More stories

  • in

    A Baby Formula Billionaire Just Dropped $27 Million on This Massive Beverly Hills Estate

    In a prime pocket of Beverly Hills, just a literal stone’s throw from the longtime 90210 estate of Taylor Swift, this grand Spanish-meets-Mediterranean-influenced house was on the market for nearly a year, originally listed with an asking price of $33 million. The exceedingly lavish spread just sold for nearly $27 million—or $26.8 million, to be exact. Despite the discount, the deal still ranks among the priciest real estate transfers recorded in Los Angeles so far this year.

    Records indicate the all-cash buyer is an entity tied to billionaire “Roger” Hua Liu, the vice chairman and CFO of Feihe International Inc. Headquartered in Beijing, Feihe is the largest and most famous supplier of infant formula milk in China, with approximately 20% of the country’s market share. Per Forbes, Liu’s personal net worth tops $1.4 billion.

    The 15,000-square-foot house was completed in 2000 and lies just a short walk from Taylor Swift’s home.

    Google Earth

    According to records, the sizable 90210 property last sold back in 2011 for $17.5 million. The buyer then was Russian oligarch Sergey Sarkisov, who amassed a fortune in Russia’s insurance industry and later dabbled in film production.

    If Sarkisov’s name sounds familiar, it’s probably because he also owned the smaller tennis court estate next door to this $27 million compound. Sarkisov’s smaller “spare” property was sold last year for $15 million, and the buyer was prominent Hollywood actress Mindy Kaling, who reportedly intends to radically redesign and refurbish the house.

    Set high above the street, the giant house is mostly obscured from public view by a sea of trees and hedges.

    Google Earth

    As for Liu’s larger house next door, photos are scant and details remain sparse. But tax records confirm the mansion was built circa 2000 and is sited on a knoll-top lot of nearly 1.5 acres. Spanning more than 15,000 square feet of living space, the house is large even for this affluent neighborhood, and includes some 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. Despite its size, the place is mostly invisible from the public roadway out front, carefully cloaked behind big gates, a very long driveway, and a forest-like canopy of mature trees and other shrubbery.

    In addition to the main house, there’s a backyard swimming pool and a full-size tennis court on the south side of the There’s also a detached guesthouse or staff building of some sort on the premises, which itself stands some two or even three stories tall. In addition to garaging for four cars, the property features off-street parking for up to 15 more vehicles. The entire property is ringed by a collection of specimen trees, and there are also rose gardens and several patches of grassy lawn. More

  • in

    Two Days After Selling for $17 Million, a Sleek Beverly Hills Mansion Pops Up for Rent

    Alon Abady was busy wheeling and dealing in 2023. Not only did the Los Angeles-based real estate investor buy and then flip Simon Cowell’s former Beverly Hills mansion for nearly $34 million—in what was one of the priciest deals ever closed south of Sunset Boulevard—but he also sold an extravagant Coachella Valley estate in The Madison Club to Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey for well over double what he paid for the place in 2019.

    Now, in his latest off-market transaction, the managing partner of the commercial and residential reaal estate investment firm Waterfall Bridge Capital has picked up yet another Beverly Hills home. Records show Abady paid $17 million in March for the Laurel Way residence, which was previously owned by prominent conservationists Dan and Susan Gottlieb, of Gottlieb Native Garden fame, then immediately hoisted the contemporary spread onto the rental market with a steep $125,000-per-month price tag.

    The Gottliebs paid $18 million for the for the contemporary Paul McClean-designed mansion back in late 2019, right around the time it was completed and outfitted with interiors by Plus Design Studio. Boasting a striking glass and stone exterior, the multi-level structure has five bedrooms and nine baths in a little more than 11,200 square feet of travertine- and wood-clad living space, all accessible via an eye-catching bridge entryway overlooking an inviting lounge area flanked by a living wall and water feature enhanced with a fanciful tree sculpture.

    A tree sculpture nestled amid the lower-level water feature serves as a focal point for surrounding living and wellness spaces.

