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Oheka Castle, the 127-room Long Island estate that helped inspire 'The Great Gatsby,' has been sold. See inside.

Aerial view of the Oheka Castle property  in Huntington, New York.
An aerial view of the Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York.

J. Conrad Williams, Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images

  • Oheka Castle, the second-largest private home in the US, has been sold for $72 million.
  • The estate is said to have inspired "The Great Gatsby" and has been used in film and TV.
  • It's also a favorite wedding venue for celebrities, such as Kevin Jonas, Megyn Kelly, and more.

If you've ever read or seen "The Great Gatsby," you know 1920s New York was home to extravagant mansions with owners who hosted lavish parties — and if you've watched "The Gilded Age," you know those parties began decades earlier in the 1870s.

And if you're a really dedicated fan, you just missed your chance to own a piece of F. Scott Fitzgerald history yourself. Oheka Castle, a sprawling, century-old estate said to have inspired the parties in "The Great Gatsby," went up for auction on October 27, via Concierge Auctions and Adam Modlin of The Modlin Group.

Its original homeowner was financier Otto Hermann Kahn, who built Oheka Castle — named after its owner (Oh-He-Ka) — in 1919 on Long Island.

Kahn's wife used to call the home "Otto's zoo," and it seemed to be an accurate description. A-listers of the time used to party at the 109,000-square-foot home, with Kahn as a Gatsby-like figure entertaining all his guests.

But Oheka's journey didn't end there. After Kahn's death in 1934, the property changed hands numerous times until it was abandoned in the '80s. Fires, vandalism, and theft devastated it.

According to Oheka Castle, land developer Gary Melius then purchased the estate and spent $40 million restoring it to its former glory. He defaulted on a loan over a decade ago, Forbes reported, and declared bankruptcy in July 2025 to forestall what happened this week: Oheka on the auction block.

Per Concierge Auction, seven bidders were competing for Oheka, but the eventual winner, Gold Coast Property & Estate Management LLC, is set to pay $72 million for the property, pending approval. The sale also includes a pre-approved plan to build a four-story condo building.

"This sale marks an exciting next chapter for Oheka and an opportunity for its next owner to preserve that legacy while bringing a new vision to the estate," said Modlin.

Today, Oheka is the second-largest private home in the US, behind only the Biltmore House in North Carolina. It's a popular venue for weddings, a restaurant, and a hotel, and has been featured in movies, TV shows, and music videos. Taylor Swift even filmed the "Blank Space" video there.

You can also tour the grounds for $30. I took the tour in April 2024 and was astonished by the beauty of Oheka Castle. Here's what it was like to visit.

Oheka Castle was built in 1919 by German-American financier Otto Hermann Kahn.
oheka castle and grounds
The grounds at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

He spent about $11 million, or about $213 million in today's currency, to build Oheka on 443 acres of land in West Hills, New York.
oheka castle front
The front of Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Oheka Castle has seen a lot in its 100-plus years, and for anyone who wants to learn more, tours are offered twice daily.
me at oheka
Sitting outside of Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

So, I decided to visit. All I knew about Oheka was that Kevin Jonas got married there and Taylor Swift filmed the "Blank Space" music video there.
taylor swift blank space
"Blank Space."

YouTube

But Oheka has a rich history. I learned all about it on a beautiful afternoon in April 2024.
me at the gazebo at oheka
Standing by the gazebo.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

When you drive to the entryway, it's a bit intimidating. There's someone working the gate who must let you in.
front gate with tower
The front gate.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Then comes a long driveway. I felt like I was going back in time to the Gilded Age.
the driveway at oheka
The driveway.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

My first look at the main house was astounding — and yes, I mean house. Oheka Castle is the second-largest private residence in the US.
front door of oheka
The front door.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It's also on the National Register of Historic Places. It was added in September 2004.
the plaque
The plaque adding Oheka to the National Register of Historic Places.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

When Kahn built this house, he had three requirements: He wanted to be high up, he wanted a view of the water, and he needed the house to be fireproof.
staircase
An exterior staircase.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

His previous house in New Jersey had burned down. Oheka, in contrast, is built largely out of stone.
side of oheka stone
Some of the stonework at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I went inside and waited in front of a grand staircase with the rest of my group for our tour to begin.
staircase
The staircase.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

When it began, we saw photos of how the house looked before its current owner restored it. We'd learn more about this later.
the grand staircase in 1984
The grand staircase in 1984.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The first room we entered was this beautiful entryway with a mural of the sky on the ceiling.
entryway
The entryway.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The house itself is 112,895 square feet today and has 127 rooms.
stairs at oheka
More of Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Many of the rooms are dedicated to showing off the home's history, like the Chaplin Room.
chaplin room oheka
The Chaplin Room.

