The American Diplomat’s Russian Hill Mansion

George Shultz, who died last year at the age of 100, was a titan of American academia, business, and politics. A graduate of Princeton and MIT, he served as the president of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business before accepting Richard Nixon's appointment as United States Secretary of Labor. He left the Nixon Administration to become CEO of engineering firm Bechtel, then returned to politics as Secretary of State under Ronald Reagan. In that role, he pushed Reagan to establish relations with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and opposed the aid to the Nicaraguan Contras that led to the Iran-Contra scandal. George retired from politics in 1989 but served as an informal advisor to George W. Bush, a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Economic Recovery Council, and on the boards of Bechtel and the Charles Schwab Corporation.

Together with his wife, San Francisco Chief of Protocol Charlotte Shultz, the statesman owned two stunning penthouses in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood. Charlotte combined the north penthouse with the south penthouse to create room for entertaining and for guests, including world leaders and high-profile socialites. Now offered for sale, the north Penthouse has been listed for $17 million and the south penthouse for $12 million. 

Designed by the famed developer, Joseph Eichler, The Summit is one of the few high-rise buildings on the northern end of San Francisco. Its construction inspired the city to pass height-limiting legislation, giving these penthouses truly unparalleled views of the iconic cityscape. The North Penthouse features a show-stopping, wrap-around deck with Golden Gate Bridge views. The expansive living room with 20’ ceilings is illuminated by a skylight and features a wet bar and wood-burning fireplace. The striking chef’s kitchen offers a Viking double oven, Wolf range, two Sub-Zero fridges, and Miele dishwashers. The five-star primary suite is enhanced by two spa-like bathrooms, three walk-in closets, a dressing room, and a private balcony with uninterrupted views from the Golden Gate to Alcatraz.

The South Penthouse features the same high-end materials and thoughtful design. The grand living room with soaring ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and floor-to-ceiling glass is lined in luxe marble. A formal dining room and gourmet kitchen, plus an upper-level mezzanine with wet bar, custom built-ins, and wood-burning fireplace provide lavish options for entertaining. The light-soaked primary suite has been edited to perfection, with a marble-clad bathroom and two walk-in closets. Both penthouses include grand staircases and central elevators.

Russian Hill is an upscale neighborhood, best known for “the crookedest street in the world.” The one-way Lombard Street has eight sharp turns intended to reduce the hill’s steep grade, which was almost impossible for most vehicles to climb when the neighborhood was founded in 1922. The exhilarating car chase scene in the 1968 blockbuster-film Bullitt took advantage of the neighborhood’s iconic steep streets. Options for entertainment include Ghiradelli Square and the Alice Marble Tennis Courts. Popular with celebrities, some of its most famous residents include figure skater Brian Boitano and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The listing is held by Karen Mendelsohn Gould and Max Armour from Compass.

Photos courtesy of Compass.