Michael Gross

Cover of 740 Park

"Compulsively readable." --Liesl Schillinger, The New York Times
"Jaw-dropping apartment porn." —Fortune
"[A] great read... gossipy... revealing," —People
"As rich as his subjects." --Forbes FYI
"The Lolita of shelter porn." —New York Observer
"Life after folly-filled life flashes forward like Park Avenue canopies viewed from a speeding town car." —New York Times
"The is social history at its finest." —Dominick Dunne
"Finally! A look inside the golden tabernacle of high society." —Kitty Kelley
...Click here to purchase this book from Amazon.com
Click here to purchase this book from bn.com
Click here to purchase this book from Booksense

740 Park, The Story of the World's Richest Apartment Building

Photo of 740 ParkFor 75 years, it’s been one of the most lusted-after addresses in the world. Even today, it is steeped in purest luxury, the kind most of us can only imagine. Until now. The story of 740 Park Avenue sweeps across the twentieth century, and Michael Gross tells it in glorious, intimate and unprecedented detail. From the financial shenanigans that preceded the laying of the cornerstone, to the dazzlingly and sometimes decadently rich people who hid behind its walls, this is a sweeping social and economic epic, starring our wealthiest and most powerful old-money families-–Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Bouvier, Chrysler, Houghton and Harkness-–and today’s new-monied elite: Bronfman, Perelman, Kravis, Steinberg, Koch and Schwarzman.

The Latest News From 740 Park

I, A Contest. I, A Fashion Spread.

Curbed, the essential New York real estate blog, has just launched a holiday contest with signed copies of 740 Park and Rogues’ Gallery as the prize. You’ve got to be in it to win it. And 20/20, the eyeglass fashion magazine, has just published an online slide show that includes me in some fancy frames and touts Rogues’ Gallery for its “spectacular investigative reporting and a little bit of tittle-tattle,” according to editor James Spina. “Gross always gets to the heart of the story.”

“Money Makes Money….

detail-of-portrait-on-one-hundred-dollar-bill-thumb1525918
….and the money money makes makes more money,” Benjamin Franklin once said. That’s certainly true of Steven Mnuchin, the banking son of a Goldman Sachs banker, who has put his A-Line apartment at 740 Park on the market–sort of, it’s not on his broker’s web site–for $37.5 million and inspired the New York Times to dip into 740 Park again for accurate background on the building and Mnuchin’s family, which has kept the grand apartment in its clutches since 1963. Mnuchin and wife Heather, a descendent of a pre-Revolutionary War-era family, are moving west to California, where he will run a bank.

Inflation at The Wall Street Journal

offering
In late August, the real estate column in the Wall Street Journal (locked behind a firewall, so no link, sorry!) ran a notable sentence about the subject of my penultimate book, 740 Park. It was notable because in a mere twenty words, it contained five errors. As the self-appointed guardian of 740 facts, I penned what I hoped was a wry note (inspired by the one John Lennon wrote to Queen Elizabeth when he returned his MBE to the British Crown “in protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against ‘Cold Turkey’ slipping down the charts”) pointing out the mistakes and expressed a preference that it run as a letter to the editor rather than a correction since, as a former reporter myself, I know how much they hate corrections–and, being thoroughly shameless when selling a new book, I hoped to get Rogues’ Gallery mentioned. But the WSJ is holding firm. “Because my sources won’t contradict the descriptions I’d written, we won’t write it up as a correction,” columnist Sara Lin informs me. So just to set the record straight, here’s that letter:

To The Editor: If repetition by Nexis and Factiva was a firm guarantor of truth, Sara Lin’s latest Private Properties column referencing Stephen Schwarzman would have been beyond reproach, but instead, I fear, it is riddled with errors. Lin writes that the Blackstone boss “owns a 20,000-square-foot triplex apartment at 740 Park Ave. in Manhattan, for which he paid $38 million in 2001.” To give your reporter her due, she got the address right. As the Wall Street Journal has never deigned to take note of my 2005 book 740 Park (let alone my current Rogues’ Gallery, about the wealthy patrons of the Metropolitan Museum of Art), perhaps her errors are unsurprising, but most readers are well aware of and most reviewers (and real estate professionals) have praised the book for its accuracy, so using it as my reliable source, I would note that the apartment (as opposed to the cooperative corporation shares, which were previously owned by George Brewster, John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Saul Steinberg) is a duplex occupying a portion of the building’s 15th and 16th floors with a servants’ mezzanine between floors–not a triplex; that it is somewhat larger than 20,000 square feet (although its exact dimensions, like those of most cooperative apartments in New York City, have never been given); that it changed hands early in 2000, not in 2001, and that Schwarzman paid about $30 million (according to my source, a member of the building’s co-op board), not the oft-mentioned, but seriously inflated figures of $37 million or $38 million. If Ms. Lin would like to avoid such mistakes in future, I suggest she buy a copy of the book, which is still available in most bookstores. Better yet, she could review it–and get a freebie. Better late than never.
Sincerely,
Michael Gross

