# Joseph Leone

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**Joseph Leone** is a designer, entrepreneur and developer of [Italian](/source/Italy) and [French](/source/France) origin working in the [United States](/source/United_States). He is best known as the designer and developer of Le Palais Royal, a 60,000 square feet luxury mansion, which was the most expensive home in the United States when it was put on sale in 2014.[1] Leone's other notable project was the rebuilding and expansion of the [mega yacht](/source/Luxury_yacht) *My Seanna*.[2]

## Life and work

Leone was born in [Bologna, Italy](/source/Bologna). When he was 7, his family moved to southern [France](/source/France), where he grew up watching his father create men's suits in his tailor shop. When Joseph Leone was 23 years old, he started his own high-fashion jewelry design and manufacturing company in [Marseille](/source/Marseille), working with French *[haute couture](/source/Haute_couture)* and fashion houses such as [Jean Patou](/source/Jean_Patou), [Rochas](/source/Rochas), [Celine](/source/C%C3%A9line_(brand)), Annick Gouta, and [Lancel](/source/Lancel_(company)).[3][4]

In 1991, Leone arrived in the [USA](/source/United_States) ([Miami](/source/Miami)), where he worked with department stores such as [Saks Fifth Avenue](/source/Saks_Fifth_Avenue) and [Bergdorf Goodman](/source/Bergdorf_Goodman).[3]

Leone decided to change careers in 2004, when a client invited him to become involved with the management of his private assets.[5] His meeting with the multimillionaire Robert W. Pereira led to his two largest and most famous projects: the design and construction of Le Palais Royal, a 60,000 square foot mansion valued at $159 million, and the rebuilding and expansion of the [mega yacht](/source/Luxury_yacht) *My Seanna*.

### Le Palais Royal

The client purchased an estate with a waterfront mansion in [Hillsboro Beach](/source/Hillsboro_Beach,_Florida) in 2004. After buying an additional estate for a total of 5 acres, both houses were torn down. Leone began designing Le Palais Royal in 2007 and began building in 2009. He hired Coastal Construction Group to build the estate.[6][7][3][1]

Le Palais Royal was inspired by the [Palace of Versailles](/source/Palace_of_Versailles) and [Buckingham Palace](/source/Buckingham_Palace).[8] With construction costs exceeding $100 million, the 11-bedroom palace includes several unique luxury elements, such as the first ever home [IMAX](/source/IMAX) cinema in the world, a 29-foot tall waterfall, and over half a million [leaves of 22 carat gold](/source/Gold_leaf) covering the gates and the interior.[9] Leone said he wanted to "build a *[château](/source/Ch%C3%A2teau)* in the US,"[10] designed to last like old European palaces.[11]

In 2014, Leone's client decided to sell the house because of his frequent travelling.[12] Internationally marketed as "The American Jewel,"[13] Le Palais Royal was the most expensive home in the United States when it was first put on sale. Its price as of mid-2016 was $159 million.[1]

### *My Seanna*

Impressed with the way Le Palais was moving along, the client decided to hire Leone to rebuild his 164-foot [superyacht](/source/Luxury_yacht) *Newvida*. The yacht was originally *Gallant Lady*, built by Delta for [Jim Moran](/source/Jim_Moran_(automotive)) in 2001. The client purchased the yacht from [JM Lexus](/source/JM_Family_Enterprises) in 2006.[2][14]

Originally, the client wanted a new boat. However, as he loved his yacht, Leone convinced him to keep the Delta and undertake a significant refit. Over the course of a year, Leone invited brokers for sale and charter to come aboard the yacht, consider its strengths and weaknesses, and suggest changes or additions. The goal was to make it the best [charter yacht](/source/Yacht_charter) on the market.[2][15]

After meeting with [naval architect](/source/Naval_architecture) Patrick Dupuis of Murray & Associates, Leone started the 18-month transformation project. The Rybovich Shipyard in [Florida](/source/Florida) was tasked with the completion of the advanced cosmetic and structural changes to the vessel.[16] Key to the rebuild was the extension: by adding 25 feet to the hull, she could then accommodate one of the most requested features from charter brokers: a beach club. It also allowed the upper deck to be extended so that it could include a touch-and-go [helipad](/source/Helipad). A cutting edge AV system was installed, featuring an outdoor film screen on the sun deck and an underwater camera whose picture can be seen on the TV.[15] Other changes included two [jet skis](/source/Personal_watercraft), a center island in the midships area, an oversized custom pool, an exercise area and a sauna[16] Leone designed the yacht's interior decor for a Continental feel, with extensive use of 24-carat gold leaf and Italian marble. He described it as being "like a [Ritz Carlton](/source/The_Ritz-Carlton_Hotel_Company), a very beautiful hotel, but the views change."[14][2]

