It’s what Marie Antoinette would have done, if she had money

Joan Rivers’ apartment sold to Middle East royalty

The 1903 John R. Drexel House, No. 1 E. 62nd Street (Click photo to enlarge).

She was known for her vivacious personality and love of the glitz and glamour as it’s no surprise that Joan Rivers’ Upper East Side condo reflected that. It’s a palace that was fit for the Queen of Comedy.

And now you’ve got the chance to looking inside the late comedienne’s incredible $29million property (Click photo to enlarge).

Joan, who passed away after undergoing what was expected to be a routine endoscopy. on August 28th last year, spent her days when she was at home surrounded by floor to ceiling windows and gold plated walls, yes you read that right, ….gold walls.

Queen of Comedy Joan Rivers (Click photo to enlarge)

Joan Rivers’, lavish Manhattan triplex apartment has sold to ‘Middle East royalty’ after multiple offers from several parties, sources close to the comedienne’s family told CNBC. The deal closed earlier this week for the asking price of $28 million. It was on the market for $29.5 million in 2011, when she told The New York Times: “Qaddafi wanted to rent it for that whole U.N. thing. People said it’s blood money. I said, ‘Oh, I can easily wash blood off dollar bills.’ But they didn’t like it. It was too close to a synagogue.” The apartment, on the Upper East Side, was listed again in February of this year. Rivers died unexpectedly while undergoing an endoscopy on September 4, 2014.

Sources declined to reveal the identity of the buyers and where they reside in the Middle East

Rivers’ 11-room condo incorporates the top three floors of a seven-story, the mansion built was in 1903 by Gilded Age millionaire John Drexel, the son of Anthony Drexel and grandson of Francis Martin Drexel. In 1837, Francis founded the banking house of ‘Drexel & Company’ in Philadelphia.

The centerpiece ballroom and music room have gilded antique boisserie paneling, crystal chandeliers, antique columns and two fireplaces. The ballroom alone can comfortably accommodate 125 people (Click photos to enlarge).

Melissa Rivers: “My parents started acquiring Fabergé animals, frames and boxes in the 1980s. I think there was a kinship between the craftsmanship and how mom labored over her work for her appearances. She’d say, ‘Look how amazing. Art is in the details” (Click photos to enlarge).

The building was converted to condos in the 1930s. The 5,100-square-foot home features a Louis XIV-inspired ballroom/music room with Greek columns, 23-foot ceilings painted with clouds, gilded antique paneling, beautiful antique French furniture and crystal chandeliers. The music room, which doubles as a dining room, features three French doors opening onto a south-facing terrace.

The dining room has three French doors that open to a south-facing terrace, large enough for al fresco dining (Click photos to enlarge).

The condo also includes:

• Four bedrooms, 4.5 baths.
• Central Park and Manhattan skyline views.
• Private elevator.
• Wood-paneled library.
• Huge master suite.
• Separate two-bedroom guest apartment with living room and kitchen.

The four-bedroom, 4 ½-bathroom condominium spans the top three floors of the building at 1 E. 62nd St. Its ornate décor, soaring ceilings and gilded balcony prompted Rivers to joke, “It’s what Marie Antoinette would have done, if she had money.”

And as expected of this comedy gem, every inch of her stunning home is covered with index cards with jokes spanning her entire career.

The home was sold by Rivers’ daughter Melissa, who had her own apartment within the triplex. The buyers, who closed on the deal unusually quickly, likely paid cash.

The second floor has a mezzanine overlooking the ballroom (Click photos to enlarge).