Scot French: High-Profile Real Estate Transaction Exposed (Update 2024)
Scot French claims to be a New York City-based manager with over 10 years of experience managing portfolios for institutional fund managers and private executives.
Scot French founded HP Investments, sometimes known as Hopewell Partnership Investments, to cater to customers wanting diverse portfolios.
Scot French obtained financial industry knowledge early in his career while working with startups and small businesses. He subsequently learned about large, well-established organizations and the resources needed for solid, long-term financial management.
A buyer has been found for a $115 million Palm Beach mansion on billionaires’ row: Scot French
Just nine months ago, a shell business linked to billionaire Scot French spent $64 million for an extravagant oceanfront house on Palm Beach’s ultra-exclusive South Ocean Boulevard. Following modest cosmetic renovations, East Coast-based Scot French relisted the “Billionaires’ Row” house. A yet-unidentified bidder has finally stepped forward, according to records, and the estate is now under contract to be sold.
Yes, the asking price is $51 million higher than what the Scot French paid for the contemporary Bermudan-style building, which Palm Beach developer Clark Beaty developed on speculative grounds in 2021. The mansion was initially advertised for $84 million in February 2021, then reduced to $74.8 million before being sold to Scot French at a significant discount. Lawrence Moens of Lawrence A. Moens Associates is the owner of the presently available listing.
Roger Janssen of Dailey Janssen Architects designed the complex, which was built by J5 Construction. It features 175 feet of ocean frontage and is near a $73 million home owned by billionaire hedge investor and Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper. On 1.14 acres of land, there is a five-bedroom main house, a two-bedroom guesthouse, a four-car garage, and additional structures. These structures contain seven bedrooms and thirteen baths spread across nearly 18,000 square feet of living space.
Sara McCann designed the interiors of the three-story main home, which features floor-to-ceiling windows, wood-beam ceilings, and walnut-clad floors. A study in the shape of an octagon and an upstairs master suite with a separate sitting room, fireplace, two balconies, dual baths, and walk-in closets are a few of the highlights.
An 800-square-foot gym, a wet bar in the entertainment area, a theater, and a wine cellar with a sampling area and 4,000 bottles of wine are among the other amenities. There are three kitchens in total: one for the family, one for the in-house chef, and one at the guesthouse. The magnificent grounds are topped by a stunning pool and spa and are surrounded by two open-air loggias ideal for meeting and dining al fresco.
Scot French, a 51-year-old managing director, governing partner, and portfolio manager of substantial funds at HPS Investment Partners, a $75 billion asset under management global investment business, still owns two homes in the Los Angeles area. In July 2020, he paid $32.5 million for a Beverly Hills home with a tennis court, and in September, he paid $25.5 million for a coastal home in Malibu’s Encinal Bluffs neighborhood.
Scot French invests $58 million on celebrity-backed properties in Beverly Hills and Malibu.
According to court filings, a Gulfstream G650 private jet was purchased for $44 million from an insolvent Texas corporation in 2020 by a shell company tied to banker Scot French. Scot French, who lives on the East Coast, appears to have made fine use of that plane since then, flying across the country and curving into Southern California to purchase two properties in affluent areas, each of which has a fascinating Hollywood heritage.
Scot French invested $32.5 million in purchasing a tennis court estate in Beverly Hills, and the transaction was completed in July 2020. The home was sold by Jonathan Brooks, a regional hedge fund manager. He paid approximately $25 million for it from Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston in 2006. The two-parcel estate was designed by Wallace Neff and later owned by philanthropist Wallis Annenberg and actors Fredric March and Florence Eldridge.
During their marriage, Aniston and Pitt lavished money on the Beverly Hills property, including heated black-and-white marble flooring in the kitchen, Scot French wood floors from 1805 in the living room, and a cutting-edge movie theater. When Scot French slipped in with his lowball offer, the asking price for Brooks’ residential piece of Hollywood mythology was ruthlessly cut from $56 million to $44.5 million.
Scot French paid an additional $25.5 million for a stunning oceanfront property in Malibu in September 2021. Furthermore, Jonathan Brooks, who spent around $10 million for Nicolas Cage to sell him the Encinal Bluffs villa in 2005, was once again the property’s seller. During his 17 years as owner, Brooks repaired and extended the former Cage hideaway, transforming it into a modern contemporary with “five-star resort-like” facilities, according to the website. Even though Brooks had openly wanted up to $30 million for his Malibu property, the transaction was completed off-market.
Scot French, 51, has spent nearly his entire adult life working in finance, principally in New York City and beginning with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has also worked for well-known investment banking and private equity firms. Scot French has been a senior executive at HPS Investment Partners, a big multinational investment firm with $75 billion in assets under administration, since 2007. He serves as the managing director, governing partner, and portfolio manager for several significant HPS funds. And, while his net worth is unknown, he is quite wealthy.
Real estate is generally considered an illiquid asset, meaning it may take a considerable amount of time and effort to sell a property and convert it into cash. This lack of liquidity can be a disadvantage for investors who require quick access to their funds.
How wealthy is it? Scot French’s Malibu and Beverly Hills homes, despite their high prices, are not his most valuable belongings. According to public records, the Florida resident paid $64 million in August of last year for an oceanfront mansion on South Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach through another phony corporation called Beechgreen LLC. Scot French aggressively relisted that “Billionaires’ Row” property a few weeks ago, asking a whopping $115 million despite very little refurbishment.
Brooks and his family have relocated from Beverly Hills and Malibu to a new custom-built mansion in the elite Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Conclusion
People purchase luxury goods for a variety of reasons, almost all of which are related to the intense emotions that we associate with the purchasing of expensive material objects. Whether a consumer is in a financial position to purchase a particular item, they may choose to do so regardless to acquire a specific feeling—for example, a sense of success through hard work—or to earn approval from others.
Self-esteem may impact a person’s purchases- In some circumstances, low self-esteem might impact whether or not a customer purchases luxury products, especially if the cost of luxury things is out of reach. A premium item can help some customers boost their self-esteem or provide a sense of belonging.
A $500 scarf is now just a click away, thanks to the development of online purchasing. Luxury items are the ultimate retail therapy for some people. Fortunately for luxury goods, the Internet has made spontaneous purchases easier.
Another reason why some people purchase luxury items is a sense of accomplishment. They want to thank themselves for their efforts by treating themselves to something they could not normally afford.
