But one doesn’t need a mansion to cover your head when it rains; you need it for status, comfort, whatever reason.
Your point is excellent; you don’t have to have the most expensive house. But if you have had a lot of success in your life, and it is your objective to have an extraordinary home, and you walk into one that fits your absolute ego, need and adoration, and you just wrap your hands around it and go, ‘I must have this,’ then what is all of your effort to earn money for? Perhaps to get a wonderful home.
In 2006, besides Harkness, you also sold the Duke Semans Mansion for $40 million to the Russian émigré Tamir Sapir, which at the time was a record. Which was a more difficult sale?
Each deal has its own situation. … I will pass.
For almost a year, you’ve listed 18 East 68th Street, the Sloane Mansion, for $64 million. But it was sold in 2003 for $7.6 million, and again in May 2007 for $20 million—the only thing that’s changed is that the 11 apartment units have been emptied. Why this asking price?
You’re not taking into account the fact that it is very difficult and expensive to clear a building of tenants. What you say in one sentence is a lot of money and effort to achieve. And the worth of the building with the tenants out is quite different.
Does huge real estate bring buyers happiness? Is there a direct relationship between one’s contentment and home size?
Actually, there might not be. … We have no idea. I’m not inside the heads of all of the people that buy the houses; and once they acquire it, does it end up fulfilling them? All that they had hoped? I couldn’t possibly answer.
For example, you helped billionaire Mark Cuban buy a $14 million spread at Trump International, and later its $3.4 million neighbor. So what did the extra space actually get him?
Well, he’s probably one of the few people that really enjoys his money a very great deal. … He seems to really enjoy his life.
You’ve sold houses to the billionaire short seller John Paulson (who paid $14.7 million), the renowned short seller Jim Chanos ($20 million) and short seller Philip ‘Midas of Misery’ Falcone ($49 million for Bob Guccione’s old Milbank Mansion). Did one introduce you to the other?
I think in each case it was an instance of having a property that they wanted, so by presenting something that was perfect for them, they went forward and bought it.
Your online Brown Harris Stevens profile says your interests include riding Polish Arabians. Is that really true?
Yes. … There’s a great horse farm in upper New York State, and they have the most exquisite horses. … But now that I’m more based in Millbrook in the country, I go to another place; it’s more Irish Hunters, Irish Thoroughbreds. But it’s still very nice.
I believe you have a grandchild. How much time do you have left for your family after real estate?
Actually, I have two grandchildren by marriage; and as much time as possible. But it’s hard. Obviously, it’s not during the week.
Tyco’s Dennis Kozlowski dubbed the mega-broker Dolly Lenz ‘Jaws.’ You don’t have a nickname, but you’ve been known to be an equally passionate go-getter. How often during an average week do you get angry?
With many provocations, you get angry at all times—I try to resist. But in real estate one is always hearing what one does not want to hear. So if you’re prone to anger, you’re going to be angry literally every five minutes. … Upon occasion, there are some necks I want to wring, but for the most part? No. I get mad at the stupid situations that happen to arise when it seems to be they could’ve been avoided, but that’s life.
I wrote in June that you were involved in one of the biggest townhouse sales in history, a $37.5 million deal at 18 East 80th Street, where the house had been owned by, literally, Joseph Goebbels’ late stepdaughter. Have you ever turned down a client?
I guess I’m lucky in that the clients I have had have been the clients I have wanted to have, and had property that I found extraordinary, so it was a very nice blend. I wasn’t in the position where an ax murderer was saying, ‘Represent my house or else!’
mabelson@observer.com
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