Outdoing Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: Ken Griffin’s real estate portfolio, from a billion-dollar Palm Beach home, to NYC’s Billionaires’ Row and a mansion neighbouring Buckingham Palace

November 25, 2023 Admin

While uber-wealthy types like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are trying to make their mark in space, another billionaire is focusing on Earth instead – more specifically, the most expensive and outrageous properties on the planet.

Meet Ken Griffin, the businessman who founded and runs Citadel, a Miami-based hedge fund firm. Griffin manages over US$60 billion in assets through Citadel and Citadel Securities, which trades more stocks than any other company in the world.

Citadel’s Ken Griffin at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore in November 2022. Photo: Bloomberg

According to Bloomberg, 55-year-old Griffin is the 36th richest person in the world at the time of writing, with an estimated net worth of US$36 billion. After moving the headquarters of the company to Florida from Illinois in 2022, he is now officially the richest individual in the Sunshine State. And he is making sure his next home in Palm Beach proves exactly that …

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The billion-dollar estate in Palm Beach

Citadel founder Ken Griffin bought 27 acres of land on Palm Beach so that he could build a mega estate that rivals Trump’s Mar-a-Lago. Photo: Google Maps

After his big move to Florida, the billionaire snapped up 27 acres of prime Palm Beach land where he will be building a new mega estate. And when we say mega – the property will be worth US$1 billion upon completion, per New York Post. It will also be the biggest single property in Palm Beach, beating Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago.

Billionaire Ken Griffin has dropped more than US$450 million on this mega estate in Palm Beach. Photo: Stoev Design Group

Griffin spent at least US$450 million and over a decade on securing this stretch in Palm Beach. He finally got approval in 2022 to go ahead with the oceanfront property on the northside part of the site – a mansion that will be home to him, his family and his mother, who is getting her very own pad on the property.

A penthouse on NYC’s Billionaires’ Row

Citadel founder Ken Griffin set a national record with the purchase of the US$238 million penthouse at 220 Central Park South in New York. Photo: Bloomberg

In 2019, Griffin splashed out US$238 million on a four-storey penthouse at 220 Central Park South in Manhattan, which is the highest price ever paid for a home in the US to date, per Business Insider.

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The 24,000 sq ft condo is situated on the famous Billionaires’ Row in Manhattan, overlooking Central Park, with neighbours including singer Sting and wife Trudie Styler.

A record-breaking sale in Chicago

Ken Griffin’s Gold Coast Penthouse. Photo: Gold Coast Realty

Before Griffin’s recent move, Citadel’s headquarters had been in Chicago for 30 years, so it’s no surprise he has some expensive homes there too. As recently as 2018, he splashed out US$58.5 million on a Gold Coast condo, once again breaking the record for the largest house sale in the city ever.

He also has various other properties in Chicago. Before his relocation to Florida, Griffin sold his two penthouse condominiums in the city’s Park Tower, according to the Chicago Tribune. The 66th- and 67th-floor flats were listed for US$13.25 million and US$15.75 million.

King Charles’ new neighbour in London?

Carlton Gardens was home to Charles de Gaulle during World War II, and is within sight of Buckingham Palace. Photo: Spink Partners

In 2019, Griffin bought a 16,000 sq ft property in London for US$122 million, making it the most expensive home sold in the British capital in almost a decade, per The Guardian.

Best of all, his 3 Carlton Gardens mansion is close to Buckingham Palace and was famously the home of Charles de Gaulle during World War II. Complete with luscious private gardens, an indoor swimming pool and of course a rich history, the property is undoubtedly one of London’s most decadent estates. Griffin could become King Charles’ neighbour – once the monarch actually moves in.

More houses in Miami

Ken Griffin also bought two bay-front houses in Coconut Grove from Adrienne Arsht. Photo: 1 Oak Studios

His upcoming Palm Beach mega estate is not Griffin’s only property in Florida. He also bought philanthropist Adrienne Arsht’s two bay-front houses in Coconut Grove for US$106.9 million in 2022, according to the Los Angeles Times, breaking another record for the most expensive single-family home in the Miami-Dade County.

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Together, the two houses cover 25,000 square feet of living space and have 12 bedrooms in total. It also features a separate historic home on the property which dates back to 1913.

Star Island takeover

There is no address more exclusive in Miami than Star Island – so in true Griffin style, he went and snapped up multiple neighbouring homes on the artificial island, per The Real Deal. He bought home numbers 8 through 14 for US$169 million, over a few years, ensuring he owns the largest amount of property spanning 6.5 acres on the celebrity-favourite island. The island is home to stars like Gloria Estefan, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Enrique Iglesias.

Of course, Griffin has holiday homes too

A special holiday home: Ken Griffin purchased Calvin Klein’s seven-acre property in the Hamptons. Photo: Handout

In 2020, Griffin paid US$84.4 million for Calvin Klein’s seven-acre property at 650 Meadow Lane in the Hamptons as his holiday home, according to the New York Post. He reportedly also owns more multimillion-dollar holiday homes in Hawaii and Aspen.

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