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      A Private Equity Billionaire Paid a Record-Breaking $44 Million for This San Diego Home

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      Back in October, an oceanfront Del Mar house sold for a whopping $44.1 million, sending shockwaves through the quietly posh Southern California beach town and setting a new record for the most expensive San Diego County home ever sold. The out-of-left-field, off-market transaction came even as the San Diego real estate market has effectively stalled over the past year, with the deal pipeline choked by high interest rates, recession fears and low inventory. And the transfer also eclipsed Bill Gates’ recent $43 million purchase of an arguably more impressive house on the same strip of sand.

      Property records indicate the $44 million house was purchased by a mysterious Delaware-based LLC, a common business tool used by the wealthy to cover their real estate tracks. But it’s certainly worth noting that the mysterious entity is managed by a longtime associate of Egon Durban—the high-flying, billionaire Silicon Valley dealmaker who has a known affinity for both record-breaking transactions and high-end real estate. Durban, the co-CEO of private equity giant Silver Lake, sports a personal net worth that tops $1.5 billion, according to Forbes.

      Built circa 1940s, the ranch-style compound includes three separate buildings and parking for 20+ cars.

      Google Earth

      Since the house was never on the market, photos are virtually nonexistent and details are few. But certainly the vast majority of its value lies in its oceanfront location—the property spans just over an acre of flat land, right on the sand—rather than the structures themselves. The main residence is unremarkable, large and well-maintained but visually dated. The property was built decades ago by prominent Hollywood real estate developer C.E. Toberman, founder of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Bowl, and remained in the extended Toberman family until Durban’s purchase.

      In addition to the U-shaped main house, which is single-story and painted a deep navy blue, there are two ancillary buildings on the property. Each of those includes a two-car garage and additional living space, likely for guests or live-in staff. The oceanfront compound also boasts a full-size tennis court—a very rare thing on the shores of Del Mar—and a gated, blacktopped driveway with off-street parking for dozens of cars. There’s also an outdoor swimming pool, plus a sizable backyard with a grassy lawn and a wooden deck with stairs descending to the sandy beach. Altogether, the estate sports eight bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms.

      The estate spans more than one flat acre and is one of only a handful of oceanfront Del Mar homes that includes a tennis court.

      Google Earth

      Durban has yet to confirm his ownership of the Del Mar compound, but he’s certainly no stranger to ultra-high-end real estate. Back in 2019, records reveal he and longtime wife Abby dropped $24 million to buy a brand-new mansion in prime Atherton, the small Silicon Valley town famously home to scores of the nation’s wealthiest tech executives. The couple also own a vacation home in California’s scenic Pebble Beach neighborhood worth approximately $10 million.

      The Durbans have also long maintained a seriously impressive blufftop mansion at the exclusive Kukio Golf and Beach Club on Hawaii’s Big Island, where one of their nearest neighbors is fellow billionaire Michael Dell—a longtime Durban business associate and the brash dealmaker’s ownership partner in the professional bull riding team Austin Gamblers. And astute soccer fans will know that Durban was also behind the $500 million purchase of a minority share in Manchester City, a landmark transfer inked in 2019. More

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      Seann William Scott Is Selling His Custom-Built L.A. Compound for $5 Million

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      Bye, bye, Mr. American Pie. Seann William Scott, best known for playing Steven Stifler in the 1999 coming-of-age film starring Jason Biggs, is parting ways with his California home.  

      The actor’s Venice compound recently hit the market for just shy of $5 million and includes a historic, 1.300-square-foot bungalow and a glass-and-steel house behind it. Altogether, the two abodes offer five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and 4,600 square feet of living space. According to Bloomberg, who first reported on the listing, Scott bought the 5,148-square-foot lot back in 2017 after relocating from New York. At the time, he paid $2.2 million for the spread but admitted he planned on flipping the property for a profit.  

      “I don’t think people who know my work would imagine I’m an architectural design nerd,” Scott told the media site. “But I am.” The lengthy renovation took about six years to complete. The Dude, Where’s My Car? star had the idea to combine the two buildings and collabed with his wife and interior designer, Olivia Scott, on the project. The remodel included taking the bungalow downs to the studs while the other glassy structure was already “bare bones,” Scott told Bloomberg.

      Glass doors help with the indoor-outdoor feel of the home.

