{
  "id": 11733951,
  "title": "Grey Gardens bought for $220,000 later sold for $15.5 million",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/grey-gardens-bought-for-220-000-later-sold-for-15-5-million",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-03T17:28:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/real-estate/news/in-1979-sally-quinn-and-ben-bradlee-paid-220000-for-new-yorks-decaying-grey-gardens-and-restored-it-38-years-later-the-6000-sq-ft-east-hampton-estate-sold-for-15-5-million/articleshow/134641195.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1979, Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn and executive editor Ben Bradlee purchased the Grey Gardens estate in East Hampton for $220,000. The 1897 mansion, known for its decline into a symbol of bohemian decline, had become an iconic fixture in the Hamptons. The couple transformed the 6,000-square-foot home over the next three decades, using it as a summer residence and preserving its unique charm amid its deteriorating state. When the property was listed for sale in early 2017, it carried a price tag of $20 million, reflecting its cultural significance and prime location on Georgica Pond. However, the estate sold for $15.5 million in December 2017, a $4.5 million discount off the asking price, marking the latest chapter in its storied history.",
  "summary": "In a momentous deal for historic preservation, Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee acquired the storied Grey Gardens estate in 1979 for $220,000. Following a meticulous restoration, it emerged as a cultural hallmark tied to the Beales. Its remarkable sale for $15.5 million in December 2017 underscores the lasting interest in uniquely significant properties, concluding nearly forty years of history for…",
  "key_points": [
    "Washington Post journalists bought Grey Gardens for $220,000 in 1979.",
    "The 1897 mansion was transformed into a summer residence over three decades.",
    "Estate sold for $15.5 million in December 2017, $4.5 million less than asking price."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}