Billionaire's daughter gets $89m apartment
The 22-year-old daughter of a Russian billionaire, Ekaterina Rybolovleva, has become the proud owner of an $89m penthouse near New York's Central Park.
The daughter of a Russian billionaire has broken New York real estate records by paying $US88 million ($89 million) for a huge Manhattan apartment, Forbes magazine reports.
Yekaterina Rybolovleva, daughter of former fertiliser magnate Dmitry Rybolovlev, paid full asking price for the multiroom spread at 15 Central Park West, the magazine reported on Monday, saying this was a record for an individual transaction in a city renowned for pricey property.
The record was previously owned by Sanford Weill, a former chairman of Citigroup.
Living in luxury ... the penthouse of the $89m apartment. Inset, Dmitry Rybolovlev.
Forbes quoted a representative for Rybolovleva, 22, saying she had "signed a contract to purchase an apartment at 15 Central Park West ... Ms Rybolovleva is currently studying at a US university. She plans to stay in the apartment when visiting New York."
She is a resident of Monaco and has lived in the principality and in Switzerland for the last 15 years, the statement said.
Rybolovlev is one of the small group of Russians who became fabulously wealthy during the post-Soviet privatisation of the economy and are known as oligarchs. He is the former owner of fertiliser business Uralkali.
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15 Central Park West, New York, Penthouse
The entrance gallery of the Penthouse at 15 Central Park West, New York.
The mining magnate is locked in a bitter divorce battle with wife Elena, to whom he has been married for 23 years. They have two daughters.
In court papers, Mrs Rybolovleva, 43, has accused her husband of serial infidelity and could be set to get $3.5billion in the divorce.
But the 6744 sq ft ten-room will be safe from his ex-wife as the contract is in their daughter's name.
In 2008, Mr Rybolovlev, 43, bought Donald Trump's 33,000 sq ft Florida estate - Maison L'Amitie - for $US95 million in cash.
He is also poised to take control of French football team AS Monaco.
He is listed as the 93rd richest person in the world.
Miss Rybolovleva is following in the footsteps of Petra Ecclestone, who earlier this year bought the mansion belonging to Aaron and Candy Spelling, which was listed at a selling price of $US150 million - America's most expensive home.
The 22-year-old British heiress is said to have bought it for a mere $US85 million.
Petra is the daughter of British Formula One exec Bernie Ecclestone, whose worth is estimated at $4 billion.
AFP
