Russian billionaire and art collector Roman Abramovich is taking over a large portion of an entire New York city block to build a mega-mansion, reports the Real Deal. Does this mean his wife, Garage Museum founder Dasha Zhukova, will be moving to New York?
Abramovich, the Chelsea Football Club owner, who is worth a reported $9.3 billion, purchased 11 East 75th Street for $29.7 million last October, according to the New York Post. Shortly after in December, he bought 15 East 75th Street, the property two doors down, for $18.3 million. The two narrow townhouses surround his last conquest, 13 East 75th Street, which is currently in contract with Abramovich.
It looks like the state of the Russian ruble isn’t affecting the billionaire’s plans to move forward with building one of New York City’s largest mansions. But we’re wondering what he’ll do with all that prime real estate. Perhaps Zhukova will use the pad as an opportunity to bring her curating prowess, ordinarily wielded over her Moscow museum, to the city (see Dasha Zhukova’s Rem Koolhaas-Designed Museum Will Capture a Moscow Moment). Or will it solely be reserved as a “pied-à-terre” and venue for extravagant parties? We’re keeping our eyes and ears open.