Inside Leslie Wexner's $40 Million Mansion in New Albany Ohio

Table Of Content

• Building a Legacy: The Wexner Residence and New Albany’s Growth
• The Guest Home Frequented by Jeffrey Epstein
• Related Articles
• What are some of the features of the Wexner mansion?
• Shaping Columbus Through L Brands
• Is the Wexner mansion open to the public?
• Les Wexner’s Influence on New Albany’s Transformation

The drive winds north past a canal, a rotunda and pyramid. (A pyramid? That's what the plans say. Will Wexner's abode double as a New Age retreat?) It connects into an east-west roadway. Heading west, the road runs into what seems to be a circular drive surrounded by landscaping.

Building a Legacy: The Wexner Residence and New Albany’s Growth

A recording answers at his number, asking callers to leave a message. The estate stands as a testament to the complex interplay between private interest and public impact, becoming a symbol of New Albany’s evolution. It epitomizes the transformative influence of wealthy individuals on communities, catalyzing change that can reshape not only skylines but also societal frameworks within these locales.

The Guest Home Frequented by Jeffrey Epstein

Victoria's Secret's Les Wexner sues auction house for £11m over Ferrari 375-Plus - Daily Mail

Victoria's Secret's Les Wexner sues auction house for £11m over Ferrari 375-Plus.

Posted: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 08:00:00 GMT [source]

An advisor to the millionaire told The New York Times in 1996 that he spent no more than two months in the house. In 1993, Wexner married Abigail Koppel, a 31 year old lawyer, and the newlyweds relocated to Ohio where she thought it would be better to raise children. This sweeping influence of Wexner’s New Albany has been methodically cultivated, and anchored by significant structures of community and business.

Related Articles

That 11-acre estate sits in the midst of a well-manicured lawn with a large lake behind a meadow of tall grass that lines New Albany Farms Road. That common area—maintained by the homeowners’ association—serves as a setback to create the country theme of the luxury neighborhood on large, open lots within the broader New Albany Country Club community. Woods grace the back of the property, while trees also obscure some of the neighboring residences. Stringent design standards guided development of the premier homes that were built there. Les Wexner hired architect Thierry Despont and interior designer John Stefanidis to convert the townhouse back into the ultimate private residence. For the first time in half a century the magnificent French Renaissance mansion would be a home.

In the darker rooms, mirrors panel the shutters, recusing light and returning it to the room. “It’s a quiet room, not a typical dining room but more like a library, with a large table for spreading books out,” said Stefanidis. The walls are swathed in silk and the French mahogany bookcase, with gilt-bronze mounts on fluted column supports, dates to circa 1820. The chairs upholstered in Clarence House fabric would be reupholstered in leopard print by Alberto Pinto for Jeffrey Epstein. The mansion sat empty for almost a decade and would eventually be acquired in 1944 by the Roman Catholic Archbishopric of New York to become an extension of the St. Claire Hospital and in 1962. The Daytonian in Manhattan blog has a full account of what happened during this time period.

Shaping Columbus Through L Brands

In 1989, it was purchased for $13.2 million by the billionaire businessman the Leslie Wexner, the founder and chairman emeritus of Limited Brands, now known as L Brands. The building was purchased by the Birch Wathen School, a college preparatory day school for well-to-do boys and girls from kindergarten through grade 12. The school would remain here for over two decades before moving uptown to 210 East 77th Street and becoming the Birch Wathen Lenox School. The original mansion was only six stories but Les Wexner would have a seventh story added on which you can see here. The large structure on the top right probably houses the elevator motor room while the mechanics for the house are probably housed behind it. It appears as if the driveway entrance-blocked by a gate-will be south of the residence, off of Kitzmiller.

Victoria’s Secret mogul Les Wexner ‘let Jeffrey Epstein abuse young girls at his sprawling Ohio meg... - The Sun

Victoria’s Secret mogul Les Wexner ‘let Jeffrey Epstein abuse young girls at his sprawling Ohio meg....

Posted: Fri, 15 Jan 2021 08:00:00 GMT [source]

"I do know that he likes large proportions to his rooms. He wants to do business entertaining and civic entertaining there." So, maybe there will be the hotshot celebs being limoed through New Albany, after all. As a hub for influential gatherings that resonate throughout central Ohio and beyond, Wexner’s residence transcends its boundaries as a personal retreat to emerge as a stronghold of generosity and societal impact. Among the first homes built were those belonging to the Weisses and the Lennoxes. The house he and wife, Arlene, built in the 1990s, and recently contracted to sell, was conceived “as an 18th century Georgian house … but with 1990s sensibility and technology,” explains Weiss. Count twice-retired Express chief executive Michael Weiss among the early high-profile folks who decided to take advantage of the opportunity. Contrary to beliefs at the time, Weiss says he never felt pressure to move from Bexley—Wexner’s hometown—to the exclusive, gated community of New Albany just to please his boss.

In the documentary, there is footage of Les Wexner giving a speech in 2019 where he talks about being taken advantage of by someone which was most certainly Epstein. Unlike those and other central Ohio mega-mansions, the Frecka home is taking shape for all to see. For months, thousands of travelers who pass by have watched its progress, wing by luxurious wing.

I met up with one friend for dinner before her husband arrived and after he arrived, I met them both at a cafe for lunch one day. They were with another couple, NASCAR driver Brian Vickers and his wife Sarah. I remember admiring her her belted fur coat and thinking that she lived a very enviable life. After lunch, we walked over to Notre Dame and took photos which was where I left them.

The paintings range from classical portraits to modern abstract works, while the sculptures range from classical busts to contemporary pieces. The property includes several additional guest homes seperate from the main Les Wexner House, which Wexner has frequently offered to visiting friends and dignitaries over the years. Several Les Wexner House offices provide workspace for Wexner to oversee his retail empire and investments. The overall decor underscores his passion for architecture and interior design. The two-story library serves as Wexner’s private retreat within the Les Wexner House.

Often referred to as central Ohio’s social epicenter, Wexner’s residence goes beyond a mere architectural marvel to serve as a philanthropic hub. Its expansive and sumptuous indoor and outdoor spaces have played host to a myriad of opulent gatherings, from high-profile fundraisers to intimate charity events. The stately home in New Albany, a notable setting within the state, provides an elegant backdrop for events that attract the crème de la crème of society eager to invest in meaningful causes.

As L Brands faces its own cultural reckonings amid changing views, the billionaire’s legacy remains complex. This palatial Ohio compound encapsulates both the heights of his success and its complicated facets. In conclusion, I hope you enjoyed reading about Leslie Wexner’s home.

According to AD, John Stefanidis’s project for Les Wexner “began with the paintings, the Russian antiques, and the French Art Deco furniture in the client’s collection. The architect, Thierry Despont, entirely gutted the house and, with reference to the Russian antiques, based his designs for the new doors and fireplaces on those of Russian palaces. No expense was spared on the 50 foot-wide six story townhouse which included imported French-limestone meticulously decorated with carvings, sculpture figures and ornamental iron works. Antiques and fixtures were bought in Europe along with “entire 18th-century rooms” to be installed in the home.