With some of the most expensive zip codes in the country, the Hamptons draw the world’s wealthiest to play in their very exclusive oceanfront sandbox.  While the news spelled doom and global gloom in 2011, the 1% continued to buy up high end Hamptons properties.
According to Suffolk Research Service here are the top 10 Hamptons real estate deals of 2011 and why they were worth the money.

Real Housewives photos courtesy of R. Cole for Rob Rich
Ever wonder where the Real Housewives of New York go house hunting?  We spotted Jill and Bobby Zarin and Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen at the Panoramic View Resort and Residences checking out the newly renovated luxury units on the beach in Montauk.
Distinctive Management LLC and PRIME Real Estate teamed up to host this Exclusive Preview Fete of the Salt Sea units where the dress code was white, the drinks were pink – …

So if you didn’t have the 8 mil to bid on Bernie Madoff’s Montauk beach house or couldn’t wrangle a weekend invite from De Niro or Ralph Lauren then how can you get a Hamptons’ oceanfront room with a private beach and a kick ass view of those famous surfin’ waves?
What if we told you that you can – and as for as little as $245 a night?  No, really.  Well okay that price only lasts until June  24 but then it’s …

 
 
Corcoran Listing: Sandcastle Estate, Bridgehampton, Long Island
 
A Corcoran Bridgehampton property has rented for $500,000 for two weeks in July (or $35,000/day), the highest rental fee on record for the Hamptons. The record-breaking rental is an 11.5-acre estate known as Sandcastle which includes a 31,000 sq. ft., 9-bedroom, 11.5-bathroom main house, pool, guest house, tennis, squash and racquetball courts, bowling alley, skateboard half pipe, Movie Theater and more. (okay so I can afford it for about… ten minutes)