Lachlan Murdoch—son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch—is preparing for an upcoming ski vacation with the purchase of Mopani Estate, a developer-built equestrian and ski retreat on Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen.
Murdoch paid $29 million for the property, which had been listed prior to the sale at $44 million, making the purchase price a full third under asking. The estate was initially offered in 2011, when the main house had been finished; its price peaked at $49 million in March, when it was completed.
Mopani’s six-bedroom main house sits at the end of an 1,800 foot driveway, measures 13,400 square feet, and is rendered in stone, steel, and timber. The design is contemporary chalet style, all the rage in ski-in/ski-out vacation homes for the last few years. The blend of rusticated stone, steel, glass and modern geometric evocation gives the house a substantial appearance that is quite graceful, if grandiose.
The home leaves little to chance, and its layout includes living areas with spectacular views of the Continental Divide, Mount Sopris, and Red Mountain, as well as a gourmet kitchen, a home cinema, a fitness room, a wine cellar, an art gallery, and a stunning sense of scale that begins with the soaring foyer. Materials are equally impressive: bookmatched marble fireplaces, stone accents, walnut floors, and cedar ceilings.
The estate contains a two bedroom guest house, which measures 1,500 square feet, as well as a four-stall stable and tack room. The property extends to over 44 acres, and includes riding trails, outdoor fireplaces, kitchens, and terraces, and water features.
Murdoch’s professional positions include executive chairman of Nova Entertainment, as well as executive co-chairman of 21st Century Fox and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. He and his wife reside at Le Manoir, a 44,000 square-foot residence and estate outside Sydney.
