A mansion in Houston’s River Oaks neighborhood, previously owned by a figure at the center of a major Texas political scandal, has been sold after being listed for $16 million. The property at 2307 River Oaks Boulevard was sold by steel magnate Daniel Benditz to a trust managed by wealth manager James Kull, according to Harris County records.
The listing price placed the home among the most expensive in Texas as of June, with an asking rate of about $1,400 per square foot. While the final sale price was not disclosed, it is likely that Benditz made a significant profit on the transaction. He purchased the 11,200-square-foot residence approximately ten years ago for an asking price of $7.9 million and financed it with a $3.5 million loan.
Constructed in 1952, the house features traditional European architectural elements such as an ornate front drive and stone-and-stucco exterior. The six-bedroom, ten-bathroom property includes amenities like a guest suite, wine room, gym area with steam room, and sits on nearly one acre of land.
Until 1984, real estate developer Frank Sharp owned the mansion. Sharp developed notable Houston neighborhoods including Oak Forest and Sharpstown—the latter recognized as Houston’s first master-planned subdivision. In the 1970s, Sharp was convicted in connection with a stock fraud scheme that implicated several prominent state politicians.
River Oaks remains one of Houston’s most exclusive areas for luxury homes and high-value sales. For example, another nearby property at 3630 Willowick Road was recorded as Texas’ highest-priced residential sale last year. Alongside Memorial area listings, River Oaks continues to represent some of Houston’s top real estate transactions.
“Sharp was found guilty of a stock fraud scheme that brought down several prominent Texas politicians in the 1970s.”
