There's luxury real estate—a charming lakefront estate, a unique Manhattan penthouse, for example—then there's real estate that's so luxurious and so intriguingly over the top that it's not out of the realm to wonder who, exactly, is buying it.
Such is the case with a five-story penthouse inside Monaco's tallest building that's, predictably, making headlines, thanks to its $335 million price tag, according to published reports. To put that into perspective: As of April 2015, the most expensive apartment to ever sell in New York was $100 million.
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In exchange for well over a quarter of a billion bucks, one prosperous buyer will get an ocean-facing residence that clocks in at a staggering 31,500-square feet and occupies the 45th through the 49th floors of the ultra-luxe La Tour Odeon. There’s also a roof deck and infinity pool with—because why not?—a waterslide and a dance floor.
Sold yet? Not so fast. Even if you’ve got the cash and tend to salivate over the European principality’s non-existent tax policy, there are also some pretty strict rules for purchasers of luxury real estate on Monaco, namely the one that states owners must become full-time residents. According to broker Edward de Mallet Morgan of Knight Frank, which represents other units in the building, occupants are mainly European, Russian, and Middle Eastern.
Still, it might be worth it to say you live in La Tour Odeon, a beacon of economic confidence for the the second-smallest country in the world (Monaco is about the size of New York’s Central Park), not to mention the fact you’ll have a front-row seat for some of the world’s ritziest events like the Monaco Grand Prix, the Cannes Film Festival, and steady stream of high-profile galas.
"There's nothing like [La Tour Odeon] in Monaco—nothing brand new, built to this quality, of this height or with amenities to rival top hotels and other top developments in London, New York and Asia," said de Mallet Morgan of Knight Frank, which represents other units in the building. Amenities include 24/7 concierge, a private cinema or screening room, valet parking, a private Mercedes shuttle service, and a soon-to-be-opened restaurant called L'Odeon Cafe, by Cipriani.
According to reports, serious offers have been entertained for the penthouse but it’s not known to be under contract.