Unlike most U.S. residents dealing with the affects of the housing bubble in a terrible economy , the prime minister of oil-rich Qatar has no worries when it comes to real estate: He apparently wants to buy New York City’s most expensive penthouse condominium.
Presumably he plans to spend a lot of time in the Big Apple.
The two-story, 11,000 square foot condo on top of the “One57” building that Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani plans to purchase for about $100 million is located across the street from Carnegie Hall concert venue in midtown Manhattan on West 57th Street.
The New York Post has the details:
The stunning duplex penthouse features a “grand salon,” a large mezzanine, four fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, at least five bedrooms, and motorized window shades, Realtors said.
The prime minister is also negotiating for four other condos in building, which could cause the property acquisition to total $250 million. Imagine the real estate commission on that sale. He also owns one of the world’s largest super yachts.
The sheik has been primer minister since 2007, and prior to that he served as Qatar’s foreign minister. He has two wives and 15 children, and a large staff accompanies him as part of his official duties, so he’s obviously looking for more than just a fixer-upper or a studio apartment.
According to Forbes , Qatar is the world’s weathiest country:
The Persian Gulf emirate of 1.7 million people ranks as the world’s richest country per capita thanks to a rebound in oil prices and its massive natural gas reserves. Adjusted for purchasing power, Qatar booked an estimated gross domestic product per capita of more than $88,000 for 2010.
Qatar has not yet made an official statement about the media report.
[image credit: World Economic Forum ]
