton in the early 1960s, the Waltons have an estimated combined net worth of around $267 billion, per Forbes, which makes them one of the world’s richest families.

      Per records, Indian Peaks Holdings purchased the ranch in spring 2014 in two separate deals totaling $32.5 million from music producer Jim Guercio, who originally bought more than 4,000 acres in the area in 1971. During his 40-year tenure, the ranch served as a destination recording studio that hosted more than 150 artists, with Elton John and John Lennon notably recording “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” there in the summer of ’74. Ending its run after a fire damaged the premises in the mid-’80s and since refurbished, the studio was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

      Encompassing multiple parcels, the vast ranch has a dated two-story main home of 9,133 square feet with three bedrooms, two baths, stone fireplaces, a front porch, and a walk-out basement. There also are five guest cabins measuring in size from 554 square feet to 3,126 square feet, as well as a six-bedroom lodge with a gathering space, two horse barns, and a couple of equipment buildings.

      Ponds and running streams can be found throughout the 1,700-acre property.

      Hall and Hall

      Also on the grounds is an abundance of wildlife, including moose, deer, turkeys, mountain lions, black bears, and elk, along with access to outdoor activities like hiking, horseback riding, and fly fishing in numerous streams and ponds. Upping the appeal, per the listing, is the opportunity to build on 10 acres of the ranch’s mostly conservation easement-protected land with approval from Boulder County.

      Though Buerger declined to confirm the owner’s identity in an article by The Denver Post, he did say his client purchased the land for his family’s use, and now that his children are grown, it’s time to sell. “For my client, it’s family first,” he said. “They’ve enjoyed it, but that phase of their life is moving on, and so are they.”

      Click here for more photos of Caribou Ranch.

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      Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s Longtime Townhouse in N.Y.C. Hits the Market for $9.75 Million

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      Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s longtime New York City residence in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan has popped up for sale.

      The married entertainment industry veterans—she an award-winning TV and film actress probably best known for her roles in My So-Called Life, Romeo + Juliet, Homeland, and Fleishman Is in Trouble, and he a fellow actor who’s appeared in Black Hawk Down, the TV adaptation of David Copperfield, and Hannibal—are asking just under $9.8 million for the Greek Revival townhouse they picked up for $6.8 million over a decade ago, back in late 2012.

      The townhouse’s striking wood and metal staircase boasts a woven leather railing.

      Alejandro Leon/DD Reps

      RELATED: One of New York’s Grandest Gilded Age Mansions Lists for $65 Million

      Originally built in the 1880s and extensively renovated during the couple’s tenure by BKSK Architects partner Joan Krevlin, who subsequently earned an American Architecture Prize for interior design, the red brick and wood-accented structure features four bedrooms and five baths spread across a little more than 3,800 square feet of living space on five levels. There’s also a trio of outdoor spaces.

      Touted in marketing materials as a “really happy, romantic, special place,” the first floor is highlighted by an entry foyer/mudroom that has floor-to-ceiling double doors opening to a large coat closet, a powder room, and an office that can be closed off with folding doors. From there, a fireside living and dining area resting beneath an 11-foot ceiling connects to the kitchen, which is outfitted with a glass-block ceiling, top-tier Miele appliances, and a glass wall that spills out to an al fresco dining space.

      A bank of pocket doors allow the office space, where Danes keeps one of her three Emmys, to be concealed from public view.

      Alejandro Leon/DD Reps

      A dark wood and metal staircase with a woven leather railing heads to the second floor, which is spotlighted by a den/media room displaying a fireplace, built-in bookcases, and a wet bar equipped with a fridge and dishwasher. Rotating glass doors lead out to a trellis-shaded terrace, and elsewhere is a guest bedroom with a fireplace, a walk-in closet, and access to a full bath.

      On the third level are two more bedrooms, each with their own bath and closet, while the entire floor above is occupied by a luxe primary suite boasting bespoke closets, as well as a bath with dual vanities, a fireplace, a glass-encased steam shower, and a clawfoot soaking tub. Steps just outside the primary bedroom ascend to an entertainment-ready roof deck, which has an outdoor kitchen with an Ooni Koda pizza oven, a garden, an electric retractable awning, and views of One World Trade Center.