All Quiet on the Eastern Front

I scan the real estate sections and the realty blogs daily, hoping for news of more sales, births, deaths, scandals or moments of joy at 740 Park, but here in the Great Recession there are none. So with the publications date of Rogues’ Gallery: The Secret History of the Moguls and the Money That Made the Made the Metropolitan Museum fast approaching (eight more days! eight more days!), I am taking this opportunity to retire the 740 Park blog, at least until something, anything!, happens there. I’m sure the last of the widows, prospective parents and pillars of finance there will be happy about that. As am I. Though I’ve yet to receive a commission for helping establish the building’s primacy on New York’s Gold Coast, four years after publication, 740 Park is still selling. I am unbelievably grateful to all concerned for that. Now, we head eleven blocks north and a few block west.

Story Without End, Amen

Davids
Forget John Thain and Ezra Merkin and Steve Schwarzman and the meltdown of the economy. The market was up yesterday. And the George David-Marie Douglas divorce circus is still so on. Today, we learn that David is addicted to filing divorce papers and Marie, well, she likes money and wants babies but isn’t having the best of luck conceiving, unless her soon-to-ex is right and she doesn’t really want to, sneaky Miss Thing. Read it and get the creeps. Originally from the [NYP0st]

Oy, Marie

marie
Those folks at 740 Park just don’t know when to stop. If this keeps up, I may have to write a sequel. In the latest episode of the slap-happy soap opera of the richest apartment building in the world, the owners of the triplex apartment built for Electra Havemeyer and Vanderbilt heir J. Watson Webb (and later occupied by Edgar Bronfman Sr. and Time-Warner founder Steve Ross, among others), are giving the world its latest peek at how the rich and shameless divorce. Former United Technologies chairman George David and his second spouse, Marie Douglas (above), an impossibly tall and quite winsome I-banking Swedish countess, are engaged in a spitball fight over their post-nup, with Marie demanding (sing along kiddies) More More More personal bailout funds–a figure that reportedly runs s high as $100 million. David, needless to say, is not letting go of his hard-earned bonus baby bucks so easily. So now, Marie has turned to that paragon of reasoned argument and calm negotiation, New York Post spitfire Andrea Peyser. Stay tuned for David’s counterpunch.

Go West, Young Man

kellycarr
Keith Kelly, media columnist of the New York Post (above, right, with David Carr, his counterpart at the New York Times), has the scoop today on my next book for the Broadway imprint at Random House: a 740- Park-like look at the lifestyles and lives of, as he puts it, “the Super-Wealthy in the Estate District of Los Angeles.” Kelly’s annual Kelly Gang fundraiser is coming up on St. Patrick’s Day at the midtown media elite lunchroom, Michael’s.
UPDATE: Curbed LA comments: “Platinum Triangle, it’s time to start paying your help a bit more so they don’t spill your secrets! “

Whale of a Sale Sale

ross
So….Max Abelson of the New York Observer reports that Courtney Sale-Ross’s unofficial offer to sell her double duplex (Apt. 12-13 C/D) at the 71 East 71st Street entrance of 740 Park Avenue for $75 million–it was on the market, sort-of, and then off–is back on again. And he quotes the unlisted listing broker Edward Lee Cave asking “Who is Michael Gross?’ after Cave was told that Gripebox had reported the apartment was off the market. Cave’s memory obviously isn’t what it used to be (he did a lengthy face-to-face interview while I was reporting my book on the building), but never mind that. I’m glad to hear Sale (above with her late husband, Steve Ross of Time-Warner) is still thinking about selling the apartment she was never selling and then reaffirmed her desire to not sell. And I still hope for a small crumb of commission from Cave for raising resale values in the building. It’s tough out there for billion-heiress widows, but even tougher for journalist-authors.
UPDATE: This must be crack to crack real estate reporter Abelson. He’s not letting go!

