By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-22 15:31:14 | Updated at 2026-06-24 09:36:55
1 day ago
Legendary fashion designer Calvin Klein's former estate could break a decade-old record for the most expensive sale in the Hamptons.
The East Hampton mansion is currently listed for $165 million after being sold by Klein for $85 million in 2021, according to property records.
The most expensive home ever sold in the Hamptons to date is an East Hampton property that hedge funder titan Barry Rosenstein bought for $137 million in 2014.
Since then, several high-end deals have come close to surpassing the record, including the $118.5 million sale of an oceanfront Water Mill home by apparel executives Arthur Rabin and Jason Rabin in 2021.
An oceanfront Sagaponack compound is also currently listed for $152.5 million.
The 2021 buyer of the Klein estate could not be identified, having purchased the property through Delaware-based entities called Traumhaus 1 and Traumhaus 2, the Wall Street Journal reported.
If sold, the new owners would acquire a luxurious main residence that was originally built for attorney Henry A. James and his New York socialite wife, Laura Brevoort Sedgwick James in the 1890s.
The home was later sold to Juan Trippe, founder of Pan American World Airways, who reportedly used a seaplane to reach the property before selling it to Klein in the 1980s, according to records.
Famous designer Calvin Klein's former Hamptons estate could break a decade-old record for the most expensive sale in the area
The property which has two waterfronts with the Atlantic Ocean and Georgica Pond was listed for $165 million
Klein originally bought the estate in the 1980s before selling it to a mystery buyer in 2021 for $85 million
The high price fetches picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean and Georgica Pond. Real estate agent Ed Petrie of Compass is marketing the property with colleagues James Petrie and Charles Forsman.
The seven-bedroom main house spans 9,000 square feet and features gambrel roofs. A tower with a domed ceiling contains a bedroom and a family room with a wet bar.
The current owner carried out a 'major renovation,' preserving historic details such as original wide-plank pine flooring.
Petrie didn't disclose why the current owner was selling, but admitted to the WSJ that it was partially due to the timing of the SpaceX initial public offering.
Petrie said the Traumhaus asking price is justified by its $85 million purchase price in 2021, the cost of renovations, and the property's rare 1.89-acre oceanfront lot, which also allows for a second buildable home.
'We generally don't get properties with this type of acreage and an additional buildable oceanfront lot,' he said. 'That's part of the reason for the price tag.'
He added that a 2,150-square-foot guesthouse could also be built on the property, according to James Petrie, who is Ed Petrie's son.
Hamptons home prices have surged to record highs in recent months amid a broader market rebound, with the median luxury home price rising 30 percent in the first quarter, according to appraisal firm Miller Samuel.
The current owner carried out a 'major renovation,' preserving historic details such as original wide-plank pine flooring
The main residence was built in the 1890s for attorney Henry A. James and his New York socialite wife, Laura Brevoort Sedgwick James
One of the mansions main living areas which features brick-style accent wall, a fire place and a large window overlooking the Atlantic
The wet bar for hosting guest and lounging alongside an electric fireplace and multiple shelves to hold liquor
Petrie didn't disclose why the current owner was selling, but admitted to the WSJ that it was partially due to the timing of the SpaceX initial public offering
Petrie said the Traumhaus asking price is justified by its $85 million purchase price in 2021, the cost of renovations, and the property's rare 1.89-acre oceanfront lot, which also allows for a second buildable home
While overall sales activity has shown signs of cooling, the Hamptons' ultra-luxury market has continued to defy the broader slowdown.
High-end deals, particularly those above $10 million, are still being driven largely by cash buyers and scarce inventory.
But outside the top tier, demand has been more uneven, reinforcing a growing divide in the region's real estate market.
One celebrity couple struggling to sell their Hamptons home is Alec and Hilaria Baldwin, who have once again cut another $1 million from the asking price of their Amagansett mansion - just six months after listing the property for $21 million.
The Baldwins made multiple attempts to sell their expansive Amagansett, NY, property over the years, first listing it in September 2022 for $29 million before gradually cutting the price over the next 16 months to $18.99 million in January 2024.
But the home still failed to sell, even after Hilaria took to Instagram in March to gush about how much she loved the area, but that her family wanted to start their 'next chapter'.
In the carousel, Hilaria - who has been a frequent target of mockery since she was exposed in 2020 for having faked her Spanish heritage - shared multiple professional pictures of the home and posted a link to the listing in her bio.
