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Social Life Magazine has covered Hamptons real estate, social events, and power dynamics for over two decades. Our editorial team maintains relationships across every significant Hamptons community. This guide reflects insider knowledge that only comes from genuine presence—not drive-by journalism.

Quick Answer: The Hamptons’ most powerful addresses cluster around four areas: Meadow Lane in Southampton (“Billionaires Row” — Ken Griffin, Leon Black, Robert Kraft), Further Lane in East Hampton ($147M record sale — Barry Rosenstein, Jerry Seinfeld, Len Blavatnik), Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton (Martha Stewart, Jon Bon Jovi, David Geffen), and Georgica Pond (Beyoncé & Jay-Z, Steven Spielberg, Ronald Perelman). Year-round celebrity residents include Howard Stern (Southampton), Jerry Seinfeld (East Hampton), and Billy Joel (Sag Harbor).

The helicopter touches down at East Hampton Airport. A black Suburban waits on the tarmac. Within twenty minutes, its passenger disappears behind hedgerows on Further Lane, joining neighbors worth a combined $50 billion.

Welcome to the Hamptons, where your address reveals more about your position in American society than any Forbes list. Understanding who lives where isn’t social gossip—it’s strategic intelligence for anyone seeking to navigate the most consequential summer community in America.

$147M
Record Sale
$115M
2025 Top Sale
$2M+
Median Price
$50B+
Further Lane Wealth

The Hamptons Power Map

Before examining who lives where, understanding the geography matters. The Hamptons comprises villages and hamlets stretching 35 miles along Long Island’s South Fork, from Westhampton Beach west to Montauk at the eastern tip. Each location signals different wealth categories, social priorities, and lifestyle preferences.

Location Signature Address Primary Residents Price Range
Southampton Meadow Lane Finance billionaires $30M-$150M
East Hampton Further Lane Entertainment & finance $30M-$150M
East Hampton Village Lily Pond Lane Media & entertainment $15M-$70M
East Hampton Georgica Pond Entertainment royalty $25M-$65M
Sag Harbor Village & waterfront Creative class $5M-$25M
Montauk Oceanfront Younger celebrities $5M-$20M

Southampton: Where Finance Rules

Southampton Power Profile

Signature Street: Meadow Lane (“Billionaires Row”)

Dominant Industry: Hedge funds, private equity, finance

Social Style: Formal, structured, established protocols

Key Amenities: Meadow Club, Southampton Bath & Tennis, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Southampton is the original Hamptons. The village incorporated in 1894 when Gilded Age industrialists built summer “cottages” rivaling European palaces. Today, old money shares Meadow Lane with hedge fund billionaires who’ve earned their place at the party.

Meadow Lane Residents

The five-mile oceanfront stretch known as “Billionaires Row” concentrates more wealth per linear foot than almost any address globally:

  • Ken Griffin (Citadel): Purchased Calvin Klein’s compound for $84M in 2020
  • Leon Black (Apollo Global): Four-lot compound, ocean to bay
  • Robert Kraft (Patriots): $43M purchase in 2021
  • Henry Kravis (KKR): 20+ year resident, original Billionaires Row pioneer
  • Daniel Och (Och-Ziff): $26.5M purchase in 2006

For complete coverage: Meadow Lane Southampton: Inside Billionaires Row

Southampton Village Celebrities

  • Howard Stern: Year-round oceanfront residence, 16,000 sq ft, purchased ~$20M in 2005
  • Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos: Purchased 2004 for $2.35M, heavily renovated
  • Tory Burch: ~$16M estate near Jobs Lane flagship boutique
  • Brooke Shields: Southampton residence with pool and library

East Hampton: Entertainment’s Capital

East Hampton Power Profile

Signature Streets: Further Lane, Lily Pond Lane

Dominant Industry: Entertainment, media, tech billionaires

Social Style: Cultural events, Guild Hall, farm-to-table dining

Key Venues: Guild Hall, Nick & Toni’s, Maidstone Club

If Southampton belongs to finance, East Hampton belongs to entertainment. Steven Spielberg edits summer blockbusters here. Jerry Seinfeld built a baseball diamond on his 12-acre estate. The Academy Awards might as well host an August satellite ceremony.