A Kinder, Gentler Clawback??

thain
The image of former Merrill Lynch boss (and 740 Park penthouse owner) John Thain’s wife asking for a plain paper bag when she went shopping at Hermès not long ago–and then being ridiculed for it–highlights the disconnect between the media’s “the sky is falling” reporting on the economy and the real big picture. The big picture is that people need to be encouraged to start spending again, albeit more carefully, not be shunned for it. So herewith a modest proposal. Since, Andrew Cuomo notwithstanding, odds are we’ll never be able to claw back big bonuses from the greedy, grasping former masters, now destroyers, of the universe as we knew it, how about we do the opposite and shame them into putting that money back into the economy. Not by buying yachts or Maseratis or Park Avenue penthouses, but by using the full force of societal persuasion to convince them that every single bonus dollar they received in, say, the last two years, needs to be spent–now–at retail, in America–in easy increments of $50,000 or less–and at full price, not 70% off. Spend for themselves, for their families, for their multitude of victims, on charities, on total strangers for all I care. But spend that money down. Right now. In return, the news media should promise to praise them, not ridicule them for it. Call it the Small Business Hearts Bankers Program. Even bankers’ wives. If that doesn’t work, we can still try tar and feathers.

Cuomo vs. Thain

Dealbook reveals that NY AG Andrew Cuomo is not taking no for an answer from 740 Park penthouse owner John Thain.

740 Park News Archives

Click a title to read the entire post.

 

