Top 50 NYC Penthouses for Sale

Owning a New York Penthouse apartment has long been an indication of having a superior level of wealth and it’s the ultimate status symbol. In NYC, ultra high net worth individuals are not only showing off with these over-the-top apartments, but they are also preserving their wealth by stashing $20 million, $50 million or $100 million into these vertical bank accounts of sorts (i.e. Manhattan real estate).

Why not store value outside traditional financial institutions? Let’s be honest, real estate can be a safer investment than keeping tons of money in a bank account (where the FDIC covers only $250K if the bank goes under - remember Lehman) or the stock market (again, remember Lehman). These trials and tribulations happen more than one would think!

Looking back 100 years the top floor of a residential building was always relegated to the staff quarters and not really considered a special apartment like we do today. The staff would have to walk up 12 flights of stairs to get to their homes. This is certainly not something our wealthiest clients would entertain today.

With the adoption of elevators in the 1920s everything changed. In NYC, the first Penthouse was thought to be at 1107 Fifth Avenue in the Upper East Side. With 54 rooms over the top 3 floors of this 14-story building, New York City had never seen such a thing. Little did they know what was to come in the future.

Technological advancements now allow developers to build their towers much much taller, reaching 1,500 feet in the air, such as the penthouse at Central Park Tower. Thanks to recent elevator advancements, owners can now get to their 129th floor apartments in 90 seconds.

While most people consider the Penthouse level to be solely the top floor of the building, today, that is no longer the case. For example, 15 Hudson Yards has 9 floors of penthouses!

Often, penthouses will have the largest living spaces, highest ceilings, grandest floor plans, huge bedroom suites, and special amenities such as private outdoor terraces, private pools, and one-of-a-kind layouts and finishes. Most penthouses in the city will have outstanding views whether they are located on the 40th floor or the 100th floor, so that is the one thing that is consistent about them.

Below, you’ll find the Top 50+ penthouse condos for sale in NYC. Just because the penthouse isn’t listed, doesn’t mean it is not available. If you have a particular type of penthouse in mind, reach out to me directly, as we have access to all the off market new development penthouse (already built or in the pipeline) as well as pocket listings. As you can imagine, many penthouses trade that never even get listed.

After the set of Manhattan Penthouses for Sale below, scroll to the bottom of the page where share more info about NYC Penthouse.

Here’s some interesting information about Penthouses in NYC:

Not all penthouses in New York are created equal. A penthouse in a high rise building will have many different features than a penthouse in a low rise building.
For example, one can not really compare the penthouse at 432 Park Avenue to the Penthouse of a B or C class condo building in NYC. These B and C-class buildings may not even have any real luxurious amenities. Sure, they might have walk in closets and a full time doorman, but often they are not true New York Luxury penthouses.
How much does a penthouse cost in New York NY? Well, Penthouses in Manhattan can be very expensive. The most expensive likely will be the triplex at Central Park tower once it sells. This penthouse has been available for years, but it has never even been listed. We hear that it will likely trade between $250M - $300M.
Central Park Tower has a triplex penthouse (3 full floors) on the 129th floor that is listed for $250 Million. This penthouse is the most expensive penthouse in NYC. Central Park Tower also has a duplex penthouse on the 127th floor, plus 20 full floor apartments from the 107th to the 126th floors, all with 360-degree views.
At 220 Central Park Tower, one of the most expensive buildings in NYC, the most expensive penthouse to sell was PH73 which sold for $188 million in December 2021, however, the building sold a non-penthouse apartment, a triplex on the 50th floor, for $240 million in January 2019.
At 432 Park Avenue the most expensive listing in 2021 was $169 million, however, the apartment didn’t sell and was taken off the market in 2022.
For instance, it would be impossible to have a garden on the 129th floor of any building in New York City. Even if there is outdoor space, the high winds would destroy any type of foliage or greenery within a few hours or days. So, don’t expect to do any gardening from the Central Park Tower penthouse.
However, a penthouse like the one at 15 Central Park West, which has usable outdoor space over looking Central Park from the 41st floor would be a great option for the right buyer.

If you have a fear of heights and are considering buying a NY Penthouse, you may want to reconsider, or choose one in a low-rise building. Penthouses on the 70th, 80th or 129th floor are not made for the faint of heart.
Be prepared to show Proof of Funds if you want to visit any of these Top penthouses. Therefore, don’t expect to be able to show up to an open house of a New York Penthouse apartment.
Real estate brokers, the gatekeepers of these ultra luxury properties, are required to screen buyers of penthouse apartments as a security precaution. These sellers don’t want just anyone roaming their multi million dollar apartments! Be prepared to Show Them the Money if you want to get in to see one of these.

Top 50 NYC Penthouses for Sale

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