    Ryan Lahiff

    Other highlights include glitzy amenities, such as a wet bar-equipped game room, tiered movie theater, fitness studio sporting a sauna and six-car garage. A formal living room displays an eye-catching linear fireplace, custom seated bar and walls of glass spilling outside, while a family room and dining area connect to a gourmet kitchen outfitted with dual islands and high-end appliances.

    There’s also a glass-lined master retreat offering a fireside sitting area, private balcony overlooking city and ocean vistas, walk-in closet, and luxe bath spotlighted by an oval soaking tub and large glass-encased shower; and outdoors, the landscaped grounds span a half-acre, and host an infinity-edge pool with a spa and sunken fire-pit, along with numerous spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining.

    The listing was held by Ernie Carswell of Douglas Elliman and Lea Porter of The Beverly Hills Estates. Branden Williams and Rayni Williams of Beverly Hills Estates repped the buyer, with Rayni Williams now serving as the rental listing agent.

    Click here for more photos of the Laurel Way House.

    Ryan Lahiff More

  • in

    The Menendez Brothers’s Murder Mansion in Beverly Hills Just Sold for $17 Million

    It is perhaps one of the most infamous homes in true crime history. But for all the darkness that surrounds it, the Los Angeles mansion where Erik and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents today bears no remnant of the grisly crime for which it is known. Lavish and well-maintained, the Mediterranean-style mansion sits behind carefully clipped hedges and sycamore trees on a lovely, sunny street in the Beverly Hills Flats neighborhood.

    The home’s macabre history also failed to scare well-heeled buyers away. After putting it up for sale at the end of last year, longtime owner Samuel Delug has just unloaded the place for exactly $17 million—a discount off the nearly $20 million ask, but still more than quadruple what the local businessman paid for the house back in 2001. The new owners, per records, are the Lahijanis, a wealthy Iranian family based in Beverly Hills.

    Inside, the palatial home boasts a two-story foyer with limestone floors, a wood-paneled billiard room, a living room with Palladian windows and a den with a wet bar. It was in that very den, as many true crime aficionados know, where wealthy businessman Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty were shot dead with a pair of 12-gauge shotguns in August 1989.

    The Menendez family had been renting the Beverly Hills house while they waited for construction on their dream home in Calabasas to be finished, and the resulting publicity generated by the murders catapulted the house into the international spotlight. In 1993, the 90210 manse was bought by Murder, She Wrote co-creator William Link, who sold the place in 2001 to Delug.

    Built in 1927 but radically remodeled in the 1970s and again in the mid 1980s, the Mediterranean-style mansion also offers seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms in about 9,000 square feet of living space, all of it set on a half-acre lot with a backyard swimming pool and detached guesthouse.

    Other notable home amenities include backyard rose gardens, a wine cellar with a tasting room, a wood-paneled office,and an enormous primary bedroom with black-and-gold carpeting, plus dual bathrooms and dual showroom closets. The two-story guesthouse contains an upstairs bedroom with a private balcony, plus an attached one-car garage accessed via a discreet alleyway that runs behind the property.

    Amy Vertun of Rodeo Realty held the listing; Jordana Leigh, also of Rodeo Realty, repped the buyers. More

  • in

    A Tech Magnate Is Asking $85 Million for His Extravagant Beverly Hills Compound

    Around 24 years ago, in December 2000, Jim Demetriades began piecing together a lavish compound with a single house that he and his then-new wife Nancy had picked up for $8.4 million. Never on the market before, the veteran tech entrepreneur’s incomparable spread dubbed “Villa Theos” has now popped up for sale in the desirable Beverly Hills Post Office area of Los Angeles, asking an impressive $85 million.

    As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the gated collection of red brick and stucco structures cost tens of millions of dollars to assemble, and includes the since-renovated main home and several ancillary buildings—for a total of 13 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms in 28,000 square feet, all of it resting on two parcels of land spanning over 2 acres, and boasting choice amenities ranging from a bowling alley and nightclub, to a shooting range and subterranean man cave/bunker accessible via a tunnel.

