Something curious is unfolding along the gilded coastline of North Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach—and it’s sending shockwaves through the luxury real estate world.
In a string of swift, off-market transactions just north of Mar-a-Lago, a mystery buyer—believed to be connected to Microsoft—has quietly assembled what may become one of the most valuable private estates in the country. Estimated between $250 million and $350 million, the ultra-discreet buying spree has insiders buzzing about the birth of a new mega-compound that could rival even Ken Griffin’s 27-acre assemblage.
The heart of this rumored estate lies at 1063 and 1071 N. Ocean Blvd., two rare oceanfront lots once owned by cosmetics heir William Lauder. Combined, the 2.3-acre parcels boast a staggering 360 feet of beach frontage. Though Lauder originally planned to build there himself, the lots were listed together for $177.8 million. According to The Wall Street Journal and The Real Deal, the sale closed in February through a quiet LLC transfer for more than $160 million.
That was just the beginning.
In the months since, the same buyer—possibly Microsoft billionaire Charles Simonyi, creator of Word and Excel—has snapped up additional adjacent properties, including non-oceanfront homes across the street in separate off-market deals. In June, Mango Leaf LLC paid $30 million for a 5,800-square-foot house at 1072 N. Ocean Blvd., originally bought for $5.3 million in 2017. Another Delaware LLC, Creekshore LLC, picked up a home at 1066 N. Ocean Blvd.from former Hearst executive Cathie Black for $18 million, nearly quadrupling her 2018 purchase price.
Altogether, the compound now spans nearly 4.2 acres, and some believe the buyer is still not done. Sources say they’re also eyeing 1055 N. Ocean Blvd., owned by William Rickman Jr., and making quiet offers to neighbors at premiums far above market rate.
Despite the wave of acquisitions, not everyone has been persuaded to sell. Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who owns the 0.7-acre estate at 1075 N. Ocean Blvd., has reportedly declined multiple offers. His 10,000-square-foot home—purchased for $43 million in 2020—includes six bedrooms, a wine cellar, and a gym.
Real estate agents say the strategy is clear: consolidate, protect the investment, and ensure unparalleled privacy. “We just don’t have these kinds of large properties available for sale,” said Dana Koch of the Corcoran Group. “After buying all of these properties at a mind-boggling number, [the buyer] is protecting his investment and affording himself even more privacy.”
What’s especially unusual is the cloak of anonymity. The properties are being acquired through Delaware shell companies like Mango Leaf and Creekshore, and incorporation records tie them to Greyson Blue, a Seattle-based attorney with K&L Gates who has worked with the Gates Foundation. Blue has not responded to comment. A source close to the Foundation told the Journal that Bill Gates is not involved, but speculation continues.
In a town where titans of finance and tech live like ghosts—slipping in by jet, building behind hedges, and buying under LLCs—this project still stands out. There are no permits, no renderings, and no public plans, yet the real estate footprint is growing at an unprecedented pace.
“It’s like watching someone build a palace under an invisibility cloak,” said one luxury agent. “You know it’s happening, but you’re not allowed to say who’s behind it.”
This isn’t just about wealth—it’s about legacy. The buyer appears to be crafting something far more permanent: a once-in-a-generation estate that could rival the most iconic in America. While Ken Griffin holds the current Palm Beach record with a $350 million, 19.3-acre compound, this new estate may surpass it in value per acre. For comparison, Jeff Bezos has spent roughly $234 million assembling property on Indian Creek in Miami.
Whether it’s Simonyi, Ballmer, or another tech titan altogether, the pattern is unmistakable. A new legend may be taking shape on Palm Beach’s shrinking shoreline—one deedless deal at a time.
