In 2012, the prime minister of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani laid down a bid of an astounding $31.5 million for a pair of Fifth Avenue apartments owned by late heiress Huguette Clark. The deep-pocketed politician was rejected despite offering more. According to the NY Post, the bids for the were rejected, primarily because of his 15 children, two wives, and massive entourage. Then there were concerns about where the affluent royals’ money came from and his diplomatic immunity.
“It was just too complicated,” said one source at the luxurious building at 907 Fifth Ave. at 72nd Street. The source added that there wasn’t “a chance in hell” of his offer being accepted. The royal planned to purchase three additional apartments in the building to create a 40-room mega-pad. However, the building’s co-op board refused the Sheikh an interview after it was disclosed he intended to break the two $19 million and $12 million eighth-floor apartments to make more room as suitable to their stature and lifestyle.
However, the uptight board wouldn’t have anything disrupting the peace and quiet of the pre-war building overlooking Central Park. The incredible classic New York City pre-war home boasted a 37-foot gallery with 11-foot ceilings and original herringbone floors. Mrs. Clark, an avid doll collector, stored her $3 million collection of dolls in these homes that were later packed and stored elsewhere.
The Sheikh has rejected a really fancy apartment as well –
That same year, while apartment shopping in upstate New York, Qatar PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, actually rejected an apartment as it didn’t have big elevators. It is no secret that Middle Eastern royals have large families and an even larger entourage moving behind like shadows. The Qatari billionaire found the luxe $100 million penthouse atop One57, a sound investment but had to reject the property as it only had two elevators. There simply wasn’t enough room to comfortably house the sheik’s two wives, 15 kids, a posse of managers, and armed guards.
It certainly isn’t like royalty to adjust and accommodate. Al-Thani had little choice but to call off the deal. He then zeroed in on a 21,000-square-foot mansion on East 71st Street boasting five floors, a reception hall, and a Jacuzzi for his large family of seventeen for a rather modest $47 million.