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Charlie Chaplin was just one of the many '20s A-listers who hung out at Oheka. This photo shows Chaplin (right) with Kahn (center) and actor Douglas Fairbanks (left).
douglas fairbanks, otto kahn and charlie chaplin
Fairbanks, Kahn, and Chaplin.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

In fact, according to my tour guide, Jay Gatsby's wild parties in "The Great Gatsby" were inspired by what was going down at Oheka in the '20s.
the great gatsby party
"The Great Gatsby."

Warner Bros. Pictures

This was Kahn's wife Adelaide's favorite room. Adelaide wasn't as big of an entertainer as her husband, but this sunny room was perfect for guests.
adelaide kahn's favorite room
Adelaide's favorite room.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This ballroom is the only room that's not original to Kahn's time inside Oheka today.
grand ballroom at oheka
The ballroom.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

But as you can see from the ballroom's windows, Oheka met Kahn's requirement for a view of the water. He used to dock his yacht there.
view of the water
That's Cold Spring Harbor in the background.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Kahn, who was Jewish, also built a golf course on his property — country clubs at the time wouldn't admit Jewish people or allow them to play.
golf course at oheka
The golf course next to Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

After Kahn's death in 1934, the property was shuffled between owners. From 1948 to 1979, it was the Eastern Military Academy.
Otto Kahn in 1933.
Otto Kahn in 1933.

NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images

During those days, what is now the breakfast room was used as a gym.
breakfast room
A breakfast room.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

From that room, we made our way to this huge library.
library at oheka
Oheka's library.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

A portrait of Kahn hung above the fireplace.
otto kahn
Otto Hermann Kahn.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Our final stop on the first floor was this room, which also houses a bar. Press clippings about Oheka adorned the walls.
news room and bar
The bar.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Among the displayed articles was Danielle and Kevin Jonas' wedding spread in People. They got married at the estate in 2009.
kevin and danielle's wedding
Kevin and Danielle Jonas' wedding spread in People.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Then we went upstairs to check out the hotel and bridal suite.
hotel hallway
The hallway at Oheka's hotel.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The bridal suite, which is on the fourth floor, opens with this mural-covered entryway.
bridal suite entryway
The bridal suite entryway.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

A beautiful open room with windows allows wedding parties to take in the view of Oheka's well-manicured grounds.
bridal suite
Bridal suite.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The gardens at Oheka are breathtaking from above.
gardens from above
The garden from the bridal suite.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Here's the main bedroom of the bridal suite.
bedroom of bridal suite
The bedroom in the bridal suite.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The primary bathroom has a bathtub and a shower.
bridal suite bathroom
The bridal suite bathroom.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Then it was time to check out the gardens — and to learn what happened to Oheka.
gardens at oheka
The gardens.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

When the Eastern Military Academy went bankrupt and vacated its premises in 1979, Oheka was left abandoned.
oheka castle in 2014
Oheka Castle in 2014.

John Paraskevas/Newsday RM/Getty Images

Residents who lived nearby were concerned about vandalism. One neighbor even took this statue for safekeeping and returned it when Oheka was restored in the '80s.
oheka statues
A statue at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Land developer Gary Melius purchased Oheka in 1984 and spent $40 million restoring it to its former glory.
Huntington, N.Y.: Businessman Gary Melius during an interview in his office at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York on August 6, 2014.
Huntington, N.Y.: Businessman Gary Melius during an interview in his office at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York on August 6, 2014.

Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM/Getty Images

The gardens were originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers, best known for helping with Central Park.
gardens at oheka
The front yard at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Melius used those original sketches to restore Oheka.
gazebo at oheka
The gazebo at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

These statues were tracked down at an auction and are thought to date back to the Renaissance.
renaissance statues at oheka
A statue at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Now, it's a beautiful wedding venue, hotel, restaurant, and home — Melius keeps an apartment on the third floor.
oheka restaurant
The restaurant at Oheka.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

As I left the grounds, I got one more look at the restaurant and its courtyard.
courtyard oheka
The courtyard.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I would highly recommend taking a tour of Oheka. As I viewed its stunning surroundings and learned about its unique history, I felt like I was traveling back in time.
me at the fountain
Sitting at the fountain.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in September 2026 and most recently updated in October 2026.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Beyoncé and Jay-Z own one of the most expensive mansions in California history. See all the homes in their real-estate empire.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé pose together in formal attire before a branded event backdrop with Deloitte and Disney logos.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z have built a six-figure portfolio of real estate properties.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

  • Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased a home that set a record for the priciest home in California in 2023.
  • The $190 million Malibu mansion is just one of the many properties they own around the country.
  • Here are the homes they're linked to, from a former church in New Orleans to a Hamptons estate.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z break music records — and real-estate records.