    “Jim and I really sat down and thought, ‘OK, if we could have anything we wanted—the sky’s the limit—what would we want?’ And we just went for it,” Nancy told WSJ.

    The resort-like grounds are spotlighted by an infinity-edge swimming pool.

    Anthony Barcelo

    The result? A primary dwelling spotlighted by a formal living room flaunting a reclaimed wood-beam ceiling, wet bar and an antique fireplace imported from France, plus a luxe primary bedroom that comes complete with a separate fireside sitting room and dual baths. Surrounding it are multiple guesthouses and office spaces, along with a recently completed “coach house” featuring an Old West-themed nightclub sporting a disco ball, velvet couches and a custom 50,000-watt speaker system with subwoofers built into the ceiling.

    But that’s not all! There’s also a 20-seat movie theater, bowling alley, shooting range, gym and classroom setup for the couple’s five children who are now grown, as well as a subterranean man cave/emergency bunker equipped with bulletproof doors and a 4,500-bottle wine cellar. Last, but definitely not least: the resort-worthy grounds, which overlook picturesque city lights and ocean vistas, and host some 140 fruit trees, several spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining, an infinity-edge swimming pool and even a chicken coop.

    A 4,500-bottle wine cellar is one of the many amenities dotting the property. 

    Anthony Barcelo

    According to WSJ, the Greece native and Pasadena-raised founder and CEO of Kairos Ventures—a venture-capital firm that invests in groundbreaking startups and research in the technology, and life and physical sciences arenas—and his former actress wife are selling because they are “faced with the prospect of becoming empty-nesters sooner than expected.”

    The listing is held by Drew Fenton of Carolwood Estates and Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency.

    Click here for more photos of Villa Theos.

    Anthony Barcelo More

  • in

    An Aspiring Race Car Driver Lists Her Peaceful Beverly Hills Retreat for $30 Million

    Though she’s not quite a household name yet, Sayo Haraishi soon hopes to become a regular fixture on the racing circuits. Meanwhile, the aspiring driver has been keeping herself busy spearheading the revamp of a 1970s-era house in the posh Beverly Hills enclave of Trousdale Estates. Now the newly completed spread has just popped up for sale, asking a speck under $30 million.

    Originally acquired by Haraishi back in August 2019 for $5 million, the existing property underwent an extensive four-year remodel by Los Angeles-based Montalba Architects—widely known for its work with Nobu Hotels and Soho House—and includes four bedrooms and five baths sprawled across 7,000 square feet of modern yet warm living space adorned throughout with a mix of hardwood and stone floors, high ceilings, custom millwork, designer lighting and clerestory windows. Walls of glass also provide sweeping city lights, hillside and coastline views.

    The great room hosts a dining area, sunken living room and glass doors spilling out to the backyard.

    Ryan Lahiff

    Tucked away on a gated parcel spanning over a half-acre, the sleek architectural structure is described in the listing as a “seamless fusion of Japanese-inspired design elements and contemporary luxury.” A set of pivoting double front doors open into the open-concept great room, which is highlighted by a sunken living area centered between a massive linear fireplace with a floating hearth and built-in shelving, plus a spacious dining room adjoining a space that’s big enough to accommodate a large piano for entertaining guests.

    A bookshelf-lined family room connects to the gourmet kitchen, which is outfitted with an eat-in island, top-tier appliances, ample wine storage and an accompanying breakfast nook, and elsewhere is a private office, plus an inviting primary bedroom sporting another linear fireplace, a built-in desk, and showroom-style closet and dressing room, as well as a spa-like bath equipped with dual vanities, a teak-clad soaking tub and separate rainfall shower.

    A Japanese soaking tub in the primary bathroom offers the feeling of bathing amid nature.

    Ryan Lahiff

    The amenities continue out to the landscaped grounds, where Zen-like courtyards are bolstered by bonsai and maple trees, a seating area is warmed by a fire-pit, and a curving infinity-edge swimming pool with a Baja shelf and spa is flanked by a sundeck—all overlooking those picturesque vistas. There’s also an attached two-car garage out front.

