Eddie Gilbert was years ahead of his time in 1958 when he earned the title “The Boy Wonder of Wall Street” for his successful takeover of the E.L. Bruce lumber company.
Gilbert bought up nearly 50% of the stock, drove the price to a record $190 per share, and arrived at the Waldorf Astoria with an armored truck filled with stock certificates to negotiate a takeover of the firm’s board. This daring attitude would follow him throughout a life that saw him make, and lose multiple fortunes.
Facing a $3.5 million tax lien and $14 million in debts after some unsuccessful trades, he fled to Brazil, where he lived it up as “The Fugitive Playboy.” He would eventually serve four years in prison, where he brought his ruthless trading skills to the cigarette market, and received a lifetime ban from trading securities.
Upon release, he didn’t let failure stand in the way of a new success, moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and devising a real estate trading partnership that made him a millionaire once again. Gilbert died in 2015 at the age of 92.
The audacious mogul went to Santa Fe in one of the city’s most architecturally significant homes: a sprawling estate in the Pueblo style of Spanish Colonial architecture.
Numerous high-profile guests including former presidents and other political dignitaries, Hollywood directors, actors, screenwriters, and producers have visited and stayed at the unique property. Built in 1918 and meticulously maintained, the estate has been split into parcels, both now offered for sale.
The main residence, looking to score a Santa Fe record with its list price of $19.9 million, features 8 bedrooms and 10 baths. Striking home with a classic New Mexico look, it features hand-hewed wood beams, carved original doors, archways with tile accents, and hardwood and stone floors.
A truly stunning cobblestone driveway winds through the property's landscaped grounds, which include multiple lounging areas, fountains, topiaries, and statues of animals. A charming guesthouse and a stable with a private well complete the property, which spans over 22 acres.
Next door, El Nido offers a smaller home with similar attention to detail and one-of-a-kind period furnishings. On offer for $3.75 million, the 3,600-square-foot home includes two bedrooms and two baths. Gorgeous wood beams, intricate moldings, and tilework complement the home’s many windows, offering views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The elegant grounds showcase mature trees and gardens.
Founded as a Spanish colony in 1610, Santa Fe is New Mexico’s capital and a creative arts hotbed. The city is renowned for its distinctive Pueblo architectural style which features adobe-and-stone construction, flat roofs, and rough-hewn beams.
Gilbert’s homes are located in the heart of the up-and-coming community, about a mile from the town center and close to the massive Hyde State Memorial Park. Some celebrities called Santa Fe home include Gene Hackman, Val Kilmer, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, and Ally MacGraw.
The listings are held by Todd Davis at Compass. Photos by Jonathan Tercero.
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