The Long Island estate of auto industry magnate Henry Ford II — eldest grandson of Henri Ford I — changed hands this fall. The new owner paid $105 million for the property, which occupies a 42.13-acre stretch of dreamy Hamptons landscape that includes nearly 1,300 feet of private beach; the stretch of sandy Atlantic frontage makes the estate the largest oceanfront single-family property in the Hamptons, but it also features pond and bay frontage. The legendary home had been priced at $145 million prior to the sale.
Ford titled the estate Fordune, but the property has subsequently been known as Jule Pond. The winged, multi-section main house features a stucco exterior, and a gambrel roofline finished with slate and inset with casement dormer windows. Multiple sets of French doors adorn the main level, and give the shared living spaces a breezy feel. It was given a major renovation in 2008.
The interiors of the estate’s main house measure 19,938 sq. ft. Details include hardwood paneling, fireplaces, and inlaid oak floors imported from European mansions. There are twelve bedrooms and twelve baths on the property. Amenities include a 20×28-foot catering-ready kitchen, a library, staff quarters, guest rooms, game room, and a pair of master suites. A basketball court, three-bedroom carriage house, pool area with outdoor kitchen, and detached six-car garage are among the property’s outdoor amenities.
Henri Ford II helmed the Ford Motor Company in various capacities between 1945 and 1980. He took the company public in 1956.