A splashy oceanfront estate in East Hampton that first listed in 2024 for an astounding $120 million, and was most recently asking $84.9 million, is now in contract. From its famous connections to its location right above the beach, the trophy property would be a jewel in anyone’s real estate portfolio. So, let’s dive into exactly what the mystery buyer is getting.
Dune Cottage, as it is called, was originally built in 1910 to be part of Frank Bestow Wiborg’s iconic 600-acre estate centered by a mansion dubbed The Dunes. It was the largest property in East Hampton, until it reduced to 80 acres in the 1920s and further broken up later. Wiborg’s daughter, Sara Murphy, who was friends with F. Scott Fitzgerald and Pablo Picasso and inspired the novel ‘Tender Is the Night,’ owned the envied coastal residence next.
But, that’s not where the property’s prestige ends. In the 1980s, Dune Cottage (with its 3.6 acres) was purchased by Lee Radziwill and her third husband, Herbert Ross. She held onto it until he passed in 2001 and then sold it to billionaire museum patrons, Ann Tenenbaum (the current seller), and her late husband, Thomas Lee.
The couple rebuilt twice during their over 20-year tenure here. The Wall Street Journal reports that they first rebuilt in line with the Grosvenor Atterbury’s original design when they purchased it, then again in 2016 after fire damage.
Today, the “cottage,” together with a 1,500-square-foot detached house, clocks in at 13,176 with 10 bedrooms and 200-feet of ocean frontage. Peeking inside, the interiors mix classic refinement with fun irreverence, reflecting the seller’s strong dedication to art. Of course, lavish amenities are also aplenty. The home’s screening room, gym, wellness center, and heated outdoor pool promise a life of leisure while generous living spaces are poised for high-society, Wiborg-esque parties.
When people talk about monumental Hamptons deals this year, Dune Cottage will come up. Hedgerow Exclusive Properties and Adam Modlin and Christopher Covert of The Modlin Group held the listing.
