Luxury
Subterms
More stories
- in Luxury
This Controversial Bel Air Mansion Has Sold for $5 Million—and Now It Has to Be Torn Down
One of LA’s most epic real estate sagas is finally coming to a close.
After half a decade of legal disputes, Mohamed Hadid’s hotly contested Bel Air mansion has sold for $5 million at auction and is set to be demolished within the next nine months, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The luxury developer, who is the father of supermodels Gigi and Bella, first purchased the sprawling 1.2 acre property back in 2011. He promptly set about constructing a 30,000-square-foot mansion on the estate, which was both bigger and taller than city code allowed, according to the Times. The plans also called for a 70-seat IMAX theater, a gigantic wine cellar and a number of bedrooms and decks that were never approved by the city.Hadid’s half-finished Bel Air mansion will be demolished within nine months.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
Neighbors expressed concern that the four-story manse, nicknamed “the Starship Enterprise,” could destabilize the hillside and put the properties below at risk. After Hadid was accused of illegally building the colossal abode on Strada Vecchia Road, he plead no contest to criminal charges in 2017, and was ordered to do community service, pay fines and present a plan to stabilize the structure. That same year, Hadid defiantly defended the property in the press.
“Demolish this house? Never!” he told Town and Country Magazine. “This house will last forever. Bel Air will fall before this will.”
In 2018, Hadid was hit with a civil lawsuit from his neighbors for not sticking to the terms of his plea deal and flouting repeated orders to halt construction. They demanded Hadid tear down the unfinished home. In 2019, a court ordered the mansion to be demolished, with Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Craig D. Karlan deeming it a “danger to the public.”The manse, nicknamed the Starship Enterprise, spans an imposing 30,000 square feet.
Damian Dovarganes/AP
Hadid tried to stop the destruction by declaring bankruptcy, but was eventually forced to put it on the market for $8.5 million. With no willing buyers, the price was slashed to $5.5 million before the property was finally auctioned for $5 million by Premiere Estates Auction Co. The buyer, local developer Sahara Construction Co., must pay to have Hadid’s half-finished creation demolished within the next nine months.
It seems the Starship Enterprise will die on the rarefied hills of Bel-Air. More - in Luxury
You Can Call Bing Crosby’s Former Coachella Valley Estate Your Own for $4.5 Million
In need of an oasis? Look no further than the late superstar Bing Crosby’s former desert estate in Rancho Mirage, California.
Having been listed on and off the market for over a decade, the midcentury modern home has a new asking price of $4.5 million. Sitting on roughly 1.5 acres in a gated community called Thunderbird Heights, the 6,700 square-foot home was built by the “White Christmas” singer in the 1950s. It includes five bedrooms, a home theater, a double-oven kitchen, an outdoor patio and jaw-dropping views of the Coachella Valley. Of course, the desert utopia also comes with its own pool, spa, putting green and an entire guest wing (with two bedrooms) for when company comes to stay.
The front yard of the home.
Kristofer Magenheim
The current owner, Robert Teller, first listed the property for $3.495 million in 2010. David Emerson and Alexandra Trejo of Compass now share the listing, and believe the strong local real-estate market will pull in attractive offers, according to The Wall Street Journal. For context, the median sale price in Rancho Mirage was up 32.4% in the third quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2021, according to data from Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants. “Our market is on fire,” Emerson tells the WSJ. “We’ve been in double-digit increases annually for the past several years.”
Back in 2005, Teller, a former ice cream industry entrepreneur and a real estate investor, bought the house for $2.625 million. According to reports, he said he bought it because his late wife, who was battling cancer at the time, wanted a home in the desert. The businessman was also drawn to the estate himself, as he shared an appreciation for Crosby with his father growing up. When his wife passed, Teller began listing the property—having found that he’s not as big a fan of the desert as his is of the entertainer.
The living room.
Kristofer Magenheim
Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby Jr. is one of the most popular entertainers of all time, known for both his singing and acting success from 1926 to 1977. In 1931, he launched his first radio show, and later went on to host the hugely popular “The Bing Crosby Show for Chesterfield” on CBS Radio. The actor starred in over 70 motion pictures including classics like “Road to Bali” and “High Society.” He went on to become an Oscar and Grammy award-winner before his death.
Outdoor patio with seating.
Kristofer Magenheim
For more information on Crosby’s Rancho Mirage estate, head over to Compass.com. Check out more images of the property below.
The home’s entrance.
Kristofer Magenheim
The kitchen.
Kristofer Magenheim
Views from the kitchen.
