Wealthy Hamptons art dealers become embroiled in bitter TURF WAR over $48 MILLION property that was once owned by Andy Warhol - as petty spat sparked by EASTER EGG hunt descends into a physical fight that has left upscale community divided

A protracted neighborly dispute between two wealthy art world big wigs living in the Hamptons has escalated into an all-out turf war over a $48 million mansion that once belonged to Andy Warhol.

Wealthy art dealers Adam Lindemann, 62, and Max Levai, 35, have been in a long-running feud after both purchasing properties along the Old Montauk Highway, New York.

And what started out as bickering over false advertising and damage to fencing, has since escalated and the pair have even come to physical blows - with Lindemann reportedly shoving Levai and mocking him as a 'fat boy'. 

The fierce debate, which shows no immediate sign of slowing down, has reportedly left the Hamptons art crowd bitterly divided. 

The neighborly dispute between Adam Lindemann, 62, (left) and Max Levai, 35, (right) has escalated into an all-out turf war

The pair have been in a long-running feud after both purchasing properties along the Old Montauk Highway, New York

Lindemann, who is a leading name on the art scene, has been a prominent member of the Hamptons community for decades and owning a series of stylish vacation homes.

He inherited an art dealing business from his father, financier and collector George Lyle Lindemann, but was quick to carve out his own niche - making a name for himself by regularly acting at odds with the 'loftier intentions of the gallery circuit.'

The art collector began working closely with auction houses to make impressive sales on pieces from his own collection - including on works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jeff Koons - which achieved record auction prices.

Most recently, in March, he sold off $31.5 million worth of art in a sale at Christie's titled ADAM.

Lindemann, who is rumored to be a billionaire, currently lives in a 12-bed and 9.5-bath ranch compound formerly owned by Andy Warhol.

He bought Eothen from the CEO of J. Crew in 2015 for a staggering $48.7 million - but passed on the chance to snap up a further patch of land that was being offered at the time.

That patch of land - a 26-acre former horse ranch called Indian Field - was split off from the rest of Eothen and was marketed separately at a further $25 million.

But, just five years later, Levai - who has previously been nicknamed 'the prince of the art world' - swooped in and purchased it for a cool $8.2 million.

Amid the ongoing pandemic, Levai decided to move out to the property full time and set up a gallery which he called The Ranch (pictured)

Lindemann and wife Amalia Dayan opened their own competing venture - South Etna (pictured)

Levai has built up his own cult following in the art world - having also tried his hand with various establishments nestled in New York nightlife.

He was once set to inherit the international Marlborough gallery - which boasts spaces in New York, London, Madrid and Barcelona - before father Pierre got caught up in a series of messy lawsuits in 2020.

The Levais claimed that the board were staging a 'coup' to oust them as the gallery in turn argued that the family's management had led to 'substantial economic and reputational harm.'

Hoping for a fresh start, the younger Levai decided to move out to the property full time amid the ongoing pandemic and set up a gallery which he called The Ranch. 

It formally opened in July 2021 and, just one month later, Lindemann and wife Amalia Dayan opened their own competing venture - South Etna. 

Levai caused quite the stir when he began advertising The Ranch as being on Warhol's former land.

He was confronted by Vincent Fremont, Warhol's former studio manager, and Levai soon apologized and issued the relevant corrections, according to ArtNet.

But the incident is said to have left a bad taste in Lindemann's mouth - with things only set to get worse.

It is believed Lindemann had attempted to sell Andy Warhol's (pictured) former estate in 2020 with an asking price of $65 million

In September 2022, The Ranch held a joint show for artist Jamian Juliano-Villani and the late Mike Kelley. 

Juliano-Villani said that she came up with the idea of an Easter egg hunt around the grounds with the winner set to take home one of her paintings - Running of the Bulls - worth an estimated $150,000.

During the search, which ended up taking seven hours, one over-enthusiastic participant ventured onto Lindemann's neighboring property after breaking through a fence.

Lindemann paid for the damages himself but another member of the community levelled a formal complaint against Levai - claiming he had the wrong permits to host such an event at his gallery.

He will appear in court this month to address the claims. 

In July this year, 10 months after the fence damage, things escalated further still.

Levai had been holding a private viewing at The Ranch when Lindemann showed up unannounced.

The pair engaged in a heated discussion before Lindemann is alleged to have shoved Levai with both hands while goading him with taunts of 'What are you going to do about it, fat boy?' according to the outlet. 

The police were called and the offending party was charged for criminal trespass, a misdemeanor and harassment with his court appearance scheduled for August 16.

It is believed Lindemann had attempted to sell Eothen in 2020 with an asking price of $65 million.

But it appears he is now offering Warhol's former estate as a short-term sublet at a cost of $350,000.

DailyMail.com has contacted Levai and Lindemann for comment.