On the field, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter exuded a cool confidence. As team captain, he was the heart of five World Series-winning teams for the Bronx Bombers. In short, he’s a guy who’s accustomed to winning.
But off the field, Jeter has had a few missteps in retirement. In 2022, he left his job as Miami Marlins CEO and was blasted for his mediocre results building a team in South Florida. And just last week, Jeter was forced to accept a massive discount on the sale of his ritzy castle in Greenwood Lake, NY.
That sale wraps a six-year saga that included numerous price cuts and a failed auction. Initially listed in 2018 for $14,750,000, the fortress finally found a buyer last month for just $6.3 million. It’s unclear who the new owner is, but they scored an opulent home for 57% off the original price.
The castle’s backstory
Jeter purchased the place known as Tiedemann Castle for $1.2 million during his playing days in 2005.
Located on the shore of Greenwood Lake, near the New Jersey border and west of the Hudson River, the castle is about a 90-minute drive into New York City.
Built in 1903, it was purchased by the Tiedemann family in 1952. Jeter even had a family tie to the castle. His maternal grandfather, William “Sonny” Connors, grew up there after he was adopted in the 1950s by John and Julia Tiedemann.
(Realtor.com)
The captain’s castle
Post-purchase, Jeter had the castle restored to its former glory. He joined two parcels of land together, making the total lot a robust 4 acres with 700 feet of shoreline.
When the home was on the market, listing details stated the Hall of Famer had “lovingly restored” the castle to a state “beyond its original grandeur.”
Highlights of the six-bedroom home include a spacious living area, formal dining room, an exercise room, a game room, as well as a wet bar and lounge.
Outside, there’s a replica of the Statue of Liberty, a lagoon with a fountain, and an infinity pool that overlooks the lake. There’s also a guesthouse and a pool house on the property.
Four indoor kitchens and an outdoor cook space with a wood-burning fireplace are just some of the home’s many extravagant details.
And because it is a castle, after all, a giant stone turret stands tall beside the water’s edge. The towering feature can be seen from miles away.
(Realtor.com)
(Realtor.com)
(Realtor.com)
Finally, a sale
With no buyers biting at the 2018 price, the castle landed back on the market in 2021 for $12.75 million. At that time, Jeter was focused on his role with the Marlins, and it was assumed he’d likely find a buyer so he could enjoy his new life in the Sunshine State.
But the market wasn’t interested in the 12,590-square-foot stone castle at that price either.
Sensing the softness in the market, Jeter then set out to auction off the home in late 2022. When Realtor.com spoke with the listing broker two years ago, she said selling the home to the highest bidder made perfect sense.
“The auction process has extensive reach to targeted, qualified buyers—and it’s such a unique property, a bit like fine art, which is auctioned off all the time,” said then-agent Diane Mitchell.
However, the auction proved unsuccessful. With a minimum bid set at $6.5 million, the home failed to attract interest on the auction block. It returned to the market in 2023 and finally scored a buyer in May 2024 at the $6.3 million ask.