Kristofer Magenheim
Indoor seating with a view.
Kristofer Magenheim
One of the bedrooms.
Kristofer Magenheim
Master bathroom.
Kristofer Magenheim
A guest wing bedroom.
Kristofer Magenheim
The guest living room and kitchen.
Kristofer Magenheim
The pool at night.
Kristofer Magenheim
The backyard.
Kristofer Magenheim
Aerial view.
Kristofer Magenheim More
- in Luxury
Stevie Wonder Just Snapped Up This $14 Million Bel Air Mansion From a Saudi Prince
Ooh, baby! Stevie Wonder has signed, sealed and delivered himself to “Higher Ground” in Bel Air, where records reveal he’s dropped nearly $14 million on an elephantine hillside mansion. With views over the rugged surrounding mountains and shadowy canyons, the Mediterranean-style house is located in Bel Air Crest, the exclusive guard-gated community where other current and former residents have included NBA star Anthony Davis, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
Astute real estate watchers and Wonder fans may recall that the 71-year-old music icon is not new to the Bel Air Crest community. For the last several years, he and wife Tomeeka Bracy have been leasing another huge mansion in the same enclave—a house that happens to sit right next door to the main L.A. residence of one Gordon Ramsay. The Bracy-Wonders frequently stop by to sample their neighbor’s cooking, according to Ramsay himself.
While Wonder’s newly purchased mansion is further away from Ramsay, it’s still within walking distance of a world-class meal. And with nearly 20,000 square feet of living space, it will certainly require enough walking to work up a healthy appetite. There are 11 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms, plus attached staff quarters and a 2,550-bottle wine cellar. Though the place was built in 2009, its yellowish-beige stucco exterior harks back to a distinctly ’90s, suburban sort of vintage.In 2012, the massive home was sold for $13.3 million to HH Prince Mohammed bin Faisal bin Saud Al Saud, a son of Princess Etab bint Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and a maternal grandson of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, who was crown prince of Saudi Arabia from 2005-2011. His Highness bought the house as a single man, though in 2013 he married Princess Madawi bint Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The couple apparently didn’t spend much time in Bel Air—over the last few years, the giant house has been leased out, most recently at a princely monthly rate of $75,000, per listings.
Here’s a virtual spin through the Wonder-ful house, which is one of the largest and likely one of the most lavish homes in Bel Air Crest.The front of the property.
Zillow
Positioned at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, the Tuscan-influenced house stands tall behind iron gates. There’s a front-facing three-car garage and additional driveway space for a couple more vehicles.
Views within the home’s entrance.
Zillow
Inside, the double front doors open into a hanger-sized foyer that soars two—or possibly three—stories tall, and it topped by skylights for a more ethereal vibe.
The living room.
Zillow
Linestone flooring extends to the multiple lounge areas and sitting rooms. This living room is serviced by a mahogany wet bar.
The luxe formal dining room.
Zillow
There’s also a formal dining room with two chandeliers and seating for 12.
The office/library space.
Zillow
The library/executive office is also beige, though it additionally sports intricate wood paneling and lavish built-in bookcases.
The spacious family room.
Zillow
The family room, which offers a large fireplace.
The kitchen.
Zillow
The oversized kitchen is capable of catering large events and features high-quality stainless appliances and an island with beige granite countertops.
Views from one of the home’s terraces.
Zillow
Numerous terraces and loggias offer shady space for dining and lounging.
A hallway with wooden panels inside the mansion.
Zillow
The wood-paneled interiors go for an antique, vaguely museum-like appearance.
The primary bathroom.
Zillow
The primary bathroom features a central soaking tub — grandly raised with steps up, naturally — underneath a giant glass skylight.
Views from the master suite terrace.
Zillow
The master suite also has a private terrace with enough room for intimate dinner parties and views over undeveloped hills.
A hallway with the home’s elevated shown.
Zillow
For convenience, a wood-clad elevator services all of the home’s three levels.
The pool.
Zillow
The infinity-edged pool features an inset spa. While the property spans more than a half-acre, the house takes up a substantial part of the lot. Still, there are plenty of grassy play areas and a park-like collection of beautifully mature trees.
A look at the backyard of the home.
Zillow
Emanouel Ourshano of Platinum Estates held the listing; Nick Segal and Rick Ojeda of Avenue 8 repped the buyer.
The pool light up at night.
Zillow
In addition to his new Bel Air digs, Wonder’s sizable property portfolio still includes commercial property in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley, two houses in the Hollywood Hills and an estate in Alpine, New Jersey. More
