Grace Hightower, ex-wife of Robert De Niro, is saying goodbye to the former couple’s New York co-op in the sky.
Hightower, 69, originally listed the Central Park West apartment for $20 million back in May 2024, according to The Wall Street Journal — only slightly less than the $20.9 million the couple paid for the property in 2006.
Though it’s not common for an owner to sell (let alone, list) a property for less than they paid for it, listing agent Leonard Steinberg of Compass told the WSJ that the market for co-ops is struggling as many buyers desire flexibility in their secondary-home purchases. “Co-ops have gotten pretty beaten-up, price-wise,” he explained.
The nearly 6,000-square-foot pre-war duplex co-op, located at the famous Brentmore building, includes five bedrooms on the second level and a living room, dining room and an eat-in kitchen on the first level. The primary bedroom has three connected walk-in closets and overlooks Central Park out of three windows.
“This apartment is unique in that it has exceptional scale as a result of combining neighboring apartments to create an enormous duplex sized akin to a freestanding house,” shared a representative from Compass.
Though the apartment is a dream for its new homeowners, Hightower is looking to create new memories in a home that’s completely her own.
“I want to get my own space and go crazy,” Hightower told WSJ, noting that her ex wasn’t a fan of vibrant decor colors. “I want cobalt blue. I want to throw pink over there…It will be my dream.”
Hightower and De Niro, who share two children, Elliot, 26, and Helen Grace, 13, married in 1997 and divorced in 2018. In a statement released at the time, two weeks after PEOPLE confirmed the couple’s separation, De Niro wrote, “Grace and I have two beautiful children together. We are entering a period of transition in our relationship which is a difficult but constructive process.”
The statement continued, “I honor Grace as a wonderful mother and ask for privacy and respect from all as we proceed to develop our roles as partners in parenting.”
This was the second time the couple separated, following their 1999 custody battle over their son. However, the proceedings ended amicably and without divorce papers. The couple later renewed their vows in November 2004.
The former couple was last seen together in June 2024 at the 72nd Annual Tony Awards in New York City. Though famously private when it comes to his family affairs, the Raging Bull actor did speak openly, and softly, about raising his kids.
“There are great moments and moments of sadness,” he previously told PEOPLE. “Sometimes you’re the last person they want to deal with. It’s like when you walk your kids to school and they get older and they don’t want to hold your hand or kiss you goodbye.”
The 81-year-old is father to seven children. In addition to Eliot and Helen Grace, De Niro shares daughter Drena, 53, and son Raphael, 48, with his first wife, Diahnne Abbott. He welcomed twin sons Julian and Aaron, 29, in 1995 with his former girlfriend, model and actress Toukie Smith.
In April 2023, the Academy Award winner welcomed a baby girl, Gia, with girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
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