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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A landmark beachfront home in Balgowlah Heights has sold for $17.5 million, setting a new residential record for the tightly held Northern Beaches suburb.
The six-bedroom residence at 30A Beatty Street changed hands on July 21 through Clarke & Humel Property, eclipsing its own previous benchmark by $5.7 million.
The property last sold for $11.8 million in October 2017, a result reported as a Balgowlah Heights record at the time. Its latest sale represents an increase of more than 48% in almost nine years and places it well ahead of other known sales in the suburb.
It is not the first time the address has reshaped local expectations. The home sold for $3.15 million in 2013 before extensive alterations and additions transformed it into the substantial trophy residence seen today. From that transaction to its latest sale, its recorded value has increased more than fivefold.
Occupying 1,074sqm in an exclusive no-through pocket, the property backs directly onto the golden sand of Forty Baskets Beach. A gate at the bottom of the garden opens to the beach and surrounding foreshore walks, creating the kind of direct harbour access rarely available on the Northern Beaches.
The home’s elevated, cascading design takes full advantage of its position. Walls of glass frame panoramic views across North Harbour, while a succession of indoor and outdoor living spaces follows the slope towards the water.
Arrival is suitably dramatic. The four-car garage—complete with harbour views—is connected to the residence by a lift. From there, a covered walkway leads through tropical gardens to an entrance framed by a koi pond, stone flooring and soaring ceilings.
At the centre of the home is an expansive living and entertaining level. A stone kitchen fitted with Miele appliances steps down towards the view, incorporating an integrated refrigerator and freezer and a built-in breakfast bar positioned to overlook the harbour.
The adjoining formal dining room opens through a bi-fold wall to a landscaped side courtyard. A substantial living room, anchored by a gas fireplace, also connects to the main terrace, creating a continuous relationship between the interior, gardens and water.
An electrically operated roof allows the terrace to be used in different weather conditions, while automated internal blinds and ducted airconditioning add to the home’s extensive technology and comfort features.
Outside, the entertaining areas continue around a swimming pool and spa. A built-in barbecue, steam room and generous terraces give the property the atmosphere of a private resort, with the beach only steps away.
The accommodation has been arranged to suit a large or multigenerational household.
Four bedroom suites occupy an upper level, while the main bedroom commands an entire floor. The private retreat includes sweeping harbour views, a large walk-in wardrobe and a luxurious ensuite.
On the lower level, a billiard room and bar are accompanied by two bedrooms and a bathroom. A separate self-contained studio provides further flexibility for extended family, guests or live-in staff.
The residence also includes a private home office, yoga room and extensive storage—features that allow it to function as both a secluded family home and a large-scale entertaining destination.
Sustainability and energy resilience have also been incorporated through solar panels and a Tesla battery.
Despite its rare waterfront setting, the property remains close to the conveniences of the lower Northern Beaches. Bus services are approximately 450 metres away, while Balgowlah Village, local schools and North Harbour Reserve are within easy reach. Manly is about three kilometres from the home.
The sale underlines the scarcity premium attached to Sydney homes combining substantial land, direct beach access and uninterrupted harbour views.
Balgowlah Heights has a median house value of about $4.23 million, according to PropTrack data displayed on realestate.com.au. At more than four times that figure, the Beatty Street result sits in a different tier from the suburb’s conventional prestige market.
Its price is also $6.65 million above the $10.85 million paid for neighbouring 30 Beatty Street in December 2025.
While conventional luxury features helped support the result, the defining asset is one that cannot be readily replicated: a private rear gate opening directly onto Forty Baskets Beach.
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