UPDATE September 5, 2019, 6:15 p.m.: A duplex at the Pierre may be fit for a princess. But it’s been a hard sell for anyone else.
Princess Firyal of Jordan has listed a 14-room duplex, which spans the 30th and 31st floors of the storied co-op at 795 Fifth Avenue, for sale once again. The asking price for the latest listing — which went live today — is $60 million.
The property first appeared back in 2014 asking $70 million. The prewar apartment features a large library, two sets of master bedrooms and marble bathrooms. But, after four years of languishing on and offline, the princess finally chopped the price by 14 percent in spring 2018, according to StreetEasy.
Over the course of its history, the princess has listed with Serena Boardman of Sotheby’s International Realty and Brown Harris Stevens’ John Burger. The brokers are sharing the latest listing. Boardman declined to comment, however Burger confirmed by email that he’s confident in the pricing. He said recent sales nearby gave him confidence.
Before the Jordanian princess ruled the roost, the spacious co-op was owned by her longtime companion, financier Lionel Pincus, who led investment firm Warburg Pincus. He reportedly bought two units for a combined $22.6 million.
According to the New York Times, after Pincus became incapacitated following a surgery, his first wife and children were appointed his guardians and a dispute over the property ensued between the family and Princess Firyal. In legal documents, Pincus’ family said they wanted to sell the property for $50 million and give the proceeds to charity, while the princess contended she had a right to the property. A court ultimately sided with the princess shortly before Pincus’ death in 2009.
The princess is herself a philanthropist and, most recently, produced an award-winning documentary, “This is Home: A Refugee Story,” which won accolades at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival among others.
Editor’s Note: Updated to include comment from John Burger.