Multimillion-dollar mansions in a mix of architectural styles sit along the five-mile lane.Katie Warren/Business Insider
- Meadow Lane in Southampton is known as the Hamptons' "Billionaire Lane" thanks to its ultrawealthy homeowners.
- Its residents over the years have included late billionaire conservative donor David Koch, who was worth $58.7 billion when he died in 2019; hedge-fund founder Daniel Och, who's worth $3.2 billion; and hotelier Ian Schrager.
- Earlier this year, fashion designer Calvin Klein sold his ultra-modern compound on the lane to billionaire hedge-fund CEO Ken Griffin, a source familiar with the deal confirmed to Business Insider.
- In early June, I drove down Meadow Lane to see what it was really like on the exclusive five-mile stretch of road.
- I spotted a billionaire's half-built compound that might be demolished before it's even finished and a helipad that brings Wall Street financiers to their mansions in 40 minutes.
- But I was surprised that I couldn't actually see many of the famed million-dollar mansions — and that's the whole point.
The Hamptons, the affluent vacation destination a couple hours outside of New York City, is no stranger to billionaires.
But over the years, one particular street has been a magnet for them.
Meadow Lane in Southampton has been dubbed "Billionaire Lane" thanks to its bevy of ultrawealthy residents. The lane runs along a narrow beachfront strip, making it an inherently exclusive stretch of land. It's made up of large lots occupied by massive mansions, from the traditional Hamptons shingle-style houses to sleek, ultra-modern homes.
In early June, I spent an hour or so driving up and down Billionaire Lane.
Meadow Lane in the Hamptons has been dubbed "Billionaire Lane."
Katie Warren/Business Insider
The five-mile lane runs along a narrow beachfront strip in Southampton that's dotted with multimillion dollar mansions.
Google Maps
Three homes are currently listed for sale on Meadow Lane for $10.7 million, $21.9 million, and $23 million, per Zillow.
In early June, I drove down the lane to see what it's really like in the billionaire enclave.
I found that the homes on Meadow Lane are a mix of architectural styles.
Katie Warren/Business Insider
Some are traditional Hamptons shingle-style houses — albeit supersized versions.
Others, however, are sleek and ultra-modern homes.
Katie Warren/Business Insider
This glass-walled home, for example, is one of the newest houses built on Meadow Lane, completed just last year.
Katie Warren/Business Insider
Despite the varying styles, almost all the homes on Meadow Lane share some key features: sprawling lots, expansive square footage, privacy hedges or trees, and gated driveways.
Katie Warren/Business Insider
I had expected to see a street lined with lavish homes, and the mansions on Meadow Lane didn't disappoint.
But there were some details in particular that caught my eye during my drive down Billionaire Lane. Here's what I saw that surprised me the most.
Many multimillion-dollar homes were kept out of sight of prying eyes by towering hedges.
Katie Warren/Business Insider
While there were some exceptions, I could barely see many of the homes along Billionaire Lane. They were tucked away behind tall hedges, their driveways hidden behind gates operated by security systems.
I was reminded me that the wealthy often value privacy above all else.
I saw construction workers and landscapers — but very few residents.
Katie Warren/Business Insider
The liveliest parts of Meadow Lane were the construction zones, where workers and landscapers were bustling about between the mansions and their vehicles on the street.
But apart from these workers, I hardly saw any other people on my drive apart from two residents taking a stroll down the street.
It became clear that Billionaire Lane is not a place to be seen — but rather a place for billionaires and millionaires to be sequestered away in the privacy of their mansions.
Billionaire Lane is home to a half-built mansion that might be demolished, even after $19 million was spent on construction costs.
Katie Warren/Business Insider
About halfway down the lane, a massive, half-built compound caught my eye. It was clearly a huge construction zone, but I didn't see anyone actively working on the property.
After looking it up later, I learned that the 8.1-acre parcel of land had been purchased in 2012 for more than $37 million, per the Southampton Press. The owner, listed in public records as Meadowcore LLC, was later revealed to be former hedge-fund manager Thomas Sandell, who's worth $1.2 billion. After buying the property, Sandell poured another $19 million into building the nearly 18,000-square-foot compound.
But construction has stalled. Back in February 2019, the home was roughly 60% complete, but Sandell had halted construction and was considering demolishing and starting over, the Press reported.
Sandell did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the status of the property. His Hamptons lawyer, Gilbert Flanagan, also did not respond to a request for comment.
Billionaire Lane also has a helipad that can bring financiers from Wall Street to the Hamptons in 40 minutes.
Katie Warren/Business Insider
I caught a glimpse of an ultra-modern home that Calvin Klein recently sold to billionaire Ken Griffin — who also owns the most expensive home ever sold in the US — for a reported $84 million.
Katie Warren/Business Insider