Grey Gardens bought for $220,000 later sold for $15.5 million
The historic Grey Gardens estate in East Hampton, once a symbol of bohemian decay, has seen a massive increase in value since its 1979 purchase by journalists Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee. The property, famous for its association with the Beale family and subsequent media adaptations, sold for $15.5 million in 2017.
Why it matters
The estate serves as a cultural touchstone for the intersection of Gilded Age history, celebrity, and the real estate market in high-end American coastal regions.
In 1979, Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn and executive editor Ben Bradlee bought the infamous Grey Gardens estate in East Hampton for $220,000, rescuing a decaying 1897 mansion that had become a symbol of bohemian decline. After restoring the 6,000-square-foot home and using it as a summer residence for decades, the property changed hands again in late 2017, selling for $15.5 million to an undisclosed buyer. The sale, first reported by The Real Deal, marked the latest chapter in the storied history of a house made famous by a 1975 documentary and later by an HBO film and Broadway musical.From Gilded Age estate to cinematic iconGrey Gardens was built in 1897 on Georgica Pond in East Hampton, a 12-room mansion set on 1.7 acres of land.
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