© 2005-2007 Michael Gross

Developed by Skidder Networks

Take Albuterol Inhaler
Order Inhaler Albuterol
Buy Albuterol Online no Prescription
Online Buy Albuterol Without a Prescription
Purchase Online Without a Prescription Albuterol
Online Buying Aldactone
Purchase Online Without a Prescription Aldactone
Aldactone for Acne
Buying Aldactone Legally
Buy Tablets Aldactone Online
Cheapest Buy Allopurinol
Purchase Allopurinol Online no Prescription
Buy Without a Prescription Allopurinol
Buy Allopurinol Free Delivery
Legally Order Allopurinol
Buy Anafranil Without a Prescription
Buy Anafranil Pills
Buy Anafranil Medication
Buying Without a Prescription Anafranil Online
Take no Prescription Anafranil
Buying Atarax Overnight Delivery
Purchase Atarax Free Delivery
Alternative Purchase Atarax
Purchase Atarax by Phone
Legally Purchase Atarax
Order Avodart Without a Prescription
Tablets Order Avodart
Pills Buying Avodart
Buy Avodart Medication
Tablets Purchase Avodart
Alternative Purchase Bactrim
Take Bactrim Next Day Delivery
Online Buying Bactrim
Cheapest Buy Bactrim
Purchase Bactrim Without a Prescription
Buy Celecoxib Overnight Delivery
Purchase Cheapest Celecoxib
Tablets Buy Celecoxib
Buying Without Prescription Celecoxib
Order Online Without a Prescription Celecoxib
Take Cipro Legally
Purchase Cipro by Phone
Purchase Online no Prescription Cipro
Buy Pills Cipro
Order Cipro COD
Purchase Clomid Serophene Generic
100 Clomid Serophene
Cheapest Buy Clomid Serophene
Order Clomid Serophene by Phone
Take Clomid Serophene Medication
Buying Dapsone
Purchase Dapsone COD
Buy Dapsone Free Delivery
Take Dapsone Next Day Delivery
Order Cheapest Dapsone
Generic Buying Desyrel
Order Cheap Desyrel
Take Desyrel Next Day Delivery
Buy Desyrel Tablets
Buy Desyrel Cheapest
Buy Diflucan Medication
Buy Diflucan Pills
Take Diflucan Pills
Purchase no Prescription Diflucan
Order Cheapest Diflucan
Buying Dilantin Next Day Delivery
Dilantin Phenytoin
Buying Dilantin Overnight Delivery
Legally Purchase Dilantin
Purchase Dilantin Alternative
Purchase Diovan Pills
Buy Diovan Pills
Order no Prescription Diovan
Purchase Online Without Prescription Diovan
Buy Cheap Diovan
Buy Doxycycline Medication
Order Doxycycline Without a Prescription
Take Doxycycline Daily Dose
100 Doxycycline
Buying Doxycycline
Buy Elavil COD
Buy Elavil Medication
Order Elavil Generic
Order Elavil Pills
Purchase Elavil Drug
Order Generic Erythromycin
Buy Erythromycin Medication
Buy Erythromycin Without a Prescription
Purchase Online Without a Prescription Erythromycin
Buying Erythromycin Overnight Delivery
Order no Prescription Estrace
Buying Without Prescription Estrace
Take Estrace Drug
Purchase Estrace Alternative
Order Generic Estrace
Order Furosemide Pills
Buy Alternative Furosemide
Order Pills Furosemide
Take Furosemide Medication
Order Cheapest Furosemide
Buy Glucophage Pills
Tablets Order Glucophage
Take Glucophage Legally
Purchase no Prescription Glucophage
Why Take Glucophage
Purchase Imitrex Free Delivery
Buying Imitrex Without Prescription
Buying Without a Prescription Imitrex Online
Buy Cheapest Imitrex
Imitrex Generic
Buying Pills Inderal
Buy Inderal no Prescription
Purchase Inderal COD
Alternative Purchase Inderal
Purchase no Prescription Inderal
Order Lasix no Prescription
Purchase Lasix COD
Purchase Lasix Without a Prescription
Buying Lasix Without Prescription
Tablets Purchase Lasix
Buy no Prescription Levaquin
Buy Levaquin Next Day Delivery
Take no Prescription Levaquin
Purchase Levaquin Generic
Buy Alternative Levaquin
Buying Lexapro no Prescription
Generic Buying Lexapro
Purchase Lexapro COD
Purchase Lexapro no Prescription
Tablets Purchase Lexapro
Buy Lipitor Free Delivery
Order Lipitor no Prescription
Online Buy Lipitor Without a Prescription
Tablets Buying Lipitor
Generic Purchase Lipitor
Purchase Lisinopril Free Delivery
Purchase Lisinopril Alternative
Take Lisinopril Without Prescription
Online Order Lisinopril Without Prescription
Tablets Buying Lisinopril
Alternative Order Methotrexate
Purchase Methotrexate COD
Why Take Methotrexate
Purchase Methotrexate Online Without Prescription
Purchase Methotrexate Online no Prescription
Cheapest Buy Nizoral
Order Nizoral Free Delivery
Purchase Nizoral by Phone
Alternative Order Nizoral
Purchase Nizoral Drug
Take Nolvadex Without Prescription
Cheapest Order Nolvadex
Take Nolvadex Drug
Purchase Online no Prescription Nolvadex
Purchase Nolvadex Medication
Nortriptyline Antidepressant
Buy Tablets Nortriptyline Online
When to Take Nortriptyline
Purchase Nortriptyline Pills
Buying Without Prescription Nortriptyline
Tablets Buy Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Order Ortho Tri-Cyclen Generic
Take no Prescription Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Purchase Ortho Tri-Cyclen COD
Take Ortho Tri-Cyclen Without Prescription
Purchase Online Without a Prescription Premarin
Pills Buying Premarin
Tablets Buying Premarin
Order Premarin COD
Tablets Buy Premarin
Buy Tablets Proscar Online
Buy Tablets Proscar
Buy no Prescription Proscar Online
Purchase Proscar Alternative
Purchase Cheapest Proscar
Buy Risperdal by Phone
Order Risperdal Medication
Generic Order Risperdal
Purchase Risperdal Online no Prescription
Buy Risperdal Next Day Delivery
Take Synthroid Free Delivery
Take Synthroid Pills
Buy Without a Prescription Synthroid
Purchase Synthroid Alternative
Take Synthroid Legally
Generic Order Topamax
Order Online Without a Prescription Topamax
Take no Prescription Topamax
Order Cheap Topamax
Buy Topamax Without a Prescription
Valtrex Acyclovir
Pills Purchase Valtrex
Generic Buying Valtrex
Online Buy Valtrex Without a Prescription
Order Valtrex COD
Purchase Online no Prescription Zithromax
Buy Zithromax Next Day Delivery
Purchase Zithromax Pills
Buy Zithromax Free Delivery
Buying Without a Prescription Zithromax Online