George Plimpton’s storied Upper East Side residence—where he once held court with Manhattan’s cultural elite—just hit the market for $5.25 million, the New York Post reports.
For nearly six decades, this 4,700-square-foot duplex at 541 East 72nd Street was the home of Plimpton—the famed writer, editor, and co-founder of The Paris Review literary magazine—and his wife Sarah Dudley Plimpton. Plimpton was a multifaceted cultural figure whose influence extended across American literary and social landscapes. He was a fixture of New York’s intellectual scene until his death in 2003 at age 76. Sarah is now selling the duplex before relocating to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Plimpton and his wife transformed these rooms into the epicenter of New York’s cultural elite, hosting gatherings that drew the likes of Paul McCartney, Andy Warhol, Elvis Presley, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Jim Symington, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and George Plimpton attend a party at Plimpton’s home.
The residence is located among the “Black and Whites” row houses, named for their two-tone facades and signature red-lacquered front doors. Originally built in 1894 as working-class tenements, these buildings received a makeover in the 1930s by architects Sacchetti & Siegal. They’re now picturesque, lining a cobblestone cul-de-sac.
The exterior of 541 East 72nd Street.
The duplex, formed by merging four separate apartments, preserves its pre-war soul while also embracing modern comforts. The five-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom home includes forty (yes, forty) windows, many with spectacular East River views, flooding both floors with natural light. Enter through an elegant foyer that leads to a double-chambered living room anchored by two wood-burning fireplaces. These very rooms once housed The Paris Review offices, where early works by Jack Kerouac and Philip Roth took shape, and where Plimpton conducted interviews with Ernest Hemingway and other literary legends.
The living room.
The home’s kitchen features a vented FiveStar range, Bosch appliances, and a SubZero refrigerator, and has an adjacent butler’s panty with refrigerated beverage drawers. The lower lever also includes a light-filled den with enough space for a pool table, and a private bedroom suite with generous walk-in closets.
Up the stately wooden staircase are four additional bedrooms, including a corner primary suite with river views. A wood-paneled study connects to a den with another fireplace.
The pool room, shot when the Plimptons live there.
The pet-friendly co-op offers residents a live-in super, a full-time handyman, storage rooms, and modern security features. Recent updates include soundproofed windows, ductless air conditioning, fresh paint, new carpeting, and updated lighting fixtures.
The property was previously listed in 2018 for $5.5 million but was later withdrawn, serving as a rental asking $22,000 monthly in 2020. Now back on the market at $5.25 million, listed by Lisa Gustin and Whitney Mogavero of Douglas Elliman, it offers a rare opportunity to own not just a luxurious Manhattan address, but a piece of the city’s storied cultural fabric.
Julia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand’s social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.