      The roof deck has a garden-laced dining spot and an outdoor kitchen.

      Alejandro Leon/DD Reps

      RELATED: Katharine Hepburn’s Longtime N.YC. Townhouse Hits the Market for $7.2 Million

      Rounding out the listing, which is held by Tamer Howard of Corcoran, is a finished basement hosting a wine cellar, laundry facilities, and a cedar-lined closet for garment storage, plus high-tech temperature control, security cameras, and Sonos sound systems.

      Per The New York Times, which first reported the listing, native New Yorker Danes and her British-born husband Dancy have decided to sell because they need more space for their three children and frequent family guests. The couple doesn’t plan to go far, preferring to stay in the downtown area of New York.

      Click here for more photos of Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s Manhattan townhouse.

      Alejandro Leon/DD Reps More

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      The Former London Home of the Founder of ‘Riverdance’ Lists for $33 Million

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      Built in 1840, this west London residence has played host to some notable characters in its 184-year history. Nestled in the charming enclave of Little Venice, the Grade II-listed home, once owned by Irish-American dancer Michael Flatley, has hit the market for the first time in 20 years. Listed with Aston Chase for £26 million ($33 million), the palatial pad was originally built by English architect Matthew Wyatt and at one point was acquired by socialite and royal mistress Lillie Langtry, who was known to have romantic ties to more than one member of the English aristocracy. 

      The three-story property is positioned within Park Place Villas and directly overlooks the famous Regent’s Canal. According to listing records, Flatley, the creator of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, snapped up the spread in 1998 for a cool £4.75 million. That is, after he managed to outbid Madonna and Barbara Streisand. 

      The main reception room features a fireplace and ornate crown moldings.

      Aston Chase/Tony Murray

      “Two decades ago, three A-listers had a bidding war to acquire it, and we envisage there will be strong interest with this new listing as the Langtry villa is one of the most historically important houses in Little Venice,” says Michael Sulkin, director of Aston Chase, in a press statement. Altogether, the Victorian mansion comprises seven bedrooms, a drawing room with a Regency fireplace, and an adjoining conservatory.

      RELATED: This $10 Million London Townhouse Was Once Home to the Namesake of the U.K.’s Most Popular Tea

      Before Flatley handed the roughly 8,000-square-foot digs over to its current owners in 2004, he tapped architect and interior designer Peter Inston to revamp the place, including transforming the lower ground floor into a leisure hub complete with an indoor swimming pool, a gym, and a mahogany-clad club room with a cocktail bar and movie screen. Other of Flatley’s updates also still remain, like the diamond pattern marble flooring in the entrance hall, the imported French stone fireplace and red silk wallpaper in the dining room, and the Fourneaux de France Aga stove and banquet-style breakfast booth in the kitchen. It was here that the dancer used to host his A-list friends, including members of the Irish football team and members of the British royal family. 

      The barrel-roofed glass conservatory overlooks the lush backyard.

      Aston Chase/Tony Murray

      There are remnants from Langtry’s time at the villa as well, such as the pair of stone lions at the front door, a gazebo with a loveseat where she entertained Edward VII, then the heir apparent Prince of Wales, and a secret carriage driveway so her royal paramour could sneak in and out undetected.

      “The house has huge potential and a comprehensive refurbishment, and the installation of the latest specification would create one of the finest trophy homes in London,” adds co-founding director of Aston Chase, Mark Pollack. “With its colorful royal and celebrity backstory we anticipate significant interest in the villa from discerning buyers around the world.” 

      Click here to see more photos of Michael Flatley’s former London home. 

      Aston Chase/Tony Murray

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      Russell Brand’s Hacienda-Style Hideaway in L.A. Just Hit the Market for $3.5 Million

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      Back in fall 2019, Russell Brand plunked down $3 million and change for a hacienda-style hideaway in Los Angeles. Now the British comedian and actor who appeared in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek has decided to offload his secluded property after nearly five years of ownership, with the price tag set at $3.5 million.

