Paradise Island, The Bahamas

ONCE the playground of the rich and famously wild, a magnificent ocean-to-harbourfront estate on Paradise Island in the Bahamas is set to hit the auction block on Jan 14. Known as Kilkee House, its storied history is as titillating as a Jackie Collins novel, past owners include a dashing playboy who was heir to the A&P fortune and later, the esteemed Irish actor Richard Harris. Starting bid: US$10 million.

The 11,000-square-foot, four-bedroom home was built more than 70 years ago by Huntington Hartford II, a handsome sophisticate better known for his attention to stunning women than business. Rarely seen without a beauty on his arm (unless there was one on each), Mr Hartford was a visionary who dreamed of transforming a spit of land a short boat ride away from bustling Nassau into a hideaway for the wealthy who wanted nothing more than sunshine and privacy in cold winter months.