Brown Harris Stevens

Founded in 1873 by a group of real estate hustlers who had yet to experience the boom of the Gilded Age, Brown Harris Stevens (BHS) has made a name for itself as the high-brow purveyor of Manhattan’s most opulent addresses. Known for handling properties that are often more lavish than most people’s life savings, BHS has been the go-to firm for deals that could easily make you weep for your own 401(k). They’ve brokered sales like the $60 million penthouse at 15 Central Park West, a testament to their penchant for catering to the fabulously wealthy. The company’s defining moment came in 2016 when it was acquired by its rival, the seriously well-heeled firm, Prudential Douglas Elliman, marking a new chapter in real estate aristocracy. With a current valuation that likely defies most understandings of reality—somewhere in the stratosphere, if the luxury real estate market is any guide—BHS remains synonymous with old-world charm in an industry increasingly obsessed with tech. Under the guidance of leaders like Bess Freedman, the firm navigates a scandal-free world of closed-door deals and six-figure commissions, proving that when it comes to real estate, discretion is just as important as a hefty price tag.