    The listing is held by Ben Bacal of Revel Real Estate and Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker Realty.

    Click here for more photos of Sayo Haraishi’s Beverly Hills house.

    Ryan Lahiff More

  • in

    In Beverly Hills, an Extravagant William Hefner-Designed Mansion Sells for a Discounted $30 Million

    Almost four years after it first hit the market with an aggressive $40 million asking price—and was floated for rent along the way at a pricey $165,000 per month—luxury developer Adnan Sen of Sen Properties has officially sold his Hollywood Regency-inspired spec mansion in Beverly Hills for $30 million, still easily one of the priciest residential real estate deals inked in 90210 over the past few months.

    Per The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the sale, the buyer is real estate investor David Nagel—the CEO of Decron Properties, which has apartment, office and retail holdings in Arizona, California and Washington—and his wife Marnie, who forked over around $21 million more than Sen paid for the 1940s estate almost eight years ago, before it was leveled and rebuilt by noted architect William Hefner.

    A fireside living room is lined with majestic arched windows and glass pocketing doors spilling out to the park-like grounds.

    Noel Kleinman

    Hidden securely behind gates, on a corner parcel spanning almost three-quarter acres, the au courant spread was completed in 2020. Known as Laurel House, the property includes a main house and detached guesthouse—for a total of nine bedrooms and 14 baths in almost 16,000 square feet of modern European-style living space imbued with chic neutral and black interiors.

    Among the main-level highlights: a double-height foyer displaying a statement-making staircase, which flows to formal living and dining rooms spotlighted by large expanses of glass spilling outdoors. A fireside family room connects to the gourmet kitchen, which is outfitted with marble countertops, an eat-in island, top-tier stainless appliances, a windowed breakfast area and secondary catering kitchen; and elsewhere are two offices, plus a cozy den with a fireplace and wet bar.

    The 12-seat movie theater sits adjacent to a billiards room.

    Noel Kleinman

    An opulent upstairs master retreat comes complete with a fireplace, dual balconies, designer closets and a pair of baths sporting soaking tubs and other spa-like amenities, while the lower level is decked out with a “glam room,” 12-seat movie theater flanked by a billiards area and wet bar, glass-encased wine cellar with a tasting room and gym equipped with an infrared sauna.

    Outdoors, the private and grassy grounds are laced with mature trees and gardens, and host an eye-catching pool and spa with built-in seating, as well as an open-air cabana warmed by a fireplace, a barbecue setup, fire-pit, and several lounging and entertaining vignettes. There’s also a gallery-style garage that can accommodate up to 10 vehicles.

    The listing was held by Pate Stevens of The Agency; Dustin Nicholas and Jackie Feldmar-Cohenca of Nicholas Property Group repped the buyers.

    Click here for more photos of Laurel House.

    Noel Kleinman More

  • in

    Judd Apatow Drops $32 Million on a Sleek Beverly Hills Mansion

    After recently selling their posh and longtime Los Angeles home for $27 million to heavyweight lawyer Brian Panish, records reveal Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann have now bought a smaller home, albeit an even more expensive one in an arguably even posher part of town. The empty nesters doled out nearly $32 million for their new place, a single-story stunner in the western reaches of Beverly Hills.

    Unfortunately for the seller—apparel mogul Maurice Marciano, cofounder of the Guess clothing brand—that sale price is roughly $3.6 million less than he paid for the house barely a year ago, when he bought it for a lofty $35.5 million.

    The single-level home features automated steel and glass walls and doors throughout.

    Mark Singer

    Originally built in the 1950s as a humble midcentury ranch-style structure, the house underwent a dramatic rebuild and expansion a few years ago. Today, invisible from the street behind locked gates and towering hedges, the glossy and decidedly bespoke showpiece is described as the “embodiment of architecture as art,” and features five bedrooms and seven bathrooms in a mansion-sized 9,300 square feet of living space. Set on nearly an acre of land near historic Greystone Manor, the trophy estate also features a dark-bottom swimming pool, grassy lawns and manicured gardens.

