Billy Joel Selling Estate
After nearly 20 years, Billy Joel is once again listing his magnificent 26-acre estate in Centre Island, New York, with an asking price just shy of $50 million.
The compound, named *MiddleSea* as a playful nod to its peninsula setting and the musician’s passion for piano, is a sprawling retreat where opulence meets classic coastal charm. Listed with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the property was initially priced at $49 million and reappears on the market following an extensive multimillion-dollar renovation.
Joel acquired the property in 2002, gradually assembling adjoining parcels until it became the lavish estate it is today. The red-brick mansion, completed in the 1990s but styled after the Gilded Age, features 20,000 square feet of living space, including five en-suite bedrooms and an impressive 11 bathrooms.
Inside, the home boasts luxurious touches like hardwood and marble floors, a checkerboard marble foyer, a grand staircase, two kitchens, and a ballroom. Notably, the library is paneled in rich mahogany, offering a cozy fireside setting with views of Oyster Bay.
*MiddleSea*’s outdoor amenities rival its indoor luxuries. The estate includes two pools, expansive gardens, and lush lawns, all connected by winding paths that weave through waterfalls, a gazebo, and a shaded dining area under a pergola.
Additional structures dotting the property enhance its charm and functionality: there’s a five-bedroom gatehouse, a Malibu-inspired beach house, and a guesthouse that houses a two-lane bowling alley and four-car garage.
A private helipad allows for quick escapes to Manhattan or the Hamptons, catering to the kind of lifestyle Joel has long enjoyed.
Yet, this remarkable property comes with a steep annual tax bill—an eye-watering $567,686, according to *The New York Times*. Joel admitted that despite his financial success, the tax burden is significant: “It’s not cheap, let’s put it that way.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, now 75, still owns additional properties, including homes in Sag Harbor and Florida, yet *MiddleSea* remains one of his most distinctive estates. For prospective buyers with a taste for luxury, waterfront views, and the legacy of an American music icon, this Centre Island property is a rare opportunity to own a slice of Joel’s storied life on Long Island.