Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran Lists Her Dream NYC Penthouse for $12 Million.
After more than two decades of dreaming, Shark Tank star and real estate trailblazer Barbara Corcoran is preparing to part ways with a property that once seemed like an impossible fantasy. The legendary businesswoman has listed her stunning Upper East Side duplex penthouse for $12 million—a home she spent over 23 years trying to call her own.
Photo: Realtor.com
Corcoran first encountered the home in 1992, when she was working as a messenger. Delivering a letter to the unit, she was instantly captivated by its elegance. “I thought, ‘My God, I’ve never seen anything as beautiful in my life,’” she recalled in an interview with The New York Times. Although the unit wasn’t for sale, Corcoran boldly asked the owner to reach out if that ever changed. Over 20 years later, in 2015, the owner did just that.
Photo: Realtor.com
Corcoran paid $10 million for the penthouse and began a complete renovation, spending an additional $2 million to reimagine the space to suit her lifestyle. “Any house I ever bought, I bought the spot, not the space,” she said. “You can control the space, but you can’t control the spot.”
Photo: Realtor.com
The result was a breathtaking two-story home with 11 rooms, panoramic views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, and a dramatic greenhouse-turned-dining room. For a time, Corcoran and her daughter even slept on the terrace during construction. "It’s easy to spend money when you’re building a lifelong dream," she explained. "For me, real estate is emotional."
LATEST: Formula One Heiress Petra Ecclestone Lists $41.95 Million Brentwood Estate.
Despite its splendor, the home’s two-floor design has become a challenge for her husband, retired Navy captain Bill Higgins, now 80. Navigating the curved staircase daily is no longer ideal, which prompted Corcoran to make the difficult choice to move on. "I never thought I would ever leave," she admitted.
Photo: Realtor.com
Still, she is determined to stay in the neighborhood and already has her eye on a single-floor penthouse nearby. Her first attempt at securing a new residence—a $9.95 million former home of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward—was outbid, but Corcoran remains optimistic.
Photo: Realtor.com
The timing of this transition comes amid a period of personal loss. Corcoran’s cherished trailer home in California’s Pacific Palisades, valued around $1 million, was destroyed in recent wildfires. Though heartbreaking, she plans to rebuild. The real estate mogul has always believed in the power of reinvention, and this latest chapter is no exception.
Photo: Realtor.com
Barbara Corcoran’s Upper East Side penthouse is more than a luxurious piece of New York real estate—it’s the embodiment of persistence, passion, and purpose. She waited decades to make it her home, transformed it into a personal sanctuary, and now passes on a space filled with character, design, and unmatched views.
Photo: Realtor.com
Her story reminds us that dreams are never too distant with enough vision and heart. Though she’s letting go of this remarkable home, the legacy she built within its walls—and within the real estate world at large—remains. Corcoran continues to inspire, showing that even after reaching the top, there’s always another dream waiting just around the corner.
