For USD16.8 million it is possible to buy the home that served to inspire one of the most popular books in history. The mansion that set some of the scenes in The Great Gatsby is now up for sale, reports Bloomberg. It was the place where author F. Scott Fitzgerald learned about Long Island and the characters that made the location unique.
The mansion Gatsby called home in the book has 13 bedrooms and is located on the waterfront. Mary Harriman Rumsey, who was married to the governor of New York, owned the place when Fitzgerald was visiting. The property was built in 1928 and was deemed to be extravagant at the time, but was relatively modest when compared to other Long Island properties when Gatsby was penned.
“Obviously, it’s so imposing—you drive down and see the sweeping views,” says Nava Mitnick, a Broker with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International, the company representing the property. “But when we entered the house, I described it as a ‘glorified cottage,’ because it’s so homey.”
The mansion doesn’t quite match all the details in book, however. There is no ivy evident as was mentioned and swimming pool written about in the story isn’t there either. The property also underwent a massive renovation recently in order to make the interior look both fancy and warm. Harrison Design was hired to carry out the makeover and opted for a high-end and homey look.
Gatsby’s mansion was purchased by investor James Mai in 2012 for USD6.6 million and he spent further millions in renovating the home. Mai is a bit famous in his own right. He was portrayed in the Big Short, a Michael Lewis book also turned into a hit movie. Actor Finn Wittrock played a character loosed based upon him in the film. In real life, he was the president of Cornwall Capital, a company that predicted the 2008 financial collapse.
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