A Kazakh ‘Prince’ bought one of New Jersey’s priciest homes for just $10, and the deal is now drawing scrutiny
A luxury mansion in one of New Jersey’s wealthiest neighbourhoods has become the center of international attention after reportedly changing hands for just $10. According to an exclusive report by the New York Post, the sprawling Alpine estate was transferred to Daniyar Kessikbayev, often referred to as a Kazakh “prince” because of his links to Kazakhstan’s former ruling elite. Although the transaction took place in 2025, renewed scrutiny over the property’s ownership and its political connections has brought the unusual deal back into the spotlight.
A mansion worth millions sold for just $10
The property at 2 Margo Way in Alpine, New Jersey, is far from an ordinary home. Spread across more than 3.1 acres, the estate features around 17,150 square feet of living space with nine bedrooms and an impressive list of luxury amenities. These include an indoor basketball court, a bowling alley, a home theater, a library, a wine cellar, an elevator, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. According to the New York Post, the mansion transferred to Daniyar Kessikbayev in March 2025 for a recorded price of just $10. The symbolic sale price has raised eyebrows because the home’s 2026 tax assessment values it at approximately $35.5 million. The estate also has an interesting sales history. It was listed for $34 million in 2011 before selling for $20 million in cash in 2012 to an anonymous shell company reportedly linked to Kessikbayev. At the time, it was considered the highest price ever paid for a residential property in New Jersey.
(Image Credit: X/ Onedio)
Political links and growing scrutiny
Kessikbayev is married to Nooryana Najwa Najib, the daughter of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is currently serving a prison sentence over the multibillion-dollar 1MDB corruption scandal. Kessikbayev also has family ties to Kazakhstan’s former ruling family through his mother, who was previously married to Bolat Nazarbayev, brother of former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.The mansion has recently become the subject of political discussion in Malaysia after social media posts alleged that Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, played a role in acquiring or transferring ownership of the property through an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands.According to a report by Edge Malaysia, Rosmah Mansor and businessman Tan Sri Daing A Malek Daing Rahaman denied the allegations, calling them defamatory and filing police reports.Sources close to Kessikbayev reportedly maintain that the mansion remains legally registered in his name and has not been transferred to any other party.
Daniyar Kessikbayev and Nooryana Najwa (Image Credit: X/ @Onedio)
A pattern of symbolic property deals
The New Jersey mansion is not the first luxury property associated with Kessikbayev to attract attention because of its unusually low recorded purchase price. He also previously acquired a $20 million condominium at New York City’s Plaza Hotel for just $1 from his mother. That transaction later became part of a legal dispute involving Bolat Nazarbayev, who alleged that more than $100 million worth of assets, including luxury real estate and expensive jewelry, had been wrongfully transferred from him. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, with Bolat regaining some of the disputed properties while dropping claims over others, including the New Jersey mansion. Kessikbayev and his mother also faced another lawsuit in 2015 over allegations involving unpaid luxury goods, which was likewise settled outside court. The builder of the Alpine mansion, construction executive Joe Scott, told the New York Post that the 2012 buyers were eager to complete the purchase quickly and even bought nearly everything inside the home. Scott also recalled being disappointed by renovations made after the sale, saying the property’s original design had been significantly altered. Although property transfers involving nominal amounts such as $1 or $10 can sometimes occur for legal or tax-related reasons, the combination of the mansion’s enormous value, its politically connected owners and its complicated ownership history has drawn renewed public attention. (Source: This article is based on an exclusive report published by the New York Post.)
