Sheldon Solow rose to prominence in New York City real estate in the 1970s, when he gained financing to develop 9 West 57th St. (often called The Solow Building), a 50-story Midtown office building that for decades commanded Manhattan’s priciest office rents.
Solow is known almost as much for pricey art as he is for expensive real estate. His personal collection includes works by artists like Botticelli and Matisse. In 2015, he sold a sculpture, called “The Pointing Man,” by Giacometti for $104M — at the time, the most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction.
He’s currently trying to build a skyscraper across from his prized office tower on 57th Street, now called Billionaire’s Row, named for the only people said to be able to afford the homes in the supertall towers being built there. — Scott Klocksin
