Yahoo Autos Internet billionaire sells what is now the priciest residence ever in Florida; here are 10 things to know
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An estate just south of Palm Beach has sold for $173 million, setting a record for the most expensive residential property ever to change hands in Florida.
A company controlled by software billionaire Larry Ellison of Oracle bought the ocean-to-lake estate at 2000 S. Ocean Blvd. in Manalapan from an trust linked to Netscape co-founder Jim Clark, according to the deed recorded Wednesday
More: Billionaire Larry Ellison, among world's richest people, bought Florida estate for $173 million
Manalapan has seen a higher-than-average number of sales topping $20 million since the coronavirus pandemic sent the South Florida real estate market into overdrive. As the supply of waterfront estates in Palm Beach has dwindled, buyers have increasingly looked south to Manalapan and its ocean-to-lake properties, boosting values there.
Recent sales include $40 million for vacant lot; an $89.93 million sale that was the second highest in Manalapan; and a mansion that listed with in-construction price of $79.5 million.
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Clark, a billionaire, bought the estate at 2000 S. Ocean Blvd. and part of nearby Bird Island in February 2021 for a combined price recorded at $94.37 million from the Ziff family, although sources familiar with the transaction said more than $100 million actually changed hands in that deal, the Daily News has reported.
Based on previous sales listings, here are 10 things to know about the most expensive residential property ever sold in the Sunshine State.
Amazing views
The estate is atop a dune, offering 360-degree views. The residence and guesthouses feature open-air loggias, terraces, balconies and French doors to capture views of the Atlantic Ocean, Lake Worth Lagoon and surrounding areas, and accommodate an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
What is the name of the estate?
The estate’s name, Gemini, is derived from the main house's configuration on both sides of South Ocean Boulevard.
This home has access to the beach and ocean
The 15.65-acre ocean-to-lake estate is divided by South Ocean Boulevard and has 1,200 feet of beach along the Atlantic and 1,300 feet of frontage on the Lake Worth Lagoon. A slice of an island immediately west of the estate in the Intracoastal Waterway, brings the total acreage to 22.44 acres,
