Gianni Versace’s iconic Miami Beach mansion is for sale.
The extravagant property is on the market for a hefty $125 million and features a golden tiled kitchen and 54ft. mosaic-tiled swimming pool which is lined with 24-carat gold and a huge mosaic of the Versace label’s Medusa logo.The late designer purchased the opulent Casa Casuarina in 1992 for a comparatively affordable $2.9million, but he was shot dead on the steps of the property in July 1997. The mansion has been owned by telecommunications billionaire Peter Loftin since 2000. ‘This is an iconic oasis for the rich-and-famous that sits in the middle of South Beach,’ he said in a statement. ‘It’s a one-of-a-kind property, created by a genius; that is a piece of art, and a piece of history.
‘ The business man is trying to sell on the Versace mansion after 12 turbulent years.Lotfin originally planned to convert the ten bedroom, 11 bathroom house into an exclusive members-only club and boutique hotel, with some rooms costing $2,500 a night. But he was forced to abandon the business after one of his investors was arrested for running a $1 billion Ponzi scheme. In 2009, Lotfin reopened the mansion after a makeover by restaurateur Barton G. Weiss and renamed it The Villa by Barton G. ‘Every room is a work of art,” real estate agent Jill Eber commented. ‘If the person buying it is not already a celebrity, it gives them instant celebrity status — if they want it.’ -MSN