    Property highlights include a “floating” entryway seemingly cantilevered over moat-like water features, hand-combed limestone throughout, imported white oak floors, exotic marble slabs and a media room almost totally swaddled in cashmere. A recurring theme throughout the house is the dichotomy of its floorplan, which can be either cozy or totally open depending on the homeowner’s whims, with numerous walls of steel and glass that disappear and reappear at the touch of a button.

    The skylit kitchen offers two marble-topped island with plenty of storage space.

    Mark Singer

    All five of the property’s bedrooms feature ensuite bathrooms and their own “private gardens,” per the listing, and the primary suite additionally offers a sitting area and boutique-style dressing room. The kitchen is primed for grand-scale entertaining, with its dual marble islands and commercial-grade stainless appliances, and also on tap are a library, a gym and a formal dining room with silk ceilings and walls, plus its own temperature-controlled glass wine closet.

    In addition to garaging for up to five cars, the residence is fronted by a sizable cobblestone motorcourt. Out back, the park-like grounds encircle an outdoor fireplace flanked by its own lounge area, and there are multiple spaces dedicated to al fresco dining or sunbathing.

    Surrounded by mature trees, the park-like estate offers ample space for al fresco entertaining.

    Mark Singer

    Apatow, a super-prolific Hollywood director/producer (Bridesmaids, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Mann continue to maintain a $9 million condo in New York City’s leafy West Village neighborhood. More

  • in

    A Striking Ray Kappe-Designed Beverly Hills Home Resurfaces for Sale at $16 Million

    Though it’s particularly eye-catching, and crafted by none other than noted Southern California Institute of Architecture founding director Ray Kappe, Julian Reis has still been trying to offload his Beverly Hills residence for almost a year now with no takers. One of the last homes completed before the modernist master’s death in November 2019 at age 92, the contemporary estate once was offered for as much as $22 million and previously listed for rent at $35,000 per month, but now has returned to the open market with an asking price that’s just a dash less than $16 million.

    If the CEO of SuperOrdinary—a Los Angeles-based incubator he launched to help cosmetic and personal-care brands break into the Chinese marketplace—does get anywhere near the ask, he still can expect a hefty loss. Records show Reis, who also cofounded the global beauty brand Skin Laundry in 2013 with his ex-wife Yen Reis, paid L.A.-based hotelier Bob Ghassemieh $19 million for the place a little more than two years ago, back in winter 2021.

    A sunken living room has floor-to-ceiling walls of glass opening to al fresco lounging and entertaining areas.

    Anthony Barcelo

    Secluded behind a gated driveway and high hedges—on almost three-quarters of an acre set stop a promontory overlooking Benedict Canyon, just minutes from The Beverly Hills Hotel—the architectural wood-and-glass structure features six bedrooms and nine baths in 9,000 square feet of living space boasting concrete, redwood and teak accents throughout. Posh amenities include a glass elevator to all three levels, plenty of wall space for displaying art, a gym, movie theater and climate-controlled wine cellar.

    Visitors are greeted by steps that travel past a water feature before emptying out at the front door. From there, an entrance hallway displaying a floating staircase leads to a sunken living area sporting several lounge spaces and Fleetwood sliding glass doors spilling out to the backyard. A dining area connects to the sleek Bulthaup kitchen, which is outfitted with an eat-in island and hidden appliances.

    A pickleball court is just one of the home’s many outdoor amenities.

    Anthony Barcelo

    Upstairs, the master retreat comes complete with not one but two private balconies overlooking city, canyon and ocean views, as well as dual walk-in closets and a luxe bath; and outdoors, the greenery-encased grounds are spotlighted by a pool and spa flanked by a pool house equipped with a bath and locker room, along with a barbecue station nestled alongside an al fresco dining area, pickleball court and stairs leading to a “secret” pergola. There’s also a detached one-bedroom, one-bath guesthouse, plus a spacious motorcourt and an attached three-car garage out front.

    The listing is held by Bryce Pennelof Douglas Elliman.

    Click here for more photos of the Ray Kappe-designed house.

    Anthony Barcelo More