HOME: Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani covets the penthouse at One57. (Reuters)
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The powerful prime minister of Qatar is ready to plunk down nearly $100 million for the city’s most expensive penthouse — an ultra-luxe, two-story pad atop the under-construction One57 condominium across the street from Carnegie Hall, The Post has learned.
Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani first eyed the spread after a Fifth Avenue co-op board rejected his bid to spend $31.5 million on two apartments owned by the late Huguette Clark, an eccentric American copper heiress, sources said.
“He decided to buy the One57 penthouse after the Huguette Clark rejection,” a source confirmed.
The stunning duplex penthouse features a “grand salon,” a large mezzanine, four fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, at least five bedrooms, and motorized window shades, Realtors said.
And he’s not going to stop there.
While negotiating to buy the 10,923-square-foot spread, Sheik Hamad also opened discussions with Extell Development about buying a cluster of four separate, full-floor condos in the 90-story One57 building, at 157 W. 57th St.
That would up the total purchase to a staggering $250 million, sources said.
“At one point, they were talking about doing it in pieces, like four separate units, the four top floors, so no one knows about it,” a high-level source said.
The sheik had looked at the top trophy homes in Manhattan, including Denise Rich’s $60 million co-op, sources said. But co-op boards have shunned him.
The sheik has two wives and 15 children and a huge entourage. Co-op boards have balked at the sheer number of people he would bring to a building.
In addition, his gun-toting security detail would likely follow him around and surround the building when he is in town
Finally, the sheik has diplomatic immunity, which could hamper any building’s attempt to legally address any issues that might come up, such as collecting unpaid common charges.
Calls to the Qatar Embassy in Washington were not returned.