Raphael Stevens

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    Mark Zuckerburg Is Reportedly Building Himself a $270 Million Survivalist Compound in Hawaii

    Mark Zuckerberg is making sure that when doomsday comes, he’s prepared with an ultra-secluded, Leave the World Behind-type hideaway.

    Per a recent investigation by Wired, the Meta CEO is reportedly building himself a sprawling 1,400-acre compound in Hawaii that will comprise at least 30 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms, divided among more than a dozen different structures. According to documents obtained by the publication, the Facebook founder has already shelled out a whopping $170 million in land purchases in Kauai beginning in August 2014 and will eventually fork over at least another $100 million in building costs.

    At the center of the vast compound, called Koolau Ranch, will be two mansions sitting atop a survivalist bunker. The two residential buildings will total about 57,000 square feet and include elevators, an industrial kitchen, and conference rooms. Plans show that many of the doors throughout the home are expected to be soundproofed and operated via keypad. The dwellings will be joined by a secret tunnel that leads to a 5,000-square-foot underground shelter that’s protected behind a metal door filled with concrete. The bunker will feature its own living space, a mechanical room, and an escape hatch. The property aims to be further self-sufficient with an 18-foot-tall water tank and the ability to produce its own energy and food supplies.

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is building himself a 1,400-acre residential compound in Kauai named Koolau Ranch.

    Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

    The compound won’t, however, be all post-apocalyptic doom and gloom. Not only does it function as a comfortable family retreat, but there are plans for a wellness center that includes a full-size gym, multiple pools, a sauna, a steam room, and a tennis court. Elsewhere, 11 circular treehouses will be joined by rope bridges so that visitors can climb from one treehouse to the next without stepping foot on the ground.

    The compound’s residential structures are hidden from the road, tucked behind a six-foot wall, and monitored by round-the-clock security guards. And, due to the scope and nature of the project, anyone who works on Zuckerberg’s property signs a strict nondisclosure agreement, sources told the publication. “For a private project to have an NDA attached to it is very rare,” a local construction official explained to Wired.

    Whether the tech billionaire will use Koolau Ranch as a part-time or full-time family retreat is still unknown. However, the magazine reported that he’s already hosted two different corporate events at the compound, so its charms, luxuries, and secrets may not stay so secret for long.

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, dining, travel and topics…

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    Robert Pattinson Quietly Sells His Longtime Hollywood Hills Lair

    It was never officially on the market, but records now reveal that Robert Pattinson has stealthily sold his longtime Los Angeles home. Squirreled away high in the Hollywood Hills and acquired by the Batman and Twilight star some nine years ago for about $2.2 million, the house transferred in an all-cash deal valued at exactly $3 million.

    Records also indicate the buyer is not a Hollywood celebrity but rather an LLC linked to Frank Buckley, a financier and executive at the $9 billion hedge fund Marlin Equity Partners, which is headquartered in California‘s Hermosa Beach neighborhood.

    Of course, it’s not exactly surprising that Pattinson would be in the mood to leave his bachelor pad. The 37-year-old Brit was recently confirmed to be expecting his first child with longtime partner Suki Waterhouse, and the couple also recently acquired a larger house elsewhere in the hills. Back in summer 2022, Pattinson forked out $5.3 million for a gated property previously owned by the Grammy-winning musician Beck.

    Because Pattinson’s just-sold L.A. home was not publicly marketed for sale, it’s not clear what changes and upgrades the actor made during his nearly decade-long ownership tenure. But aerial views reveal the property’s exterior remains remarkably unchanged from years past, with a huge driveway gate shielding the property from prying eyes.

    Built in the 1950s and set privately behind another house down a long red brick driveway, the single-story hacienda has just two bedrooms and two bathrooms and measures in at a cozy 1,940 square feet.

    Inside, rustic terracotta tile floors run throughout the interconnected living spaces, while the flooring switches to hardwood in the bedrooms. Highlights include a spacious living room with multiple French doors that open to the tree-shaded gardens, while twin arches flank a double-sided fireplace and lead into a skylit kitchen with a vaulted, wood-beam ceiling and a premium stainless appliances. Both bedrooms have custom built-in wardrobes and direct access to outdoor lounging areas; both bathrooms have arched and tiled showers, the hallway bathroom done up cobalt blue and the master bath in a cheerful celery green.

    A brick veranda runs along the inside façade of the angled residence. While the yard is somewhat small, it’s also remarkably private and includes a grassy lawn space, a kidney-shaped swimming pool and views over the rugged surrounding canyons. Courtyard areas around the side and rear of the residence include a several terraces and a secluded spa set into a brick terrace tightly girdled by tall hedges for celebrity-style privacy. There’s also an attached two-car garage. More

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    Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s Onetime Beverly Hills Rental House Can Be Yours for $8 Million

    As the story goes, the late Paul Newman and his longtime fellow acting wife Joanne Woodward, now in her 90s, initially met in 1953 when they were both cast in the play Picnic, he making his Broadway debut and she as an understudy. Though he was married at the time and she was a particularly hot ticket on the dating scene, they developed a friendship and went on to co-star in The Long, Hot Summer a few years later. 

