Tom Clancy, the late American novelist best known for his technically detailed espionage and military-science storylines set during and after the Cold War, also had a great eye for detail in his personal life — and his former penthouse stands to prove it.
After penning 17 bestsellers and selling more than 100 million copies worldwide, the author of the Jack Ryan novels rewarded himself with a jewel penthouse in Baltimore’s Ritz-Carlton Residences, a highly-coveted, luxury condominium complex positioned along the city’s waterfront.
Tom Clancy’s renovations
And since the building didn’t already have a big enough penthouse apartment, Clancy took it upon himself to combine three existing units into a massive 12,000-square-foot trophy apartment, a major overhaul of the space that took two years to complete and cost him $15 million.
Unfortunately, this was back in 2010, and one year after the renovation was completed, Tom Clancy died of heart failure at the nearby John Hopkins Hospital. He was 66 at the time. And while he didn’t get to enjoy the meticulously built apartment for long, a lucky new owner can.
Image Credit: Elite Auctions.
Up for auction Dec. 12
The modern masterpiece will be sold at auction without reserve on Dec. 12. The triple-sized penthouse on the sixth floor of Baltimore’s Ritz-Carlton Residences reflects “the exquisite tastes of its owner and the quality craftsmanship of the builders who brought the vision to life,” according to Elite Auctions, which is handling the auction sale.
While the nature of the sale doesn’t give us many indicators on what the penthouse will sell for, the “without reserve” part means that the unit will be sold regardless of price. What we do know is that this is not the property’s first stint on the market.
Image Credit: Elite Auctions.
Clancy’s $12.6 million investment
The apartment was first listed in October 2015 for $12 million by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. The price dropped in 2016 to $10.9 million and again later that year to $8.7 million. By 2017, the Baltimore Sun was reporting that the author’s home had dropped its asking price to $7.9 million.
And while that may sound like quite the hefty price tag, it’s worth noting that Clancy paid a total of $12.6 million to buy the three separate units. He then invested heavily in combining them and redesigning the space to suit his style. Overall, the author invested $15 million in his trophy Ritz-Carlton residence.
Image Credit: Elite Auctions.
Penthouse layout
With four bedrooms, 6.5 baths, an open floor plan and a 1,500-square-foot living room with harbor and skyline views, the penthouse oozes luxury with its impeccable white interiors. A perfectly appointed office with dark, rich furnishings contrasts the brightness of the overall décor (and it wouldn’t be surprising if the author had it designed that way in order to trigger his creativity whenever he wanted to write).
Image Credit: Elite Auction.
The pinnacle of luxury
Incorporating smart home tech, all of the penthouse’s lighting, window shades and in-home audio are controlled via smartphone. Additional features include five parking spaces; an elevator from garage to private vestibule; panoramic views of The Inner Harbor, Harbor East, Fells Point, Federal Hill and downtown city skyline; two offices; four balconies; and two corner terraces.
The building itself sounds like the pinnacle of luxury. Set on a five-acre premier waterfront parcel along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, The Ritz Carlton Residences offers five-star amenities, including 24/7 front desk attendants, two acres of waterfront gardens with fountains, Ritz-Carlton trained concierge, free valet parking for residents and guests, meditation garden with waterfall, exceptional security with 88 cameras surrounding the property, dry cleaning pickup and delivery, available maid service, six residential suites for resident guests, and porters to deliver groceries and packages directly to residences through service corridors. There’s also a game and billiards room in site, as well as a resident lounge, 30-seat theater and boardroom.
This article originally appeared on FancyPantsHome.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
Lead image credit: Elite Auctions (building) & John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com via Wikimedia Commons (Tom Clancy)