The couple, whose combined net worth is nearly $4 billion as of publication, according to Forbes, is linked to numerous partnerships and deals, including Jay-Z's upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance, as well as several multimillion-dollar homes across the United States.

In 2023, they bought a 42,000-square-foot Malibu estate with a minimalist concrete aesthetic, designed by famed Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The price? $190 million — one of the largest sums in California history.

In New Orleans, the "Cowboy Carter" singer and the rapper-turned-entrepreneur have been linked to a former Presbyterian church that has been transformed into a mansion.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z's impressive property portfolio also includes another mansion in the Los Angeles area and several homes in New York. They are also reportedly in talks to purchase a 58-acre plot of land in the Cotswolds that they plan to develop in the future.

Take a look at Beyoncé and Jay-Z's homes across the country.

Beyoncé came from humble beginnings in Houston.
One of Beyonce's Houston area childhood homes.
One of Beyonce's Houston area childhood homes.

Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images

Beyoncé's rise to stardom began in a modest, middle-class neighborhood in Houston's Third Ward.

2414 Rosedale Street has three bedrooms and three bathrooms over 8,640 square feet, according to the listing from 2019.

According to the Associated Press, the Knowles family purchased the home in 1982, not long after Beyoncé was born, and moved out when she was about 5.

In 2019, the home was listed for sale for about $500,000. Because Texas is a non-disclosure state, it's unclear how much it sold for.

Beyoncé was spotted taking photos of the home in September 2023 during the Houston stop of her Renaissance World Tour, the AP reported.

The couple is linked to a Tribeca penthouse, where they married in 2008.
A streetview of 195 Hudson Street.
Jay-Z made one of his first large real estate purchases at 195 Hudson Street.

Business Insider/Julie Zeveloff

In September 2004, Jay-Z, who voiced his aspirations for success in his hit rap song 'Big Pimpin', made one of his first big real-estate purchases.

The native New Yorker, who was about 34 at the time, spent $6.85 million on a penthouse at 195 Hudson Street in the downtown Manhattan neighborhood of Tribeca.

Architectural Digest reported that the 8,000-square-foot apartment has an additional 3,000 square feet of outdoor terrace space. It's in a 27-unit building that was converted from a 1929 brick warehouse in 1999, real-estate listings site StreetEasy reported.

In 2008, he and Beyoncé held an intimate wedding ceremony at the penthouse, with 40 people in attendance. Architectural Digest reported in 2024 that the couple is believed to still own the home.

The couple rented out a Los Angeles mansion for $150,000 a month
A panoramic and aerial view of the Los Angeles skyline.
Los Angeles.

Michelle Smith/Getty Images

In 2014, the Carters house-hunted on the East Coast, considering several properties. One was an eight-bedroom, 15-bathroom Beverly Hills mansion that they were outbid for by Markus Persson, the billionaire creator of the video game Minecraft. (Persson listed the mansion for sale in October 2026 for $70 million.)

After being outbid on several other properties, the couple decided to rent a home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills, Architectural Digest reported. The 20,000-square-foot estate was valued at $4 million in 2015, according to Realtor.com. At the time, the couple paid a whopping $150,000 a month in rent. When the property was eventually sold in 2015, they moved on.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are also linked to a home in New Orleans that used to be a church.
An old newspaper image of La Casa de Castille.
La Casa de Castille was previously a Presbyterian church before being transformed into a residence decades later.

IMAGE VIA TIMES-PICAYUNE ARCHIVE"

Louisiana is where Beyoncé's mother, fashion designer Tina Knowles, was born and raised.

In 2015, multiple news outlets reported that the couple purchased a Spanish Baroque-style mansion in New Orleans' Garden District. The house on Harmony Street, locally known as La Casa de Castille, was listed for $2.6 million at the time of its purchase, but the exact sales purchase price remains a mystery due to Louisiana's non-disclosure policy.

NOLA.com outlined how the church became a residence: In the 1920s, Westminster Presbyterian Church built it, and 38 members of the Ku Klux Klan allegedly attended its groundbreaking ceremony. Following years of vacancy, dancer Harvey Hysell transformed it into a ballet theater in 1977. Finally, in the early 2000s, it was purchased and extensively renovated.

