A look at five iconic buildings that sold in the 21st century

From Rockefeller Center to London’s Harrods, check out the deals after the jump

Iconic buildings sold in the 21st century
Iconic buildings sold in the 21st century

In late July, it was announced that London’s iconic skyscraper, the Gherkin, had hit the market asking upwards of $1 billion. But the Gherkin isn’t the only landmark building to have hit the market in the last decade. Here’s a look at five notable skyscrapers to trade in the 21st century via Buzzbuzzhome.

Chrysler Building, New York

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Price: $800 Million USD
New Owner: The government of Abu Dhabi
Previous Owner: Tishman Speyer
Year Purchased: 2008

Briefly the world’s tallest skyscraper, 90 percent of the Chrysler Building was sold by former owner Tishman Speyer to the government of Abu Dhabi for $800 million in 2008. However, Speyer continues to manage the building.

Rockefeller Center, New York

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Price: $1.85 Billion
New Owner: Tishman Speyer and the Lester Crown Family
Previous Owners: Goldman Sachs Group, David Rockefeller, Stavros Niarchos and the Agnelli family
Year Purchased: 2000

Just at the start of the new millennium, Speyer struck a $1.85 billion deal for all 22-acres of Rockefeller Center, marking the first time that no member of the Rockefeller family would own any part of the property, according to Buzzbuzzhome.

Willis Tower, Chicago

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Price: $840 Million USD
New Owner: Joseph Chetrit
Previous Owner: MetLife Inc.
Year Purchased: 2004

New York real estate tycoon Joseph Chetrit’s $840 million purchase of the 110-story building, formerly known as the Sears Tower, broke records as the largest real-estate purchase in Chicago’s history.

Harrods, London, UK

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Price: $2.3 Billion USD
New Owner: Qatar Holdings
Previous Owner: Mohammed Al Fayed
Year Purchased: 2010

Just two weeks before selling the world-famous department store, former owner Mohammed Al Fayed notoriously said: “People approach us from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar. Fair enough. But I put two fingers up to them. It is not for sale. This is not Marks and Spencer or Sainsbury’s. It Is A Special Place that gives people pleasure. There is only one Mecca.”

The Ukraina Hotel, Moscow

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Price: $274 Million USD
New Owner: Biskvit Co.
Previous Owners: City of Moscow
Year Purchased: 2005

At 34-stories, the Ukraina was the tallest hotel in the world from 1957 to 1976. Stalin himself commissioned the hotel, supposedly proclaiming: “We won the war… foreigners will come to Moscow, walk around, and there’s no skyscrapers.” [Buzzbuzzhome] Christopher Cameron

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