Completed in November 2014, it was a $17-million "total, no-holds-barred, you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it rebuild." The yacht was "thoroughly and completely redesigned from the keel up to be a pure charter machine." The boat, now 185 foot long, was rechristened *My Seanna* after the owner's daughter.[15][2] It became one of the most successful charters in the market.[17]

*My Seanna* was a finalist at the 2015 [World Superyacht Awards](/source/Boat_International_Media) in [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam).[3]

## References

1. Candace Jackson (4 September 2014). ["A Mansion in Florida's Hillsboro Beach Is Palatially Priced at $139 Million"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-mansion-in-floridas-hillsboro-beach-is-palatially-priced-at-139-million-1409851353). The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. Christine Davis (24 December 2014). ["A 'beautiful estate on the water"](http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/lifestyles/a-beautiful-estate-on-the-water/njZjp/). *Palm Beach Daily News*. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. Michelle F. Solomon (16 March 2016). ["Joseph Leone: Building a Masterpiece"](http://www.trillionairemag.com/building-a-masterpiece/). Trillionaire Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2016.

1. Jean Nayar (Spring 2016). ["Crown Jewel"](https://issuu.com/onesir/docs/onelife_spring2016/68). One Life Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2016.

1. ["Joseph Leone - principal"](http://josephleone.us/about-joseph-leone/). Joseph Leone Design and Development. Retrieved 18 August 2016.

1. Bekah Berge (2 August 2016). ["This Lavish Florida Estate Features an Ice-Skating Rink and a Go-Kart Track"](http://robbreport.com/real-estate/lavish-florida-estate-features-ice-skating-rink-and-go-kart-track). Robb Report. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. Richard Luscombe (16 November 2015). ["'No corner was cut, nothing was too expensive': the strange story of the most expensive private listing in America"](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/16/robert-pereira-hillsboro-beach-florida-mansion-real-estate). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. ["America's 'Most Expensive Palace' on the market at $139m"](https://www.primeresi.com/americas-most-expensive-palace-on-the-market-at-139m/43604/). Prime Resi. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. ["Jet setting: French luxury in the Florida sun"](http://www.four-magazine.com/articles/3897/jet-setting-french-luxury-in-the-florida-sun). Four Magazine. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

1. ["ABC News: Joseph Leone - Le Palais Royal"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzjRe-mRjR8). YouTube. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. Samantha Sharf (25 July 2016). ["For Sale: America's 11 Homes Listed At $100 Million Or More Right Now"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthasharf/2016/07/25/for-sale-americas-11-homes-listed-at-100-million-or-more-right-now/#39f87ab7e362). *Forbes*. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

1. Ruth Halkon, Tom Evans (23 November 2015). ["See inside the L104m 11-bedroom mansion set to be most expensive house ever sold in America"](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/see-inside-104m-11-bedroom-6882713). Mirror. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. ["Simply Abu Dhabi, Volume XXII, page 21"](https://issuu.com/arnieshira/docs/simply_abu_dhabi_volume_xxii_icons_). Arnie S Hira. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. Kim Kavin (1 February 2014). ["164-foot Delta Newvida Becoming 185-foot My Seanna"](http://features.yachtworldcharters.com/2014/02/164-foot-delta-newvida-becoming-185-foot-my-seanna/). Yachtworld Charters. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. Don Hoyt Gorman (December 2014). ["Rebuilding My Seanna: Joseph Leone"](http://www.thesuperyachtowner.com/feature/22450/rebuilding_my_seanna_joseph_leone). The Superyacht Owner. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. Charl van Rooy (1 February 2015). ["Superyacht of the week: The refit of My Seanna"](http://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/superyacht-of-the-week-the-refit-of-my-seanna/). Superyacht Times. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

1. Funair (5 January 2016). ["Celebrities enjoy a yachting New Year in St Barts"](http://www.superyachtnews.com/press-release/24077/celebrities-enjoy-a-yachting-new-year-in-st-barts.html). Superyacht News. Retrieved 22 August 2016.

## External links

- [Official website](http://josephleone.us/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Joseph Leone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Leone) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Leone?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.