      Peter Baker for Sotheby’s International Realty

      The smaller of the two dwellings had some catching up to do in the aesthetics department. The overall vibe here is chic and minimalist with lots of natural, organic materials. The one-story bungalow has earthy tile floors throughout and the kitchen is clad in Caesarstone and warm wood. Elsewhere, you’ll find two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a dining room that leads to a covered deck. “We kept the footprint of the place, but it was basically a new building,” Scott told Bloomberg. 

      On the other hand, the glass-and-concrete loft has three bedrooms and four bathrooms spread across three levels. Designed by architect Kevin Mulcahy, highlights of the home are its accordion glass doors on the ground floor, a double-height entertainment area, and a second kitchen that’s kitted out with floating marble shelves, wood paneling, and original steel beams.  

      There are original steel beams in the kitchen.

      Peter Baker for Sotheby’s International Realty

      Scott, who will play a disgraced cop in the upcoming movie Bad Man, is proud of all the work that’s gone into revamping the property. However, he admittedly has his doubts about handing the home to its next owner. “This place is so cool, and I love Venice so much. Am I making a mistake selling it?” 

      Graham Larson of Sotheby’s International Realty – Pacific Palisades Brokerage and Sam Plouchart of Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage hold the listing together. 

      Click here to see all the photos of Seann William Scott’s Venice home. 

      Peter Baker for Sotheby’s International Realty

      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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      A Mining Billionaire Quietly Dropped $47 Million on an Oceanfront Santa Barbara Mansion

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      Although the secretive deal actually went down last September, it’s only now come to light that billionaire Ivanhoe Mines magnate Robert Friedland and his longtime wife Darlene have very quietly paid a hair under $47 million for an oceanfront estate in the seaside California town of Carpinteria. The deal was far and away the biggest residential real estate transaction recorded in Santa Barbara County in 2023.

      The home’s lucky sellers were Darren Entwistle, the controversial and longtime CEO of Canadian telecommunications giant Telus, and his wife Fiona. The Entwistles had placed the house on the market in the summer of 2022, asking a whopping $55 million, but delisted the property several months later. The $47 million transfer was inked off-market. The Canada-based couple originally acquired the estate in 2012 as a vacation home, paying $17 million.

      The $47 million deal for the 2-acre estate represents one of the largest sums ever paid for a Carpinteria home.

      Google Earth

      Originally designed in the early 1990s by noted architect Robert L. Earl, the East Coast-inspired residence was extensively renovated by architect Andy Neumann and original builder Paul Franz in 2012. The six-bedroom, eight-bath main house features nearly 10,000 square feet of living space. Additional structures include an 800-square-foot guesthouse with one bedroom and a full bath, plus a garage building with room for three cars, plus a gym with an infrared sauna.

      Hidden away behind a long gated driveway flanked by manicured lawns dotted with reflecting ponds, on an almost 2-acre blufftop parcel sited just west of Loon Point, the white-shingled and gable-roof main house is shaded by magnolia trees and fronted by a cobblestone motorcourt. Inside, ornate interiors are studded with coffered ceilings, rich hardwood floors, Murano glass light fixtures and numerous sets of French doors that spill out to the gardens.

      Other highlights include a double-height foyer anchored by a dazzling chandelier and curvy wrought-iron staircase, formal living and dining rooms, and a mahogany-paneled office with a fireplace surrounded by a jade green marble mantle. A cozy family room connects to an all-white gourmet kitchen outfitted with marble slab countertops, an eat-in island and high-end stainless appliances, as well as an accompanying butler’s pantry and breakfast nook.

      Upstairs, the plush master retreat rests beneath an eye-catching recessed ceiling, and offers a fireside sitting area, covered balcony, and dual baths and walk-in closets. Five additional ensuite bedrooms are scattered throughout the house, including one with a private games room. Elsewhere are a wine cellar and an additional private office.

      The posh amenities continue outdoors, where the exquisitely manicured and picturesque Sydney Baumgartner-landscaped grounds host several areas ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining. An added bonus: direct beach access and a viewing platform accessible via a private stone pathway.

      It’s also worth noting that the property is located on the most prestigious street in Carpinteria, where other neighboring homes are owned by the likes of Kevin Costner, Kourtney Kardashian, George Lucas, and Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.

