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St. Bart's Rothchild estate a steal at $24.4 million

Luxury Real Estate: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the infamous Rothchild family ... it's a regular who's who of old money. And where do these notable aristocrats go for fun in the sun? Well, you're not likely to rub elbows with them at Disney World and you won't find them at the typical tropical haunts. Those who want to "get away" in solitude head to St. Bart's.

There are no major tourist attractions-no big resorts, golf courses or nightclubs. St. Barts only takes up about eight square miles and has a population of less than 7,000. Spanning seven acres, the former Rothschild estate, known as Gitana Bay on St. Bart's recently sold for its $21.4 million asking price.

The elegant property extends from the beach up a hillside, providing amazing views of the water in its two villas. The houses are swathed in exotic woods and lava stone, and both have deck pools and state-of-the-art electronic systems. The former owner, Baron Benjamin de Rothschild, had been running Gitana Bay as a high-end hotel, fetching $50,000 per week for one of the villas, during the winter holidays.

So, who snagged this bargain? Mum's the word ... an unidentified American businessman bought the property from Benjamin de Rothschild, who is from the Swiss branch of the legendary banking family. Unfortunately for wealthy travelers, the aloof buyer plans to use the home as a winter vacation home, not as a hotel.

For LxM Amy Covington