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New York Mansion Owned by the Tiny Country of Seychelles Is Headed for Auction

A magnificent mansion in New York’s Westchester County currently owned by the government of the Seychelles is headed for auction. Yes, the tiny archipelago off East Africa owns a huge home with a storied past—and the minimum bid on the place is $2.5 million.

The home, about an hour north of Manhattan, was purchased in 2016 for diplomat Justin Etzin and his bride, Lana Zakocela. The couple have since split, and the property is up for grabs. 

A quick property search shows Westchester County is a popular place for foreign governments to house their diplomats. We counted at least 25 area homes owned by countries ranging from China to Tanzania.

Originally, this country estate in West Harrison was part of a 43-acre property held by the Straus family (owners of Macy’s department stores). The property was sold in the 1980s to the Hearst family of newspaper-publishing fame. 

After owner Randolph Hearst died in 2000, his wife, Veronica, remained in the home until she sold it to the Seychelles Consulate. Then work began on the home, which was intended to be the personal residence for Etzin, the consul general of the Seychelles.

In 2015 Etzin and Zakocela, a model, were married in a multiday celebration that reportedly cost over $1 million and included celebrity guests such as Lindsay Lohan.

Now that the couple have decided to divorce, the 14,000-square-foot house sits empty, gutted to the studs, and owned by a small country over 8,000 miles away.

Along with the unfinished main house, the offering comes with a private lake and 7.9 acres. Additional structures include an 1,300-square-foot log cabin by the shore, guest cottages, stables, a custodian’s house, and a parking garage. 

The ground has already been dug out for a 60-foot-long infinity pool.

“The property has tremendous potential. It no longer suits our purposes, but it’s tantamount to owning a French chateau—only it’s just outside Manhattan,” Etzin said in a statement.

The Seychelles government “decided to sell by auction because it’s an efficient way to sell it,” says Paramount Realty USA principal Misha Haghani.

For a new owner or developer, there are multiple options for such a large piece of land. It could be divided into three parcels, or house a consulate for another government. Or the new owner could simply finish construction of the classic 1931 residence and move on in.

Another perk: The property is surrounded by 40-plus acres of conservation land.

“You don’t own it, but it’s not going to be built on, ever. It’s just a real huge plus,” Haghani says. “When you’re there, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but you’re a 14-minute helicopter ride from Manhattan.”

The auction deadline is June 13.

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