Naples, Florida – Gordon Pointe, a sprawling waterfront estate, has recently been listed for an eye-watering $295 million. Should this palatial property even come close to its lofty asking price, it would mark one of the most expensive residential transactions in the country, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. To provide some context, the current record holder is billionaire Ken Griffin, who famously acquired a New York City penthouse for a jaw-dropping $238 million in 2019. Following closely behind is Casa Encantada in Los Angeles, currently on the market for $195 million.
The history of Gordon Pointe dates back to 1985 when financier John Donahue and his wife, Rhodora, purchased an undeveloped parcel of approximately 4.3 acres for $1 million. Over the ensuing years, the Donahues steadily expanded their holdings, accumulating nearly 60 acres within Naples’s exclusive Port Royal community. Now, the family’s prized compound, featuring three residences, a 231-foot yacht basin, and a private dock capable of accommodating up to six boats, is being offered for sale by the Donahue heirs, comprising 13 children and 84 grandchildren.
“It’s been a cherished retreat for our family, but we feel it’s time to pass it on,” remarked Bill Donahue, son of John and Rhodora, to the WSJ. Marketed by the Dawn McKenna Group of Coldwell Banker Realty in collaboration with The Leighton Candler Team of Corcoran and Rory McMullen of Savills, the compound began with an 11,500-square-foot main mansion boasting six bedrooms and a screened-in swimming pool. A 5,500-square-foot secondary residence, featuring five bedrooms and an outdoor pool, was added in 1990, followed by a third dwelling spanning approximately 5,800 square feet, constructed in 2013.
Over the decades, the Donahues’ coastal haven has played host to an array of prominent figures, including former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, who were accommodated in what the family affectionately refers to as the “Presidential Suite.”
Occupying a secluded peninsula with over 700 feet of beachfront and an additional 950 feet along Naples Bay, the compound offers ample opportunities for renovation, subdivision, or further development, according to the listing brokers.