    By the time the movie was released in 1958, Newman had finalized his divorce and wed Woodward in a Vegas ceremony. Not only would the couple go on to have a lengthy 50-year marriage—during which time they collectively racked up several awards for popular titles ranging from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to The Three Faces of Eve—but they also shared a Colonial Revival-style residence in Beverly Hills during the early ’60s; and that place has just popped up on the market at a smidge under $8 million, as first publicized by The Hollywood Reporter.

    The New York Daily News photographed Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward relaxing together at their rented Beverly Hills home early on in their five-decade marriage.

    NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

    Last sold in spring 2021 for $7.35 million to Taylor Anne Crichton, daughter of the late Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton, the white two-story structure was originally built in 1937. Updated in the years since, the four-bedroom, five-bath abode is tucked away behind walls and a gated brick driveway, on over an acre of land near Mulholland Drive, and features a little more than 4,200 square feet of living space boasting decorative molding, ample built-ins, large windows, dark hardwood floors and high coved ceilings throughout.

    Among the highlights: a living room anchored by a black marble fireplace embedded in a wood accent wall adorned with sconces, along with a formal dining room. A gourmet kitchen is outfitted with cobalt blue cabinetry, tile backsplashes, an eat-in island and top-tier Viking appliances, plus a walk-in pantry with wine storage and French doors open to an al fresco dining terrace.

    A romantic loggia warmed by a fireplace is perfect for entertaining with a built-in barbecue.

    Ryan Lahiff

    Upstairs, the primary bedroom is spotlighted by a private balcony, walk-in closet, and spa-like bath equipped with dual vanities, a freestanding soaking tub and separate shower; and elsewhere is an office and a spacious roof deck. The amenities continue among the tiered and greenery-encased grounds, which host a loggia sporting a built-in barbecue, stone fireplace and sofa swing, as well as a pool and spa, and bocce ball court. There’s also a detached two-car garage.

    The listing is shared by Benjamin Ballarin, Kevin Dees and Sebastian Spader of Carolwood Estates.

    Click here for more photos of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s Beverly Hills rental home.

    Ryan Lahiff More

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    Sabrina Carpenter Snaps Up an Alluring Hollywood Hills Retreat for $4.4 Million

    Taylor Hahn and Amanda Leigh of House of Rolison are busy! The Los Angeles-based design/build duo just put their reimagined 1920s Spanish Mediterranean-style house in the Coldwater Canyon enclave of Beverly Hills up for sale, and they also just wrapped up a deal on a similarly renovated house deep in the Hollywood Hills.

    First listed at just under $4.8 million, the nearly 3,500-square-foot Hollywood home just sold for about $4.4 million to Sabrina Carpenter, the Disney actress-turned-pop star who’s lately been traveling the globe as she opens for Taylor Swift on the latter’s record-breaking Eras tour.

    Records show the House of Rolison team bought this particular project just nine months ago, paying $2.3 million; they subsequently injected chic modernity into the somewhat dated premises via the installation of top-quality materials. Now on tap are wide plank oak floors and vaulted oak ceilings, plus bespoke fixtures imported from Italy and vintage Spanish Revival-style lighting.

    The 1930s structure sits below street level, on a steeply sloped lot overlooking the surrounding hills.

    Google Earth

    Other highlights include arched windows with striking views of city lights, a sophisticated wet bar with seating for two, wrought iron detailing on the stair railings, four ensuite bedrooms, two sitting rooms and a decadent new kitchen with black marble countertops and custom oak cabinetry flown in from Europe. Perhaps the most beautiful space, however, is the intimate dining room, which sports floor-to-ceiling wood paneling painted a deep emerald green.

    The house is positioned on a full half-acre of land, a rare amount of property in these tightly-packed hills. Of course, the hillside lot means a significant portion of that land is steeply sloped and therefore difficult to use, but House of Rolison created a terraced garden laced with lush native plantings and young olive trees. Generous patios encircle the entire structure, and nearly every spot on the lot offers spectacular vistas. And while there’s no pool, the property does offer a notably huge fountain, complete with splashing water for a more Mediterranean vibe.

    Carpenter, who is also a social media sensation with more than 32 million followers on Instagram, first shot to fame in 2014 via her starring turn on the Disney Channel show Girl Meets World. Though she’s just 24 years old, the Pennsylvania native is already an experienced real estate investor—back in 2018, records reveal she shelled out $1.7 million for a mansion-sized house in the suburban L.A. community of Northridge, which she continues to own. More

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    Rod Stewart Relists His Three-Acre Los Angeles Estate for $80 Million

    Some guys have all the luck. Some guys have a mega-mansion in Los Angeles.

