Real Estate News & Market Insights:
A gaudy Staten Island mansion that was built for Gambino crime family boss Paul “Big Paul” Castellano has been taken off the market—one year after it was listed for the extraordinary price of $18 million.
The New York property, which is located in the affluent neighborhood of Todt Hill, was commissioned by Castellano in 1976 and took four years to complete, eventually becoming one of the most opulent estates on Staten Island.
However, Castellano spent only five years living in the home before he was gunned down by four men who had been hired by his own lieutenant, John Gotti, to carry out the hit outside the Sparks Steak House in Manhattan.
Since the crime boss’ death, his former estate—which boasts eight bedrooms and 16.5 bathrooms—has changed hands three times, most recently in August 2000, when it was sold for $3.1 million to Selim “Sal” Rusi.
However, it has been listed on multiple occasions in recent years, starting in 2014, when it was put on the market for just $3 million. It was listed again in October 2023, this time with an asking price of $16.8 million.
It made its most recent return to the market in October 2024 for $18 million, where it has remained for the past year without any sign of a buyer.
But any suggestion that the property’s complex history—along with that of its original owner—might have impeded its ability to sell was previously shut down by listing agent Melsa Skrapalliu of RJM Realty Empire Inc., who told the New York Post that the home’s extraordinary luxury would easily outweigh its seedy past.
“When considering [the house], buyers are invited to look beyond its historical significance and appreciate the personal touch that defines this estate,” she said.
Each renovation and design choice reflects the owner’s unique style, transforming the property into an elegant and inviting space that has hosted countless celebrations and cherished family moments.
This home is not just a testament to its famous past; it is a vibrant, emotionally resonant environment where memories were made and lives were lived. Selling this property means passing on a legacy of beauty, warmth and joy, offering the next owners a place to create their own lasting memories.”
Setting aside the mansion’s close ties to one of New York’s most infamous crime families, the home is truly a wonder to behold—having become the most expensive property listing on Staten Island when it was put on the market last year.
Offering 33,000 square feet of living space, the home was originally designed to resemble the White House, complete with enormous columns that frame the grand entrance and a circular driveway with an ornate fountain at its center.
The large double-door entry opens to an array of “luxurious amenities beyond compare,” according to a previous listing description.
These include extravagant living spaces with elegant finishes, from a lavish living room with gilded crown molding and a huge fireplace to a wallpapered formal dining room with marble flooring and two chandeliers hanging above a lengthy table.
There is also a large wine cellar, a home theater, a gym with a sauna, and a large entertainment area with an indoor pool on the fourth floor. There is also an outdoor pool.
Outside, you’ll find landscaped grounds designed for entertaining, with a sparkling pool, outdoor kitchen, and a dining area perfect for large family gatherings,” a previous listing noted.
Intriguingly, the listing images appeared to play up the somewhat sinister history of the home—by featuring several life-size Halloween decorations in some of the rooms.
One picture taken of the enormous entryway shows several enormous witch and ghost statues, including a huge Jack Skellington from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” gathered around the front door to “welcome” guests to the home.
A listing description also did little to try to hide the torrid crimes of the home’s original owner, noting that the property had been “made infamous” by the man who commissioned it.
However, the dwelling has hosted several other high-profile guests in the years since Castellano was killed—including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who hosted a fundraiser at the property in 2015 during her presidential campaign.
The home also made headlines in 2011, when it was targeted by burglars, who were reportedly chased away by the homeowner firing a gun, according to Staten Island Live.
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