Steel yourself for highest US price tag

The Life: A mansion once owned by a co-founder of the precursor to US Steel has gone on the market for $190 million, the highest priced listing in the United States.

Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut, has not been for sale on the open market in more than a century. Courtesy Christie's International Real Estate

A mansion once owned by a co-founder of the precursor to US Steel has gone on the market for $190 million, the highest priced listing in the United States.

Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut, has not been for sale on the open market in more than a century. The Neo-French Renaissance property, which is situated on more than 50 acres on a waterfront plot, was built in 1896 and bought by the Lauder Greenway family, who cofounded US Steel with Andrew Carnegie, and lived there for more than 75 years.

The current owner, the timber tycoon John Rudey, bought the property more than 30 years ago in an off-market deal and has used it as a weekend retreat ever since.

The main residence has views of Long Island Sound, including Island Beach, a public park given to the town by the Lauder Greenway family. "Rarely do estates of this significance become available, with such exceptional waterfront frontage, acreage, and provenance," says David Ogilvy of David Ogilvy & Associates. "Copper Beech Farm has no peers in Greenwich — the only other expansive waterfront estate was developed more than half a century ago - and there are simply no more in existence. The buyer of this property will truly enjoy the privacy, exclusivity and unparalleled views just 45 minutes from New York City."

Stone towers stand at the entrance to the panelled hall, which has a wide staircase rising three storeys. However, the property also features a lift for those who would rather not have the workout.

Other features include a swimming pool with octagonal pool house, hot tub, grass tennis court, carriage house, two greenhouses and a gatehouse. The property has 12 bedrooms, nine bathrooms and 10 fireplaces, as well as a staff kitchen and laundry facilities.

The third floor features a staff wing and stairs to a large top floor which could be converted to many uses, according to Christie's International Real Estate, which is marketing the property.

"The property's incredible waterfront location, beautiful details, and proximity to New York City will be enormously attractive to potential buyers across the globe," says Kathleen Coumou, the senior vice president of Christie's International Real Estate.