Chic Sheikh: Aspen Palace for Sale

For a sum that equals the GNP of a small country, you can spend weekends trying out one of the 16 bathrooms in an Aspen suburban cabin. As the Wall Street Journal reports today, "Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S., listed his Aspen-area mansion for $135 million. The price is thought to be the highest ever for a single-family home in the U.S., surpassing the $125 million asking price for an oceanfront mansion in Palm Beach, Fla. Built in 1990, the prince's 95-acre estate includes a main residence that measures 56,000 square feet with 15 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, an indoor swimming pool, an elevator and dumbwaiters." For those who know Aspen, you also probably know that this bulbous retreat on the mesa overlooking the Aspen Airport has been the target of endless jokes. Luxury B&B, anyone?