Billy Joel first saw his New York estate while farming oysters as a teenager. He's now selling it for over $49 million.

an aerial view of billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
Billy Joel is selling his waterfront estate in New York that he once could only dream of owning.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty
  • Billy Joel is selling his massive waterfront estate in Centre Island, New York, for $49.9 million.

  • The 26-acre estate has four distinct houses and over 2,000 feet of private beachfront.

  • Joel first saw the estate when he was a young man and dreamed of one day owning it.

Billy Joel is moving out.

The "Piano Man" singer and lifelong New Yorker is selling his massive waterfront estate in Centre Island, New York, after completing a five-year renovation project.

The property, on the market through Berkshire Hathaway, could fetch close to $50 million.

Known as "MiddleSea," the estate spans 26 acres and has over 2,000 feet of private beach access, four separate homes, two swimming pools, and views of Long Island Sound.

Aside from the luxurious amenities and square footage, MiddleSea also has quite the backstory.

The New York Times reported that Joel first spotted the waterfront estate as a teenager while harvesting oysters to earn extra money to support his working-class family.

"I'll never live in a house like that," he said that he thought to himself at the time, The New York Times reported.

He was wrong. Joel ended up purchasing the estate in 2002. Forbes reported in 2019 that his net worth was an estimated $52 million.

Take a look inside Billy Joel's waterfront estate in Centre Island, New York, which is on the market for $49.9 million.

The estate is located in Oyster Bay in the town of Centre Island, New York.

an aerial view of billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The property spans 26 acres on a waterfront area of Long Island, New York.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The collection of homes is nestled on 26 acres of pristine Long Island real estate.

Joel nicknamed the property MiddleSea due to its positioning in the middle of the sea, with Oyster Bay on one side and Cold Spring Harbor on the other, The New York Times reported.

He also named the property MiddleSea in honor of his favorite instrument.

an aerial view of billy joel's waterfront estate in new york showing a fountain
The property was named for its spot on Long Island Sound and for a beginner piano key.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The Times reported that Joel also named the property for the note of "middle C," which is typically the first key that piano players learn.

"If it's not for me being able to take piano lessons, I probably would never have been able to afford a high-flying property like this. So, I named it after the first note which I learned on the piano, which was C," Joel told The New York Times.

The property is made up of four distinct homes, plus a maintenance house.

an aerial view of billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The home has four separate homes, plus a maintenance building.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The estate's four main homes are the Main House, the Beach House, the Guest House, and the Gate House.

The property's main house is a 20,000-square-foot red-brick mansion.

an aerial view of billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The Main House spans 20,000 square feet. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The home has five ensuite bedrooms and a primary suite with two full bathrooms and a private balcony that overlooks the water.

The foyer features black-and-white marble tiling, a chandelier, and 30-foot ceilings.

a entry room with black and white checkered floor inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The entryway has tall ceilings and marble floors.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The grand staircase leading up to the rest of the property is also made from white marble and features an ornate wrought-iron railing.

The main kitchen has two large islands and art deco-style light fixtures.

a kitchen with multiple white marble islands inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The main kitchen has two huge islands.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The islands are made with Calacatta Caldia Marble.

The kitchen's appliances are similarly high-end, from the Waterstone faucets and bronze-and-gold farm-style sink to the Officine Gullo Firenze Oven, which can cost upward of $20,000, and Sub-Zero refrigerator.

There's also a chef's kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and surround backsplash.

a stainless steel kitchen with high-end appliances inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The chef's kitchen has stainless-steel appliances.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The chef's kitchen provides ample space for the wealthy homeowner who wants to hire their own private chef for daily meals.

There's also a formal dining room with a large white marble fireplace.

a view of the dining room showing the table and chairs inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The dining room features a marble fireplace.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The formal dining room has large paned windows that overlook the property and crown molding on the ceiling.

The main house's backyard has a waterfall feature and access to a floating dock and a boat ramp.

an aerial view of billy joel's waterfront estate in new york showing a fountain
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The main house's manicured lawns overlook the water.

There's also a guesthouse with three bedrooms and five bathrooms.

the driveway and car garage inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The guest house has an attached four-car garage. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The guesthouse is 3,839 square feet, has an attached four-car garage, and was newly renovated before the property was relisted this year.

The living room has a fireplace and French doors that overlook the bay.

a living room with fireplace and beige walls inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The guesthouse has a living room with a fireplace.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The guesthouse is smaller than the main house but features some of the same classic details, like the fireplace and molding around the ceiling.

There's also a private two-lane bowling alley in the basement.

an indoor bowling alley inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The guesthouse has a bowling alley in the basement.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

There's a lot of extra space for entertainment, including a large family room over the attached garage.

The Gate House has its own pool, five bedrooms, and four bathrooms.

an aerial view of billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The Gate House has a high-security gate. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

With its own driveway, security gate, and swimming pool, the home could be used as a separate residence or space for live-in staff at the estate.

The home has two kitchens, a media room, a screened-in patio, and a first-floor primary ensuite.

a sunny dining room with beige rugs and a table set with beige chairs inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The Gate House has two separate kitchens.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

In addition to the main gourmet kitchen with a Viking oven and Sub-Zero refrigerator, there's also a chef's kitchen in the back with its own fireplace.

A stone patio surrounds the free-form heated gunite swimming pool.

a second round outdoor pool at billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The Gate House has its own free-form swimming pool.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The Long Island Sound can also be seen from the pool.

The Beach House sits on a strip of pristine beachfront.

an aerial view of billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The Beach House leads out to the private dock and the water.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The Beach House has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen, and a large stone patio with pergolas.

Its kitchen features custom Ciuffo cabinetry and Calacatta quartz countertops.

a white kitchen with island and dining room table with chairs inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The kitchen has a large island with a Calacatta quartz countertop.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

Other luxury appliances in the kitchen include a side-by-side Sub-Zero refrigerator, a Wolf oven, and a Miele dishwasher.

The living room has French doors that open onto the beachfront.

a living room with paned windows and a beige couch and blue tufted chairs inside billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The living room has porcelain tile flooring.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The home is noticeably more water-friendly than the other properties, thanks to the porcelain tile flooring that makes it easy to transition from indoor to outdoor living.

The house also has its own gunite pool.

an outdoor pool with terra cotta tiles surrounding it at billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The gunite pool is heated and overlooks the beach.Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

A stone's throw away is a helipad for helicopter arrivals and departures, a floating dock, and over 2,000 feet of waterfront beach.

The Maintenance House doubles as a garage that can hold up to six cars.

a separate barn structure painted red with light green doors at billy joel's waterfront estate in new york
The maintenance house can fit six cars. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/Laffey International Realty

The second floor of the maintenance house also has a working office or break room.

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