Trump's Cabinet Members And Their Luxury Real Estate
President-elect Donald Trump is lining up some of America's wealthiest execs to run his administration, and these Cabinet nominees boast some hefty real estate assets. Bisnow zoomed in on some of the more luxurious properties below.
Vinnie Viola, NY Upper East Side Mansion
Cabinet Position: Army Secretary
Title: Founder of Virtu Financial, former chairman of New York Mercantile Exchange
Wall Street investor and Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola has had his New York mansion on the market for quite some time. The Upper East Side property listed for $114M in 2013, then dropped to $98M before being taken off the market entirely. The 20k SF mansion boasts 2,500 SF of outdoor space, a Palace of Versailles-themed theater, and an indoor pool—not to mention heated stairs and floors and several fireplaces. It was built in the late 1800s and includes seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three powder rooms.
Wilbur Ross, $12M DC Home
Cabinet Position: Secretary of Commerce
Title: Invesco chairman
The chairman and chief strategist of Invesco Advisers was tapped by Trump for the commerce secretary position at the end of November. The billionaire investor has a pretty strong real estate portfolio, which includes his home in DC that's right across the street from the current commerce secretary. According to the Washington Post, Ross recently bought the 10k SF seven-bedroom home for about $12M; it comes with a 12-seat movie theater and staff quarters. Ross' $18.5M New York penthouse at 171 W 57th St remains on the market after more than a year, dropping from $21M in 415 days. Seems no one is in a hurry to grab a house from the soon-to-be cabinet member.
Ben Carson, Palm Beach Gardens Home
Cabinet Position: Housing And Urban Development Secretary
Title: Retired surgeon, former GOP Republican candidate
The HUD Secretary nominee bought a mansion in Palm Beach Gardens in September, shelling out $4.4M for the Tuscan-style home. The 8,700 SF home includes six bedrooms and six bathrooms and a chef's kitchen atop 1.1 acres overlooking the Old Palm Golf Club. It's 18 miles from Trump's Mar-a-Largo estate. The house, previously on foreclosure, came at a bargain, entering the market in December at about $5.4M and dropping from there. Following his purchase, the former Republican presidential candidate put his West Palm Beach house on the market for $1.2M.
Betsy DeVos, $4M Holland, Michigan Home
Cabinet Position: Education Secretary
Title: American businesswoman
Trump's education secretary and her billionaire husband Richard DeVos own millions in real estate assets, though one of her most noteworthy properties is their main house in Ada, MI. The $4M home is fit with a convention center, a private hangar, an indoor swimming pool and a tennis club. The DeVos family are also the owners of the Orlando Magic NBA basketball team since 1991, and Richard is the co-founder of marketing firm Amway.
