By Anne White
Leslie McElwreath has become synonymous with high-end real estate in Greenwich, marking 20 years at Sotheby’s International Realty and setting a standard for performance rarely matched in the industry. With more than 40 years of combined experience in sales and marketing, she currently holds the title of #1 Senior Global Real Estate Advisor at Sotheby’s Greenwich brokerage, a position that underscores her influence in Connecticut’s most competitive market.
McElwreath began her career on Wall Street, spending more than 15 years in senior roles at firms including JP Morgan, Bear Stearns, Drexel Burnham, and Bankers Trust. Working with high-networth clients gave her a foundation in investment strategy that she later translated to luxury real estate. Her shift to residential sales allowed her to apply institutional level financial expertise to the curation and marketing of some of the country’s most exclusive properties.
In 2023, McElwreath closed approximately $386 million in sales, ranking her the #1 agent for Sotheby’s International Realty Inc. nationwide. Her most celebrated transaction was the $138.83 million sale of Copper Beech Farm in Greenwich, a deal that set a Connecticut price record and placed among the highest residential sales ever recorded in the United States.
Over the course of her career, McElwreath has surpassed $2 billion in closed sales volume, representing a roster of estates that include Rockfields, Sabine Farm, Old Mill Farm, and Dunellen Hall. RealTrends has repeatedly named her the top individual agent in Connecticut, with verified 2024 transaction volume of $192.9 million, ranking her #60 in the nation among all agents.
At Sotheby’s International Realty, McElwreath has capitalized on the firm’s global branding and access to 11,000 Sotheby’s auction house clients worldwide, giving her listings visibility far beyond Greenwich. Her contributions to the company’s 2024 MidYear Luxury Outlook Report demonstrate her focus on equipping clients with data-driven insights into market trends.
McElwreath’s role in the community extends beyond the closing table. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Greenwich Land Trust, donating a portion of her commissions to preserve the town’s woodlands, parks, and beaches. This civic engagement aligns with her reputation as a trusted advisor who sees her work as tied to the broader health of Greenwich.
Pamela Pagnani, Senior Vice President and Managing Broker of Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage, credited McElwreath with setting a high bar for the profession. “For more than 20 years, Leslie has inspired those around her with her unwavering professionalism, tireless work ethic, and steadfast commitment to ethical excellence, having over $2 Billion in closed real estate transactions, including her record breaking sale of the most expensive home in the history of Connecticut which was co-listed with Joseph Barbieri and closed for $138,830,000. It is a pleasure working with Leslie and wishing her 20 more successful years of making dreams come true for her loyal clients.”
With her combination of Wall Street sophistication, record-breaking results, and dedication to community stewardship, Leslie McElwreath continues to define luxury real estate in Greenwich. Her performance has made her both an industry benchmark and a fixture in the region’s ongoing narrative of growth and prestige.
