Photos: Inside Helen Gurley Brown's New York Penthouse

Working as a secretary at several Los Angeles ad agencies, including the William Morris Agency, Helen Gurley Brown parlayed her writing talents to become one of the country’s highest paid ad writers. She hit the big time in 1962 with her book Sex and the Single Girl, which also became a hit movie starring Natalie Wood.

As the new editor of Cosmopolitan magazine in 1965, Brown revamped its formula from a family and literary publication to a women’s magazine with lots of sex, sensationalism and fashion. Brown remained editor-in-chief of the magazine for 32 years and continued writing books instructing women how to “have it all” as they moved into their 60s and beyond. Helen Gurley Brown died at age 90 in New York City two years after the death of her husband, film producer David Brown.

Now for sale for the first time in 40 years is Helen and David Brown’s quadraplex penthouse apartment in the South/East tower of the Beresford on Central Park West. It has 360-degree views of Central Park, Hudson River and city skyline with a large terrace and private elevator access. Though square footage is not listed in the Sothebys International Realty listing, there are two bedrooms, four baths, large formal rooms with 10.5-foot ceilings, and wrap-around balcony. The master suite is on the third floor and opens to a 52-foot terrace overlooking Central Park and a large great room with 17-foot ceilings and a fireplace. The penthouse is priced at $20 million, and is possibly already under contract.

Click "launch gallery" to view a collection of photos from the stunning Central Park West penthouse.

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