Millionaire pooch sells Miami villa once owned by Madonna

The German Shepherd Gunther spent a morning playing with his tennis ball, rolling in the grass, chatting a little and sleeping a lot. Later, he had a “meeting” with the real estate agents who sold his mansion in Miami, which his dealers bought from Madonna.

And of course, Gunther wore his very best imitation diamond dog collar to the meeting – his genuine gold collar is back in his main home in Tuscany. As crazy as it sounds, even by Florida standards, Gunther VI inherited his enormous fortune, including the eight-bedroom house by the water, once owned by the “Material Girl” singer, from his grandfather Gunther IV. At least that’s what the caretakers who manage the estate say.

The Tuscan-style villa overlooking the Bay of Biscay was put up for sale on Wednesday for $ 31.75 million – a huge price increase from the purchase two decades ago from the pop star for $ 7.5 million. The home also boasts a gilded framed portrait of Gunther IV over the living room fireplace.

The dog’s pedigree dates back decades when Gunther III inherited a multimillion-dollar trust from the late owner’s German Countess Karlotta Liebenstein when she died in 1992. Since then, a group of handlers has helped maintain a jet-setting lifestyle for a row of dogs. There are trips to Milan and the Bahamas, where the latest Gunther recently ate out at restaurants every night – his managers like to make sure he’s well socialized.

A chef makes his breakfast every morning made from the finest meats, fresh vegetables and rice. Sometimes he likes caviar, but there are never any pills in sight. He travels by private jet, works on obedience skills daily with his trainer and sleeps in a sumptuous round, red velvet bed overlooking the bay.

“He lives in Madonna’s former bedroom,” said real estate agent Ruthie Assouline, who along with her husband Ethan grabbed the property for the 1.2-acre property in a row of half a dozen waterfront houses next to a public county park. and on the same street where Sylvester Stallone once lived.

“He is literally sleeping with a view of the most magnificent view in an Italian special bed in the former bedroom of the biggest pop star in the world.”

Carla Riccitelli is one of Gunther’s most important caretakers and sits on a board that manages the fund, which is now worth nearly $ 500 million, and decides when to buy and sell real estate. The group has even bought sports teams, including a men’s soccer team and a women’s swimming team, and yes, Gunther played on the field and participated in the competitions, she said.

Riccitelli, a 52-year-old animal lover living in Tuscany, met the group that took care of Gunther almost 30 years ago. She immediately connected with the dog and the trust mission and joined the team. She also helped form Gunther Rescue a few years ago to care for other animals.

She has taken care of the last three Gunthers and often takes the current dog on routine trips to the market or visits to the kennel, where she looks after orphans.

“He’s not aggressive at all,” she said, saying many people write off the breed as wolves. “He is very good with other animals.”

“They are very protective of their owner, with their people. They like to have family around, so I usually invite friends with other dogs over,” she said during a phone interview.

She talks to the board, which oversees the trust a few times a month. Miami real estate market is so hot, with such limited stock, they decided it was a good time to sell.

The Assoulins are used to multi-million dollar listings, but this one seemed incredible.

“When it was explained that this house was bought by this German shepherd, I thought, ‘What are you talking about? I do not follow you,'” Ruthie Assouline said.

When she first met Gunther, he covered her face with such sloppy kisses that he licked her lipstick off, she laughed.

As luxurious as Gunther’s life sounds, he still has drama and hardships like everyone else. Back in Italy, Riccitelli has two other dogs living with Gunther – his favorite playmates.

But she also has six cats and a couple of chickens.

Let’s just say it’s a work in progress, Riccitelli said.

“He’s still learning to be with six cats.”

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