Late Swarovski Billionaire’s Private Island Near Venice, Italy, Asks €24 Million
A family trust for Gernot Langes-Swarovski, great-grandson of the crystal company’s founder, is selling the 72-acre Isola Santa Cristina.
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A private island near Venice, Italy, that was owned by an heir to the Swarovski crystal fortune is set to hit the market for the first time in 40 years with an asking price of €24 million (US$28.3 million), Mansion Global has learned.
Isola Santa Cristina is in the northern part of the Venetian Lagoon, about a 40-minute boat ride from Venice. Drawn to the area’s fishing culture, Gernot Langes-Swarovski, the great-grandson of Swarovski founder Daniel Swarovski, acquired the island in 1986, according to Venice Sotheby’s International Realty, which is marketing the property.
The 72-acre island became a retreat for Gernot Langes-Swarovski, who valued sustainability and nature and maintained it with respect for those concerns.
In fact, the island’s fish farming has been redeveloped in collaboration with Venice’s Ca’ Foscari University, according to Sotheby’s International Realty.
“Gernot Langes-Swarovski’s passion for agriculture, heritage and ecology made his stewardship of Isola Santa Cristina extremely personal, forging relationships with local centres of excellence, such as Ca’ Foscari University, which shared his passion and view,” said Dr Christoph Völk, chair of the trustees of SEGNAL Privatstiftung, the private family trust selling the island.
Today, the island’s landscape still includes much of Langes-Swarovski’s additions: apricot and plum orchards; an olive grove, roughly 7 acres of vineyards producing Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet grapes; a vegetable garden; and beehives that produce organic salt marsh honey.
In addition to being involved in the family business, Gernot Langes-Swarovski co-founded business jet operator Tyrolean Jet Services. In 2014, Forbes estimated he had a net worth of $1.3 billion. He died in 2021 at the age of 77.
After his death, ownership of the island was transferred into a family trust, and the property was previously operated by Gernot Langes-Swarovski’s stepson René Deutsch and his wife, Sandra, as a luxury retreat with “a limited number of bookings per year,” according to the island’s website.
The historic villa spans 9,250 square feet across four floors, and includes nine bedrooms, nine bathrooms, two reception rooms, a formal dining room and a chef’s kitchen, plus air conditioning throughout. A crystal chandelier remains in the villa as a nod to Langes-Swarovski’s stewardship of the island.
Outdoor features include a veranda with a large dining space and an open-fire rotisserie and grill; an altana, a traditional Venetian roof terrace; and a heated saltwater pool. A path from the villa leads down to a dock and boat house, and there’s also a mooring for up to five boats.
Across a pond from the main house, there’s a 6,080-square-foot farmhouse with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a yoga studio, as well as a self-contained apartment, also with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen.
The family trust has continued to invest in the island in keeping with Langes-Swarovski’s eco-friendly ideals, according to information provided by the brokerage.
Most recently, they’ve planned the installation of a new €2 million-plus Centro Tecnologico, a facility that will support the island’s technical services, water management and storage of agricultural equipment.
“The time is now right for stewardship of Isola Santa Cristina to pass to a new custodian,” Völk said, “who appreciates the uniqueness of the location and whose passion for ecology and the lagoon will ensure its future.”
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Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of quality apartments priced under $700,000.
International AI strategist Justin Kabbani will headline the Kanebridge Property Summit in Sydney on June 18, with tickets selling fast.
Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of quality apartments priced under $700,000.
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Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of apartments, positioning itself as one of the last opportunities for buyers to secure a new Sydney home below $700,000.
The project, located in one of the city’s fastest-growing corridors, is offering rare buyer protections at a time when affordability is tightening and competition for quality stock is intensifying.
According to JLL’s Q2 2025 Apartment Market Overview, Sydney’s median apartment price has already climbed to $795,000, setting a record.
With interest rates now on a downward trend and supply still heavily constrained, experts warn that today’s price brackets may not exist next year.
