Late Mullet Bay owner Hushang Ansary’s Manhattan mansion up for sale at US$65 million

NEW YORK--A historic Manhattan mansion formerly owned by late Iranian-American businessman Hushang Ansary, whose name became closely linked to ENNIA and Mullet Bay in St. Maarten, has been placed on the market for US$65 million.

The limestone residence at 15 East 96th Street in Carnegie Hill was listed in mid-September by Sotheby’s International Realty. The property spans approximately 14,800 square feet above ground, with eight bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms, three powder rooms, 11 fireplaces, an elevator, terraces and a large garage.

Ansary died in January 2026 at the age of 98. He previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United States, minister of economic affairs and finance and head of the National Iranian Oil Company before building a substantial business career in the United States.

According to Antilliaans Dagblad, public property records also contain a direct link between Ansary and the Manhattan residence. The publication reported that a power of attorney registered in 2012 for the property listed Ansary as principal.

The mansion itself dates back to 1915 and was built for Lucy Drexel Dahlgren. It was designed by architect Ogden Codman Jr. and was later associated with Pierre Cartier of the Cartier jewelry family. The property was designated a New York City landmark in 1984.

The residence underwent a major upgrade in 2004, combining its historic interior with modern infrastructure. Listing information describes a property with approximately 18,570 square feet of gross interior space and more than 3,200 square feet of outdoor space.

For St. Maarten, Ansary’s name is most closely associated with ENNIA and Mullet Bay. He became a major shareholder in ENNIA in 2006, while Mullet Bay became one of the insurance group’s key assets.

In 2022, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en St. Maarten, CBCS, announced that a court had ruled that Sun Resorts, the company that owns Mullet Bay, belonged to the ENNIA group. The court also upheld the removal of Ansary as a director of Sun Resorts. CBCS said at the time that new directors had been appointed to restore order at the company and begin the process of selling and/or developing Mullet Bay for the benefit of ENNIA policyholders.

The US$65 million New York listing comes months after Ansary’s death and while legal and financial matters connected to ENNIA continue to be resolved.

The Manhattan property is currently being marketed as one of Carnegie Hill’s significant historic residences, combining its Gilded Age background with modern amenities and one of the larger private residential footprints in the area.

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