Yahoo奇摩新聞 I visited Aspen's most expensive neighborhood to see how its ultra-rich residents like the Bezos family live, and was blown away by the massive luxury homes
Red Mountain in Aspen, Colorado, is home to some of the ski town's most sought-after real estate.
The neighborhood attracts so many ultra-rich residents that it's been dubbed "Billionaire Mountain."
After touring two homes, I understood why the mountain earned the nickname.
When it comes to ski town real estate, Aspen, Colorado, is as expensive as it gets. In fact, the ski town's prime real estate often costs more than $8,000 USD per square foot, according to a 2022 report from Engel & Völkers.
Source: Engel & Völkers
And the region is only getting richer. The average home sold for $18.7 million in 2022 — up from $12.7 million in the first half of 2021, according to the Colorado Sun.
Source: Colorado Sun
Three real-estate agents told Insider that one of the hottest places to buy property is on Red Mountain, a neighborhood overlooking downtown Aspen.
The neighborhood attracts so many ultra-wealthy residents that it's earned the nickname, "Billionaire Mountain," Insider previously reported.
Source: Insider
As Insider and Forbes have reported, some of the world's richest families own property on Red Mountain, from Walmart heiress Ann Walton to the Bezos family.
Last winter, I drove up the mountain to see what prime real estate looks like in the country's richest ski town. I also got a sneak peek into some of Aspen's most exclusive properties.
Read more: 15 of the most over-the-top examples of wealth and luxury I saw on my first trip to Aspen, Colorado
The base of Red Mountain is less than a five-minute drive from Aspen's main street.
At the bottom of Red Mountain is Willoughby Way, which Compass real estate agents Heidi Houston and Doug Leibinger told Insider is considered the most sought-after street in all of Aspen.
"Most people would tell you they think it's the Rodeo Drive, it's the Park Avenue, it's THE address in Aspen," Leibinger told me. "It's a pretty coveted address and location."
"I would suspect that almost every homeowner on this street has two to five properties around the world," Leibinger continued. "Most of the people that are here, they've also got a house in the Hamptons. They've also got something in Miami, in St. Barts, in Montecito."
Leibinger explained that although the homes higher on Red Mountain are sometimes bigger and more expensive, Willoughby Way has a unique set of factors that appeal to potential buyers.
Namely, the street is within walking distance to the center of Aspen and still has breathtaking views of the mountains.
Last winter, Leibinger listed 287 Willoughby Way, a four-story mansion on the coveted street.
Source: Compass
I toured the five-bedroom, 6,130-square-foot home, which sold for $23.4 million, according to Compass.
Source: Compass
Inside, the home was filled with warm woods, floor-to-ceiling windows with mountain views, and a stunning fireplace — all elements I expected in a ski-town mansion.
Source: Compass
After touring the property, I explored the rest of the street. While 287 Willoughby Way was what I expected from a rich ski town, other homes on the road embraced a myriad of styles and designs.
Some homes were visible from the road, but most had private gates and towering trees for added privacy.
I also passed a $72.5-million home — one of Aspen's largest sales in history. In June 2021, Patrick Dovigi, a former professional hockey player and the founder and CEO of the waste management company Green for Life Environmental, purchased the nine-bedroom, 21,477-square-foot home.
Source: Aspen Daily News
Willoughby Way ends in a cul-de-sac, and as I drove back toward Red Mountain Road, I soaked in views of Aspen and the curving trails from the ski slopes.
Then, I hung a left and started crawling up the mountain.
From here, the homes were tucked into the mountain and farther apart. Private drives jutted into forests, preventing any glimpse of the multi-million-dollar houses.
Down many of those roads were homes reported to belong to billionaires like candy mogul William Wrigley Jr. and casino magnate Neil Bluhm.
Source: Forbes
One of the most popular names associated with "Billionaire Mountain" is Bezos. Bezos' parents Miguel and Jackie have a home on Red Mountain valued at $20 million in 2012, according to Forbes.
Source: Forbes
Michael Dell of Dell Computers also has parents with a $10.5-million home in the neighborhood, according to Forbes.
Source: Forbes
While I didn't spot Bezos or any other billionaire, I did gain access to a private drive leading to one of Red Mountain's most lavish mansions.
Houston took me to The Peak House Estate, the highest residence on Red Mountain. When the home was listed last year, it was one of the town's most expensive with a listing price of $44.5 million.
Source: Compass
Filled with history and European design, it's a seven-bedroom, 22,000-square-foot mansion.
Source: Compass
From its indoor pool to the 12-car garage, the home oozed opulent luxury. And after 191 days on the market, it sold for $40 million, according to Compass.
Source: Compass
As we were touring The Peak House, Houston casually rattled off the names of other billionaires living on Red Mountain.
She pointed to a plot of land, and told me that tucked behind the growth was a mansion belonging to Leslie Wexner, the founder of L Brands, the company that owns brands like Victoria's Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Express, Inc.
There's also media mogul Byron Allen, who purchased a 9,000-square-foot contemporary mansion for $27 million in 2020.
Source: Mansion Global
The list goes on and on. And after taking just a glimpse of the properties on Red Mountain, it's clear how the neighborhood earned its well-deserved nickname of "Billionaire Mountain."
Read the original article on Insider