Ronnie Rahme, Development Manager at KDMC, said buyers were responding to the combination of quality and value.
“You simply don’t see this level of finish at these price points anymore,” Rahme said. “That’s why demand has been so strong for this final release.”
Dr Andrew Wilson, Chief Economist at My Housing Market, says the economic drivers are clear. “High rents and higher prices continue to provide clear incentives for first-home buyers and investors chasing solid investment returns,” he told Kanebridge News.
“New government initiatives to support first-home buyers will also act to place upward pressure on prices.”
The bigger picture
JLL’s research reinforces that point. While over 15,700 apartments are expected to be delivered nationally this year, a 40% uplift on 2024, Sydney remains undersupplied, with demand continuing to outpace completions.
The report also notes that reductions in the RBA cash rate are expected to further fuel buyer activity, with constrained supply continuing to push prices higher into 2026.
With construction costs soaring, Government contributions climbing, and interest rates remaining high, projects are harder than ever to bring to market, putting upward pressure on newly completed apartments.
The pipeline of new supply is shrinking as developers delay or abandon projects that no longer stack up financially.
According to JLL’s overview, only 2,554 completions are forecast for Sydney this year – against annual demand exceeding 30,000 dwellings.
At the same time, population growth, rental demand, and first-home buyer incentives are intensifying competition for limited stock. The imbalance between constrained supply and resilient demand is leaving new apartments scarcer and more expensive across Sydney.
Ophora: Last Chance In Sydney’s northwest
Developed by KDMC and designed by Architex, the $50 million project has launched its final release, with limited availability of 81 brand-new residences from just $500,000 for a one-bedroom, or $625,000 for a two-bedroom, which is far below Sydney’s median and significantly cheaper than nearby competition.
The five-storey development at 37 Reis St, Tallawong, combines affordability with premium inclusions more often seen in luxury builds: ducted air-conditioning, timber floors, premium finishes, fridge cavities with water plumbing, video intercom systems, fibre internet, EV charging, landscaped gardens and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views.
It also comes with something almost unheard of at this price point, a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy. Typically reserved for multimillion-dollar projects, LDI guarantees structural integrity for a decade and is only awarded to developers with a strong building track record.
SHC Insurance Brokers founder Stefan Hicks acknowledged the rarity of obtaining LDI, particularly for entry-level residential apartment complexes like Ophora.
“Gaining LDI is no mean feat. It’s offered selectively to developers and builders with a quality building history, and it requires both parties to employ an independent inspection service throughout construction,” he said.
“While this insurance is well-established around the world in about 40 countries, in Australia, we’re typically seeing high-end buildings covet LDI. The fact that Ophora has joined this exclusive list of quality-assured builds is a coup for entry-level home buyers.”
Raising the standard for affordable luxury
Rahme says the KDMC team wanted to set a new benchmark.
“Our mission with Ophora has always been clear: to raise the standard of what buyers should expect, regardless of budget,” he said.
“We’ve delivered a collection of apartments with finishes and features you’d usually only find in luxury projects, and we’ve backed it with one of the most stringent insurances available in the market. That gives buyers peace of mind that their investment is protected for the long term.
“People are walking through and realising you simply don’t see this level of quality at these price points anymore, as it’s effectively replacement cost in 2025.
“With rates coming down and limited competition, buyers and investors are moving quickly because they know the window won’t stay open. Investors, who have recently purchased at Ophora, have reported a strong rental demand, with minimum rental yields exceeding five per cent.”
Developments like Ophora, move-in ready, competitively priced and backed by rare structural protections (LDI), may represent the last chance for buyers to secure a sub-$700,000 apartment in Sydney.
Contact Ophora to arrange a private viewing or request more information. View Ophora on realestate.com.au
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BMW has unveiled the Neue Klasse in Munich, marking its biggest investment to date and a new era of electrification, digitalisation and sustainable design.