    British singer and songwriter Rod Stewart put his custom-built abode in the guard up for sale back in June with a hefty $70 million price tag. Six months later, the 78-year-old rocker has hoisted the English country-style estate back on the market to the tune of $80 million, as The New York Times first reported.

    Nestled in the renowned guard-gated Beverly Park community, Stewart originally coughed up a cool $12 million for the three-acre lot back in 1991. He then tapped celeb-loved architect Richard Landry to design the over-the-top abode. Sporting a mellow yellow exterior, the digs span a whopping 28,000 square feet and comprise a whopping nine bedrooms and 12 bathrooms—ideal for the musician’s eight children. The compound also includes a 4,500-square-foot guest dwelling and a full-size soccer field. “That would be a main house anywhere else. But in Beverly Park, that’s a guesthouse,” listing agent Tomer Fridman told the newspaper. “It’s an immense property.”

    Rod Stewart’s longtime home in Beverly Park is newly relisted for $80 million.

    Anthony Barcelo/Courtesy of The Fridman Group International

    In keeping with the UK manor aesthetic, the stately mansion and its grounds exude a palatial Baroque style, and the highly decorated interiors are as posh as Buckingham Palace. Across its three stories, you’ll find a quarry’s worth of French marble, ornately detailed ceilings, gilded accents, and hand-forged wrought iron work. There’s also a slew of antique oil paintings, crystal chandeliers, and Regency-period furnishings that look straight out of Bridgerton. Rod the Mod told the Times that he wouldn’t be opposed to selling the home fully furnished. However, he’s hanging on to all the artwork.

    The residence was designed for Stewart in the 1990s by architect Richard Landry.

    Anthony Barcelo/Courtesy of The Fridman Group International

    Highlights include a massive formal dining room that can accommodate over 20 guests, a speakeasy, a movie theater, two gyms, and a wood-paneled library. Elsewhere, Stewart’s pad continues to impress with a wine room, an eat-in chef’s kitchen, and a dedicated tearoom. (Very British!) Outside, the grounds sport a five-car garage, dual motor courts, a swimming pool, and an outdoor kitchen.

    “The whole family lived there for 30 years,” Fridman added. “The children grew up there, and he’s got grandchildren already. He’s touring, and he lives in Europe a lot of the time. He built a whole life there, and it’s just time.”

    With his 13-year residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas scheduled to close in August of next year, Stewart is now preparing to launch a North American tour that kicks off in February 2024. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer also has properties in the UK and Palm Beach, Florida, where he told the newspaper he spends most of his time.

    Click here to see all the photos of Rod Stewart’s Los Angeles mansion.

    Anthony Barcelo/Courtesy of The Fridman Group International More

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    Jared Goff Tosses Out $8.6 Million to Buy the House Next Door

    The Detroit Lions’ legendary roar has been more of a muted howl this football season, with a brutal loss to the Chicago Bears weighing heavily on all minds, but Jared Goff hasn’t let those troubles impede his real estate prowl. Records show the high-profile quarterback recently splashed out $8.6 million to buy the house next door to his off-season California residence.

    Originally built in 1952, the house underwent a big remodel in the early 1970s. Per tax records, the place last sold in 1976 for an almost unbelievable $105,000, meaning the sellers—the heirs of the recently deceased longtime owner—are now reaping the millions of benefits from a very fortuitous investment.

    Sited on a landlocked 10,000-square-foot lot, the house has likely not been significantly updated since the 1970s.

    Google Earth

    Because the property was never on the market, details are slim and photos nonexistent. But a poke through records reveals that the roughly 3,500-square-foot, L-shaped structure sits on a 10,000-square-foot lot—relatively generous for tightly-packed Manhattan Beach—and features four bedrooms and four baths scattered across two full floors of living space. The architecturally vague house also offers an attached two-car garage, plus a semi-detached accessory structure with another two-car garage and some sort of upstairs storage space or guest living quarters.

    While it’s not yet clear what Goff plans to do with his new real estate acquisition, the house is definitely dated and far from pretty. With its bleak, towering walls and acres of beige stucco, the place looks more akin to a gritty apartment building in a downtrodden part of a major city than an $8.6 million home in one of L.A.’s most desirable beach communities. Thus, it’s a virtual guarantee that Goff will either raze or radically remodel the entire home.

    As for Goff’s main residence next door, that Mediterranean-style mansion is unapologetically lavish in a way its neighbor is assuredly not. The 29-year-old paid $10.5 million for that residence, back in spring 2023. With the addition of the house next door, he now owns nearly half an acre of prime Manhattan Beach dirt, albeit landlocked dirt.

    In addition to his newly expanded Manhattan Beach compound, Goff also owns an ocean-view Hermosa Beach home, acquired a few years ago for nearly $6 million. He and soon-to-be-wife Christen Harper also maintain an estate in the posh Bloomfield Hills suburb of Detroit, for use during football season. More