      The Friedlands own many other homes, including two side-by-side estates in prime Beverly Hills that they purchased for $26 million in 2021. In late 2020, they paid $16 million for Zsa Zsa Gabor’s longtime Bel Air mansion, which the couple has since demolished.

      Locksley Hall in California’s Belvedere neighborhood, which Robert Friedlend sold in 2015 for a record $47.5 million to former Facebook executive Matt Cohler.

      Google Earth

      But nice as all those properties are, they rather pale in comparison to the Friedlands’ former home up in Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area. In 2015, that historic hilltop property — known as Locksley Hall — was sold for a record-breaking $47.5 million to venture capitalist Matt Cohler, one of Facebook’s first five employees and an early investor in Instagram.

      Internationally, the Friedlands also continue to maintain a dramatic blufftop villa in Phuket, Thailand, that has no fewer than three infinity pools, though their main residence remains a luxury flat in Singapore. More

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      Marshmello Spins Out of His $15 Million Beverly Hills Mansion

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      Chris Comstock is only 31 years old, but the Philadelphia native is already cashing in big, having sold his lavish mansion in the mountains above Beverly Hills for exactly $15 million in an off-market deal. That’s way more than the $10.8 million Comstock—better known to his millions of EDM fans as Marshmello, the bucket-hat wearing DJ—paid for the place less than four years ago, back in summer 2020. The all-cash buyers, according to tax records, are Hovig and Annie Safoian—the married co-founders of cloud solutions provider SADA Systems. SADA, long a family-owned company, was recently acquired in a landmark deal valued at approximately $800 million.

      It’s been a nonstop party since 2015 for Comstock and his chewily sweet alter-ego, which established itself as one of the world’s top electronic music acts seemingly overnight. Behind the slickly produced hit records (“Silence,” “Wolves,” “Friends,” “Alone”) and the omnipresent smiley bucket head is Marshmello’s well-oiled marketing dream team; his hard-charging manager Moe Shalizi is often credited for the speedy creation of the Marshmello brand, and networking has helped, too—early shoutouts from other big-name EDM acts like Skrillex and Tiesto proved invaluable to his early success.

      The former Marshmello house is located in Mulholland Estates, a guard-gated community where other residents include Kendall Jenner, Paris Hilton and Christina Aguilera.

      Google Earth

      Built in 1992 and designed by Richard Landry—the celebrity-favored architect who frequently puts the “extra” in extravagant—the stylistically opaque house boasts interiors by celebrity designer Jeff Lewis, who was hired to right previous decor wrongs. The blindingly white result has more than a subtle Miami vibe.

      While the house itself is not gated, the property lies within a 24/7 guarded community with frequent patrols and a plethora of security cameras. Glass front doors open into a double-height foyer with marble floors. Flanking the foyer are a fireplace-equipped living room and a dining room with dual chandeliers. Just beyond lies an eat-in kitchen with dual islands and all the expected top-of-the-line stainless appliances.

      There’s also a library/office and a family room that opens, via French doors, to a sprawling back patio. Upstairs are four ensuite bedrooms, including a jazzed-up master with its own kitchenette, plus spa-style bath and dual closets. The nearly 8,000-square-foot mansion also boasts a finished basement level; a lounge/entertainment center with a snazzy wet bar await downstairs. Out back, the hillside lot is steep but nicely terraced with adequate patches of grassy lawn and concrete terraces for al fresco dining.

      No word yet regarding where Comstock plans to move, but the musical sensation still owns three smaller but still multimillion-dollar homes scattered around Los Angeles. At least two of those properties are reportedly occupied by family members. More

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      Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer Are Selling Their Custom-Built L.A. Home for $8 Million

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      Known for their co-starring roles on HBO’s hit vampire drama True Blood, real-life couple Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are parting ways—with their home, that is. And if you want to sink your teeth into their stately abode in Southern California, it’ll cost you a cool $8 million.  

      The property, which measures 7,102 square feet, sits on a large double lot not far from the world-famous (and always entertaining) Venice Beach Boardwalk. According to records, the Hollywood duo purchased the property back in 2009 for $2.2 million. They’ve since transformed the humble beach cottage that stood on the property into a sprawling contemporary residence. They first tried to sell in 2020, listing the beachy spread for a hefty $14 million. It did not entice a buyer, and since then, the residence has been on and off the market at lower prices.

      The third floor has an open kitchen, dining, and living area that extends to a rooftop deck.