Further Lane: $147 Million Record

Further Lane contains some of the most valuable residential real estate in America:

  • Barry Rosenstein: $147M combined purchase (2014) — highest Hamptons transaction ever
  • Len Blavatnik: $115M purchase from Terry Semel (2025) — single-parcel record
  • Jerry Seinfeld: 12-acre estate purchased from Billy Joel for $32M (2000)
  • Larry Gagosian: World’s most powerful art dealer, Further Lane neighbor

For complete coverage: Further Lane East Hampton: Where Billions Meet the Beach

Lily Pond Lane: Media Royalty

  • Jon Bon Jovi: $7.6M purchase in 2004, 11 bedrooms on historic Lily Pond
  • David Geffen: $70M oceanfront compound (2016)
  • Martha Stewart: Sold 2021 for $16.5M to Kenneth Lerer (oldest house on street, built 1874)

For complete coverage: Lily Pond Lane: East Hampton’s Most Storied Address

Georgica Pond: Entertainment’s Inner Circle

  • Beyoncé & Jay-Z: “Pond House” purchased 2017 for $26M, adjacent to 17-acre preserve
  • Steven Spielberg: Longtime Georgica Pond estate owner
  • Ronald Perelman: Historic compound
  • Tom Ford: Purchased “Lasata” (Jackie Kennedy’s childhood summer home) for $52M in 2023

For complete coverage: Georgica Pond: The Hamptons’ Most Exclusive Enclave

The Complete Celebrity Map

Celebrity Location Purchase Price Net Worth
Howard Stern Southampton (year-round) ~$20M (2005) $650M
Jerry Seinfeld Further Lane, East Hampton $32M (2000) $1B
Beyoncé & Jay-Z Georgica Pond, East Hampton $26M (2017) $3B combined
Billy Joel Sag Harbor (year-round) Multiple properties $250M
Jennifer Lopez Water Mill ~$10M (2013) $400M
Robert Downey Jr. East Hampton (Windmill Cottage) Undisclosed $300M
Gwyneth Paltrow Amagansett Multiple properties $200M
Alec Baldwin Amagansett Purchased 1995 $70M
Kelly Ripa Southampton $2.35M (2004) $120M
Paul McCartney Amagansett $16M beachfront $1.2B

Why Celebrities Choose the Hamptons

The Unwritten Rules

No paparazzi culture: Unlike LA or Miami, photographers don’t stake out restaurants. The occasional iPhone snap happens, but aggressive photography is socially unacceptable.

Privacy is currency: You don’t approach celebrities at restaurants. Locals know this instinctively. Tourists learn quickly.

Wealth among wealth: Being rich here makes you unremarkable—exactly what celebrities crave.

Record Hamptons Sales

Property Price Year Buyer/Seller
Further Lane (3 parcels) $147M 2014 Barry Rosenstein
408 Further Lane $115M 2025 Semel → Blavatnik
Mylestone, Meadow Lane $112.5M 2023 Off-market
Jule Pond, Water Mill $105M 2021 42-acre waterfront
La Dune, Gin Lane $88.5M 2024 Sotheby’s auction

The Power Address Guide

Tier:

1: Ultra-Trophy ($50M+)

2: Premium Celebrity ($15M-$50M)

3: Established Wealth ($5M-$15M)

  • Sag Harbor Village waterfront
  • Amagansett oceanfront
  • Southampton Village estate section

Related Coverage

Hamptons Power Addresses (Pillar 3)

Celebrity Real Estate (Pillar 2)

Luxury Collections (Pillar 2)

Celebrity Net Worth (Pillar 1)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who lives in the Hamptons year-round?

Notable year-round residents include Howard Stern (Southampton), who broadcasts from his oceanfront estate, Jerry Seinfeld (East Hampton), Billy Joel (Sag Harbor), Ina Garten (East Hampton), Paul Simon (Montauk), and Richard Gere (Sag Harbor). Most celebrities maintain the Hamptons as a summer residence, with primary homes in Manhattan, Los Angeles, or elsewhere.

What is the most expensive street in the Hamptons?

Meadow Lane in Southampton and Further Lane in East Hampton compete for the most expensive designation. Meadow Lane is nicknamed “Billionaires Row” for its concentration of finance wealth. Further Lane holds the record for highest single transaction ($115M in 2025) and highest combined transaction ($147M in 2014).

Where do Beyoncé and Jay-Z live in the Hamptons?

Beyoncé and Jay-Z own “Pond House” on Georgica Pond in East Hampton, purchased in 2017 for $26 million. The property sits adjacent to 17 acres of protected meadow preserve and features an infinity pool and hand-carved marble bathtubs. Beyoncé reportedly recorded portions of her self-titled album at the property.

What is the most expensive home ever sold in the Hamptons?

The most expensive combined transaction was Barry Rosenstein’s $147 million purchase of three contiguous parcels on Further Lane in 2014. For a single parcel, the 2025 sale of Terry Semel’s compound to Len Blavatnik at $115 million holds the record.

Why do celebrities choose the Hamptons over other beach destinations?

The Hamptons offers proximity to New York City (100 miles), an unwritten social contract against paparazzi, world-class dining and cultural institutions (Guild Hall), and a concentration of wealth that makes even billionaires unremarkable. The privacy culture—enforced by social disapproval rather than law—allows celebrities to live relatively normal lives.

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