Billy Joel Parts With MiddleSea Estate for Record Sum

9 minutes read

He’s got a way of making real estate waves on Long Island, even when it takes a long time to get accomplished.

Billy Joel finally sold his Centre Island home, known as MiddleSea, for roughly $28.75 million, the New York Post reported. The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, but the sale price is reportedly a record for a home on Long Island — excluding the East End, where deals of this magnitude unfold semi-regularly.

The legendary singer initially listed the estate for sale in 2023 for $49.9 million, a listing that included three parcels. After finding no takers, the parcels were divided up, leading a North Shore couple to purchase the five-bedroom, four-bathroom gatehouse for $7 million in May.

Around the same time, the core of the estate was listed for $29.9 million. In December, the listing price was knocked down and the massive Oyster Bay home was instead available for $25 million, sparking a bidding war, according to the brokerage behind the deal.

The 14-acre estate is grounded by a 20,000-square-foot home, which includes five bedrooms, eight bathrooms and 180-degree views of the Long Island Sound. The property features a spa, a ballroom, a wine cellar and a guest house with a bowling alley.

The grounds, meanwhile, are complete with a beach house, pool, private dock, tennis court, six-car garage and helipad.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty’s namesake Emmett Laffey held the listing. The sale breaks down to $1,438 per square foot.

Joel purchased the property for $22.5 million in 2002. During lengthy renovations on the estate, Joel moved out to the gatehouse and never returned to living in the main home.

The Hicksville-born artist has another place on Long Island, after spending $10.7 million to purchase 143 Town Lane in East Hampton in late 2023.

Despite recently saying that he planned to spend more time in Florida, Joel also sold his oceanfront Manalapan mansion for $42.6 million, after listing the estate on and off for six years.

— Holden Walter-Warner