      Hidden away behind a gated driveway, amid a half-acre parcel of land nestled within the celeb-studded Outpost Estates neighborhood of Hollywood Hills, the creamy stucco and terracotta-roof structure was originally built back in the 1950s. Since renovated, the three-bedroom, five-bath home offers 3,500 square feet of two-level living space boasting hardwood floors, vaulted wood-beam ceilings, picture windows, and skylights throughout.

      Though images aren’t available, the listing shows a tiled entry foyer that flows to a light-filled living room displaying a wood-burning fireplace tucked into the corner and two sets of pocketing glass doors opening to a covered al fresco dining terrace. An adjacent dining area connects to the “charming” eat-in kitchen, which is outfitted with wood cabinetry and a patterned tile backsplash.

      RELATED: A Horror Filmmaker’s Former L.A. Home Just Hit the Market for $4.2 Million

      Upstairs, the primary suite has a fireplace, a private balcony, and an updated bath with dual vanities, a built-in spa tub, and a shower; and the fully fenced grounds host a swimming pool, an outdoor shower, several seating areas, meandering pathways, and a meditation hut. There’s also a detached carport flanked by a motorcourt, plus a separate kitchenette-equipped guest unit that rests alongside a fountain-clad courtyard.

      Brand, who was recently baptized amid rape and sexual assault claims made by multiple women, has owned other homes in the Hollywood Hills through the years. During his short marriage to Katy Perry, the couple paid $6.5 million for a Mediterranean-style compound that they never even moved into before selling it at a million-dollar loss to Las Vegas-based businessman Lorenzo Doumani. Brand also once owned the former castle-like home of Laurence Olivier, which he sold some years ago.

      It’s no secret that Outpost Estates has long been a favored residential enclave for celebrities. Besides Brand, homeowners have included Orlando Bloom, whose former black-painted mansion is currently on the market for $5 million, as well as Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy, Bob Barker, Winona Ryder, Shaun White, and Charlize Theron. More

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      Helen Hunt Just Scored Another L.A. Home for $6.45 Million

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      Though she already owns one home on the west side of Los Angeles, Helen Hunt has plumped up her real estate portfolio yet again with another residence. Records show the Oscar-winning actress, who’s probably most known for her TV and film roles in Mad About You, As Good As It Gets, What Women Want, and Twister, recently picked up the keys to a charming lodge-style residence in a prime pocket of Brentwood for a substantial $1 million off the asking price.

      Hunt paid serial entrepreneur Spencer Rascoff $6.45 million for her newly acquired property, which was purchased by the Zillow co-founder and former CEO back in late 2020 for $5.7 million—or $1 million more than Zillow’s estimated market value at the time.

      Built in the early 1950s and updated in the years since, the stone-clad structure rests on a leafy parcel of land spanning a little more than a quarter of an acre and is fronted by an attached two-car garage tucked off to the side and a gated pathway that travels across a footbridge spanning a flowing stream before emptying out at the custom-carved front doors. Out back is a lagoon-style swimming pool.

      Once inside, the three-bedroom, four-bath spread offers almost 3,250 square feet of single-level living space adorned throughout with hardwood floors, vaulted wood-beam ceilings dotted with skylights, and French doors in almost every room. The open concept floor plan is highlighted by a family room with sliding glass doors spilling out to a trellis-covered patio warmed by a fireplace.

      An adjacent fireside dining area connects to the kitchen, which is outfitted with a breakfast bar and newer stainless appliances, including a snazzy glass-front Sub-Zero refrigerator. There also are formal dining and living rooms, as well as an inviting primary suite flaunting a fireplace, a walk-in closet, and a tiled bath equipped with dual vanities and a combination tub and shower.

      Hunt, who once owned a Hollywood Hills mansion now owned by Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, still maintains a roughly 4,200-square-foot home in the same Brentwood neighborhood that she purchased for $4.6 million in 2001, as well as a home in Hawaii that she paid $3.7 million for in 2006. As for Rascoff, the co-founder of Hotwire.com, Zillow, dot.LA, Pacaso, and Supernova, he still lays claim to a $19.7 million Brentwood mansion that’s a few doors down from the place he just sold to Hunt. More