Newport, RI – In a blockbuster real estate move that’s sending ripples through Rhode Island’s luxury market, a high-profile celebrity has offloaded their stunning Newport mansion for a jaw-dropping sum exceeding $15 million, pocketing a sizable gain just seven years after snapping it up. The sale, closed in late September 2025, highlights the enduring allure of Newport’s Gilded Age glamour and oceanfront estates, even as the broader housing market grapples with affordability issues.
So who’s the mystery seller — and how much did they rake in? It’s none other than TV icon Judith Sheindlin (Judge Judy), who sold her “Bird House” estate for $15.3 million, yielding about a $6.3 million gross gain (before fees and taxes) from her 2018 purchase at $9 million.
Perched along Ocean Drive with sweeping views toward Brenton Point, the Bird House is a shingle-style 2012 build spanning approximately 9,719 square feet with six bedrooms and six full plus two half baths. Interiors include a gourmet kitchen and multiple fireplaces; outdoors, a pool/spa area frames the coastal panorama. Records show the buyer as Seaspray Newport LLC, and Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty handled the deal. The sale underscores a hot streak: four $10 million-plus transactions were logged in Newport County in September alone, according to the Providence Journal, as well-heeled buyers continue to chase coastal serenity and top-tier amenities.
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This headline-grabbing transaction lands amid a buoyant luxury segment. HousingWorks RI’s 2025 Housing Fact Book pegs Newport’s Median Family Home Price at about $1,000,000, a touchstone that fuels tourism curiosity as visitors tour storied properties like The Breakers and imagine the celebrity lifestyle. On the affordability front, Newport’s affordable-housing share sits around 17.27%, making it the only municipality in Newport County above the state’s 10% goal — a notable outlier in a region where service-sector workers help keep mansions polished and harbors humming.
As for star power, Newport’s high-end scene has long drawn boldface names. Jay Leno (Seafair) and Larry Ellison (Beechwood) are two other notable figures who call Newport their home (for part of the year at least). Celebrity cachet aside, locals note that headline sales can be a double-edged sword: they elevate prestige, attracting premium travelers for yacht charters and chef tastings, but also stoke price pressure for year-round residents.
