2012 was a very active year for luxury residential real estate in New York City, as it marked the transaction of the top 3 biggest sales ever to happen in Manhattan. Unsurprisingly, a quick look at the top 10 biggest sales reveals that all of them are in Manhattan and that 8 of them are coops or condos.
From left to right: 15 Central Park West, 50 Central Park South and 785 5th Avenue
1. 15 Central Park West #PH20, Manhattan
The highest price ever for a Manhattan apartment was paid by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who bought the penthouse at 15 Central Park West for $88 million on February 15th. According to the New York Times, the apartment was bought for his 22-year-old daughter, Ekaterina.
2. 50 Central Park South #30/31, Manhattan
The second priciest transaction happened on June 11th. The condo combo at 50 Central Park South #30/31 was sold for $70 million, after initially being listed for $77.5 million. The buyer is the casino magnate Steve Wynn. It is also the second highest home sale in Manhattan ever.
3. 785 5th Avenue #PH, Manhattan
The third priciest transaction is a penthouse coop at 785 5th Avenue, which sold on November 8th for $54 million. According to the Real Deal, the buyer is the music mogul David Geffen, who purchased the unit from Denise Rich, who was initially asking $65 million for it.
Here’s the complete top 10 of the biggest residential transactions in NYC in 2012.
| Property address | Sale price | Property type |
| 15 Central Park West #PH20, Manhattan | $88,000,000 | Condo |
| 50 Central Park South #30/31, Manhattan | $70,000,000 | Condo |
| 785 5th Avenue #PH, Manhattan | $54,000,000 | Coop |
| 740 Park Avenue #1213, Manhattan | $52,500,000 | Coop |
| 834 5th Avenue #12B, Manhattan | $42,000,000 | Coop |
| 973 5th Avenue, Manhattan | $42,000,000 | Single Family Home |
| 884 5th Avenue, Manhattan | $40,064,000 | Coop |
| 15 West 63rd Street #29A, Manhattan | $33,500,000 | Condo |
| 1030 5th Avenue #9W, Manhattan | $31,500,000 | Coop |
| 19 East 82nd Street, Manhattan | $27,750,000 | 1-3 Family Home |
