(Photo: Agencies)
One of America's landmark homes Nike Air Max 90 Italia , the Miami Beach mansion that once belonged to Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace, was sold at an auction on Tuesday for $41.5 million to a business group that includes the owners of the Jordache jeans brand.
The 1930s-era Mediterranean-style estate, which has 10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and a pool inlaid with 24-karat gold, was auctioned off as part of a bankruptcy proceeding by its current owner, telecom magnate Peter Loftin.
Bidding opened at $25.5 million and the winning offer was made by the current mortgage holders of the property Nike Air Max 95 Italia , VM South Beach, a company affiliated with New York's Nakash family, which controls Jordache Enterprises.
The group beat out two other bidders, including billionaire Donald Trump and a Florida developer who owns the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club.
Potential buyers participated in a poolside auction at the three-story mansion on Miami's Ocean Drive. The property is now known as Casa Casuarina.
The Nakash family jointly owns a hotel next door to the mansion with the Gindi family, who founded the Century 21 department store chain. They plan to consolidate the properties to create a hotel that will possibly carry Versace's name.
Joe Nakash told reporters he planned to ask Versace's family for permission to name the new property the Versace Hotel Villa.
"Everything will stay as is," he said. "It's history Nike Air Max 2018 Italia , every day you see how many people take a picture of this place."
Bidders were required to sign a confidentiality agreement and meet financial requirements that included a $3 million deposit and proof of funds to pay at least $40 million. The sale was a cash transaction.
The 23,000-square-foot (2,137-square-metre) mansion, replete with hand-painted frescoes, Italian marble and a gold-and-marble toilet, has been the subject of a long legal battle.
In 1997 Nike Air VaporMax Uomo Italia , Versace was gunned down at the mansion's entrance gate by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. Three years later, Versace's family sold the property to Loftin, who is now facing bankruptcy and who had been trying to sell the house for more than a year.
The property was initially listed on the market with an asking price of $125 million. The price was later lowered to $75 million before it wound up in bankruptcy proceedings.
In recent years, the mansion had been used as a private club and a boutique hotel.
Versace bought the property in 1992 for $2.9 million. He then purchased a hotel next door and spent $33 million on renovations to add another wing.
Inside, he decorated with an over-the-top style that included paintings of Grecian, nymph-like characters playing lyres under palm trees. The snake-haired Medusa head Nike Air VaporMax Italia , Versace's logo, can be seen throughout the house.
When Versace owned the property, he helped usher in a renaissance of Miami's South Beach. His presence attracted models, jet-setters and celebrities including Sylvester Stallone and Madonna, who also bought homes in Miami.
The former Versace mansion was originally built by Standard Oil heir Alden Freeman. It was modeled after the Alcazar de Colon palace built in the Dominican Republic in 1510 by the son of Christopher Columbus.
(Agencies)
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The flag drops on FIA's new Formula E championship series on Sept 13 at Beijing's Olympic Green.
Formula E features formula cars powered by electricity.
The new circuit represents a vision for the future and serves as a framework for research and development of electric vehicles.
""The fact the curtain raiser was given to Beijing is in recognition of China's automobile racing and environmental protection,"" said Wei Di Nike Air Max 97 Uomo Italia , vice-chairman of the Federation of Automobile Sports of China.
After thanking the city and government authorities for their enthusiastic reception, Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said: ""I walked part of the circuit and visited areas where the first infrastructure holes have been drilled and it's just an incredible feeling and something that everyone here is excited about.
""We're also delighted to have signed the broadcast deal with CCTV-5, increasing our global reach and showcasing sustainable mobility to an even wider audience.""
Beginning in Beijing, the championship will take place in nine cities - including London and Buenos Aires - and the cars will speed around iconic landmarks. For the inaugural season, 10 teams, each with two drivers Nike Air Max 97 Italia , will go head-to-head.
Operating as an 'open championship', the series gives car manufacturers and constructors the opportunity to showcase their electrical energy innovations in a racing environment, designing cars to technical specifications set by the FIA.
The championship centers around the core values of energy, environment and entertainment.
Organizers describe the competition as a fusion of engineering, technology, sport Nike Air Max 270 Donne Italia , science, design, music and entertainment - all combining to drive the change toward an electric future.
Ma Qinghua, China's first driver to hold a F1 license, will drive for Team China in Beijing. The Shanghai native this year signed with French team Citroen for the World Touring Car Championships.
After Beijing, the championship goes to Putrajaya Nike Air Max 270 Uomo Italia , Malaysia (Oct 18); Punta del Esta, Uruguay, (Dec 13); Buenos Aires (Jan 10); Miami and Long Beach, US (March 14 and April 4); Monte Carlo (May 9); Berlin (May 30); and London (June 27).
The host city for another stop in February is yet to be confirmed.
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TRIPOLI, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said on Wednesday that holding elections is the only way to bring stability in chaotic Libya.
Feltman made his remarks at a press conference following a meeting with Libyan UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj in the capital Tripoli, where the two officials discussed the latest.