It was just months ago that Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel wandered southward, took a dip in the Miami Beach real estate waters, and came up with the keys to the former residence of Ford Company ex-CEO. The $18 million purchase bought Thiel a slice of Venetian Islands paradise; the little compound sported two homes at the time of the sale, with 10,000 sq. ft. of interiors total, as well as a pair of docks, one of which is outfitted with a boat lift.

That was January. In the second half of the 2021 twelvemonth, Thiel splurged on a home up the coast a bit, settling on an ornamentally extroverted 6,890 sq. ft. beaux-arts beauty in D.C. that was completed in 1927. The seller was former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

In typical beaux-arts style, the home begins with a foyer that’s highly decorative and which offers a wealth of options, including a parlor/waiting room with a fireplace. In this particular example, the act of entry is enhanced by a step-up plateau that further breaks into living and dining areas, with a curving staircase discreetly hugging one wall, and wrought iron and black-and-white harlequin-pattern tile dressing things up.

As the home progresses, a wealth of period details emerges. Among them: original ceiling fixtures, moldings, hardwood, carved fireplace mantels, and arched French doors. Amenities in the home include a screening room with tiered or stadium seating, a library and, in the back of the house, a long upper terrace that overlooks the forested grounds.

Thiel’s net worth is $3.5 billion, according to Forbes.