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CNN Live At Daybreak

British Financier to pay $10 Million for NYC Condos

Aired July 11, 2003 - 06:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well time to get this morning's business buzz. New York City has a new record for the most expensive apartment, and guess where it is.
Carrie Lee is at the Nasdaq market site with the answer -- Carrie.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, where else would it be other than New York City. This gentlemen topping a record. A British financier has agreed to pay over $40 million for a three-unit penthouse condominium in the new AOL Time Warner building, which is right in New York City off of Central Park. That's the highest price paid for a single transaction by a single buyer in New York City.

And this is a shot from a little while ago. They are still working on the building.

The previous record was for $36 million.

Now the owner gets 12,600 square feet on the entire 76th floor of one of the two buildings, plus another unit on the floor above. What else do you get? Well, pretty much that's about it. A nice wraparound terrace. But this unit is not going to come furnished. It's not even going to come with interior walls or decorations. It's pretty much a raw space. Estimates are that it will cost another $15 million or so to decorate.

Now the broker is not talking about who this gentleman is. There is a disclosure agreement. They're not talking about it, certainly a lot of people wondering. There are about 200 units available in this building. They start at $1.8 million, Fredricka, so a lot of money here, yes.

WHITFIELD: Unbelievable. No, kidding.

Well speaking of big bank, let's talk about Warren Buffett and this lunch auction. How much did it really go for?

LEE: That's right. Well we talked about it yesterday. The winning bid $250,100, Fredricka. That was the winning bid. Now proceeds going to charity.

Remember we said the winner can bring seven friends, and it looks like the winner is now offering two of those seats for sale on eBay. The name on the auction is different than that of the winning bid, so we're not sure if it's legit. But looks like the person trying to turnaround and sell two of the seats. So (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we'll see if there's enough interest there.

WHITFIELD: Or maybe he's trying to sell those seats and then give that money again to charity?

LEE: Maybe recoup some of the money he spent, who knows?

WHITFIELD: Oh brother, oh God, OK. Well, thanks a lot -- Carrie.

LEE: The big bucks.

WHITFIELD: No kidding.

LEE: Yes, OK.

WHITFIELD: Don't know what to do with all that money.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired July 11, 2003 - 06:17   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well time to get this morning's business buzz. New York City has a new record for the most expensive apartment, and guess where it is.
Carrie Lee is at the Nasdaq market site with the answer -- Carrie.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, where else would it be other than New York City. This gentlemen topping a record. A British financier has agreed to pay over $40 million for a three-unit penthouse condominium in the new AOL Time Warner building, which is right in New York City off of Central Park. That's the highest price paid for a single transaction by a single buyer in New York City.

And this is a shot from a little while ago. They are still working on the building.

The previous record was for $36 million.

Now the owner gets 12,600 square feet on the entire 76th floor of one of the two buildings, plus another unit on the floor above. What else do you get? Well, pretty much that's about it. A nice wraparound terrace. But this unit is not going to come furnished. It's not even going to come with interior walls or decorations. It's pretty much a raw space. Estimates are that it will cost another $15 million or so to decorate.

Now the broker is not talking about who this gentleman is. There is a disclosure agreement. They're not talking about it, certainly a lot of people wondering. There are about 200 units available in this building. They start at $1.8 million, Fredricka, so a lot of money here, yes.

WHITFIELD: Unbelievable. No, kidding.

Well speaking of big bank, let's talk about Warren Buffett and this lunch auction. How much did it really go for?

LEE: That's right. Well we talked about it yesterday. The winning bid $250,100, Fredricka. That was the winning bid. Now proceeds going to charity.

Remember we said the winner can bring seven friends, and it looks like the winner is now offering two of those seats for sale on eBay. The name on the auction is different than that of the winning bid, so we're not sure if it's legit. But looks like the person trying to turnaround and sell two of the seats. So (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we'll see if there's enough interest there.

WHITFIELD: Or maybe he's trying to sell those seats and then give that money again to charity?

LEE: Maybe recoup some of the money he spent, who knows?

WHITFIELD: Oh brother, oh God, OK. Well, thanks a lot -- Carrie.

LEE: The big bucks.

WHITFIELD: No kidding.

LEE: Yes, OK.

WHITFIELD: Don't know what to do with all that money.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com