A luxe Mediterranean-style abode boasting 200 feet of prime Atlantic Coast frontage in Florida is set to hit the auction block with a twist — and no, it’s not because there’s no reserve price.
In December, Lauren Witzke, the 2020 Republican nominee for US Senate in Delaware, caused a stir by sharing photos of this home on Twitter, falsely claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had bought it for $20 million, and that it was located in Vero Beach, Florida.
However, swift fact-checking quickly debunked her claim, not to mention the property is located approximately three hours north of Vero Beach. And now, Mansion Global reports, it will find a new — and real-life — owner this week.
Located in Ponte Vedra Beach, a mere half-hour’s jaunt east of Jacksonville, this estate will soon go under the hammer in a live auction orchestrated by Platinum Luxury Auctions.
Trayor Lesnock, founder and president of Platinum, extolled the property’s privacy owing to its beachfront locale.
“Because of the elevation of the property, which is about 30 feet, you can’t even see the property at all from that road,” Lesnock told Mansion Global, highlighting the added security of a gated entry. “For those folks who just want to drive up to the oceanfront compound and not be seen or bothered by anybody, this is the place.”
The sellers, Daniel and Carol Wildermuth, preparing to embark on an overseas adventure, opted for the auction route after their property languished on the market for six months with traditional real estate channels.
Initially listed for $11.9 million in July, they believe the auction will expedite their transition to the next chapter of their lives.
“We are looking to get on with the next phase of our life and didn’t want to basically be waiting on a house that may sell today or may sell in six months or some other time period,” Daniel, 60, told the outlet.
While acknowledging that a standard house might not be suited for such a sales strategy, Daniel believes their property is an ideal candidate.
Spanning a grandiose 12,700 square feet, the residence, erected in 1995, boasts two fully equipped kitchens — including one that spills out onto a lagoon-style pool — a cavernous 3,000-bottle wine cellar, a primary suite and five additional ensuite bedrooms.
Each room, as Lesnock emphasized, has been meticulously crafted to capitalize on the ocean vistas — a feature often overlooked in many coastal homes.
The Wildermuths, both accomplished entrepreneurs in the finance realm, bought the property in 2019 for $6.3 million, according to records.
What’s more, the home will be sold furnished, preserving the unique character the couple cultivated during their tenure.
As for the Zelensky rumor mill that briefly spun around their property, Carol, 59, shrugged it off, admitting they only caught wind of it after it had already been debunked.
“We didn’t know about it until the news media had already come out and said it was false,” Carol remarked. “It was more of a few people calling — the real estate agent to get the facts and a few inquiries from more personal people who know us, in jest — but there was no real impact on us at all.”