According to the old Zillow listing, it still has 16-foot ceilings and stained-glass windows. The 13,300-square-foot, three-story property, made up of a main residence and three separate apartments, has a total of seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a rooftop garden.

In 2021, there was a fire on the property, and it was listed for sale shortly after at $3.5 million, later increased to $4.45 million, TMZ reported. However, it was later taken off the market, according to Architectural Digest.

On Google Maps' Street View, La Casa de Castille is blurred, suggesting that it may still be a private residence.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z own a home in the Hamptons.
Pond House Rear Exterior

Jeffrey Collé

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have a New York state of mind when it comes to real estate.

In addition to the Tribeca penthouse and a midtown Manhattan condo — which Beyoncé owned prior to their marriage and sold in 2017 for $10 million — they have rented and owned several homes in the Hamptons.

In 2012, the year their daughter Blue Ivy was born, they leased a 31,000-square-foot vacation home in Bridgehampton for $400,000 a month.

Beyond the standard luxuries like a bar, a pool, and a tennis court, that mansion also featured a bowling alley, rock climbing wall, and skateboard half-pipe, according to Architectural Digest.

In 2017, the couple purchased the Pond House in East Hampton for $26 million.

Located at 81 Briar Patch Road, the 12,000-square-foot mansion with seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a separate cottage was designed by architect Stanford White, whose work includes the arch in Washington Square Park.

The couple's waterfront property sits across from Georgica Pond and a 17-acre meadow preserve, offering unparalleled privacy.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased a 34,000-square-foot estate in Bel Air in 2017.
An aerial photo of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Bel Air mansion, showing several houses from above with swimming pools, separated by winding roads and greenery
An aerial view of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Bel Air mansion, pictured in the center of the image with the round driveway, just above the semicircular construction site.

USGS Explorer

Also in 2017, Beyoncé and Jay-Z bought an $88 million mansion in Bel Air. They welcomed twins Rumi and Sir that year, too.

The ultramodern 34,000-square-foot estate has eight bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, and a 90-foot infinity pool, according to its Zillow listing.

It has more than 10,000 square feet of outdoor living space and offers panoramic views of the Angeles National Forest.

In 2023, Beyoncé and Jay-Z bought the most expensive home in California history.
A sky view of 27712 Pacific Coast Highway.
A sky view of 27712 Pacific Coast Highway, the priciest residential property ever sold in California.

Anthony Barcelo

In 2023, Beyoncé and Jay-Z purchased a 40,000-square-foot mansion in Malibu's exclusive Paradise Cove neighborhood, which some have dubbed "Billionaires' Beach," for $190 million.

The sale set a record at the time for the most expensive property transaction in California. It was also the largest residential sale nationwide that year.

The estate's record-breaking price tag is attributed in part to its high-pedigree design and extensive array of amenities.

According to Architectural Digest, it took the previous owners, art collectors Bill Bell and his wife Maria Bell, a decade and a half to complete the building.

Spanning more than 8 acres, the compound is designed in the Japanese minimalist style for which its architect, Tadao Ando, is known.

According to E! News, the main residence has 8 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, while its living room features custom-made fixtures imported from Italy. Outside, there are four separate pools, a bar, and a private helipad.

The couple is reportedly in talks to purchase a 58-acre plot of land in the Cotswolds in England.
Stone village with a church tower sits among trees and green hills in a rural landscape.
The Cotswolds.

by Marc Guitard/Getty Images

The Cotswolds, a picturesque region spanning parts of southwestern and south-central England, is known for its rolling green hills, centuries-old villages, and historic estates.

With luxury properties often commanding multimillion-pound prices, the area has earned the nickname "the Hamptons of England." It has long attracted prominent British residents, including David and Victoria Beckham, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and supermodel Kate Moss.

More recently, the Cotswolds have also attracted wealthy Americans. Beyoncé and Jay-Z are reportedly among them, The Times reported in September.

According to the publication, the Carters are considering a £7.5 million ($8.54 million) 58-acre property in Wigginton, a village with fewer than 200 residents. Owain Jones, who is handling the sale, told The Times that their plans to develop the land could bring the project's total cost to about £18 million (or about $20. 5 million).

Should the Carters move forward with the purchase, they would not be far from the Beckhams and Simon Cowell, who reportedly own homes in the nearby village of Great Tew.

However, the proposed construction has upset some Wigginton residents, who are concerned about preserving the village's peace and quiet, House & Garden reported.

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