Barnes & Noble founder in contract to sell $96M Palm Beach mansion — after just a month for sale

It’s a new chapter for Leonard Riggio, the founder and former executive chairman of book giant Barnes & Noble, who has sealed the deal for his swanky oceanfront estate in Palm Beach.

The mega-mansion at 1446 North Ocean Boulevard is officially off the market, snatched up amid the island’s off-season lull, according to the Real Deal . The property, listed for $96 million, is now in contract. It was represented by Lawrence Moens, of Lawrence A. Moens Associates.

Riggio, who turned Barnes & Noble into a bookselling juggernaut, listed the sprawling 1.7-acre compound just last month.

He retired from Barnes & Noble in 2016.

Barnes & Noble countersues ex-CEO on harassment claims

Despite the summer exodus of Palm Beach’s wealthy snowbirds, serious buyers are jetting in for quick, high-stakes tours.

“If they’re here now, they mean business,” one agent told The Post.

Ex-Barnes & Noble CEO claims chairman made up reasons to fire him

Oceanfront properties in Palm Beach are the ultimate status symbols, rarely hitting the market. This year’s only other big-ticket sales include Daren Metropoulos dropping $148 million on an estate in June, and Ideavillage founder Anand Khubani’s $85 million splurge in April.

Last year, car dealer Michael Cantanucci snagged a 1.6-acre estate for a cool $170 million, and William Lauder scooped up Rush Limbaugh’s lavish 2.7-acre compound for $155 million.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR MORNING REPORT NEWSLETTER

These trophy properties, each worth $50 million or more, are coveted by the billionaire elite , their values soaring despite broader market trends.

Riggio’s mansion, built in 1979 and boasting 8,000 square feet, has seen a dramatic price increase.

He bought it in 2003 for $14 million and expanded it with an adjacent lot in 2009 for $1.4 million. The estate now features five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a half-bathroom and a pool — all meticulously renovated.

But the Riggios aren’t saying goodbye to Florida completely. His wife, Louise Riggio secured an $8.1 million home in Wellington’s equestrian village in June.

The couple also has a home in New York City’s posh 720 Park Ave., as well as a 13-acre estate in the Hamptons.

For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com.