      Anthony Barcelo

      The actors tapped architect David Hertz—who designed Hank Moody’s (David Duchovny) house on Showtime’s Californication—to re-imainge the property shortly after they bought it. The project ended up taking seven years. Today, the boxy structure is wrapped head-to-toe in Alaskan yellow cedar. Specifically, Hertz opted to recycle the original, circa-1919 benches from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to craft the façade. He told Architectural Digest that he wanted “the outside to look like driftwood” and that the goal was for the home to resemble a ship, complete with steel railings and teak decks.  

      When it comes to the layout, the floor plan is flipped, meaning all common areas are on the third floor to maximize access to light, breezes, and views, while the bedrooms are nestled underneath. The open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area on the top floor leads to a rooftop deck that overlooks the ocean. Other standout features include a Zen garden, a partially covered swimming pool, a sauna, a spa, and a fitness room.

      The home was custom-built in 2017 by architect David Hertz.

      Anthony Barcelo

      The compound comprises a five-bed, eight-bath main house. The original beach bungalow was renovated is now incorporated into the existing home. In terms of décor, the salt-air-licked house fits right in with the neighborhood’s free-spirited, bohemian vibe. There’s concrete flooring and tons of eco-friendly touches, including energy-efficient lighting. “There are also skylights that open to draw prevailing breezes in to passively cool the house with natural ventilation,” Hertz told the magazine. 

      Click here to see all the photos of Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer’s L.A. home.  

      Anthony Barcelo

      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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      Rapper Lil Dicky Splashes Out Millions for Kenny G’s Longtime L.A. Compound

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      Thought you’d never see a Grammy-winning smooth jazz saxophonist collaborate on a hit record with a rapper known for frequently waxing eloquent about the dimensions of his genitalia? Well, now you have.

      But then again, you can’t exactly rush out to buy this record in stores. We’re talking about this lavish estate in L.A.’s Studio City, which tax records show has just sold for a discounted but still lofty $6.3 million. The buyer? David Burd, the 35-year-old Philadelphia native better known as rapper-comedian Lil Dicky.

      Built in the late 1980s and designed by Ojai-based architect Kevin A. Clark, the 5,600-square-foot house was famously owned by Kenny G from 2007 until 2021, when the jazz musician unloaded the structure and its half-acre of grounds for just under $3 million to a couple who gave the place an extensive remodel and modernization before placing it back on the market last spring, asking $7.5 million.

      Secluded atop a high knoll on a dead-end street in the Studio City hills, the very private home is additionally cloaked from public view behind high gates, towering walls and overgrown hedges. Behind a long driveway, the contemporary-meets-East Coast traditional-style structure features a whimsical Dutch-style front door painted a demure blue, plus an open-concept layout encompassing sizable public rooms, five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and a single powder room.

      Highlights include rustic hardwood floors throughout, numerous sets of French doors opening to the gardens, sweeping views and whitewashed wood-beam ceilings. Notable spaces are a fireplace-equipped living room, a gym, a wood-paneled library equipped with its own fireplace, and an updated kitchen with dual islands, marble countertops and premium Miele, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. Upstairs, the master retreat offers a fireplace, sitting area, a spa-style bath and a private balcony with spectacular views from the home’s hillside perch.

      Out back, the manicured grounds offer lush respites for reading or sunbathing, grassy lawns and a lap pool with a spa. There’s also a detached two-car garage topped by a guest apartment that formerly served as Kenny G’s at-home recording studio. More

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      Kylie Jenner Lists Los Angeles Home For $55 Million (PHOTOS)

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      Cosmetics mogul & reality star Kylie Jenner has just listed her modern Los Angeles home for $55 million. She purchased it back in 2020 for $36.6 million. It features a total of 19,250 square feet (15,350 a/c) of living space with 7 bedrooms & 14 bathrooms. There is a main house, detached guard house with […] More

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      Maria Sharapova Scores an $11 Million Montecito Estate

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      Last fall, noted Chicago philanthropist Ann Lurie put her longtime vacation home in California‘s famously posh seaside neighborhood of Montecito on the market, asking just under $13 million. Records now reveal the property has quietly sold for $11.5 million in an all-cash deal, and the spendy buyer is retired tennis superstar Maria Sharapova.

      Lurie, the widow of real estate titan and former Chicago White Sox and Bulls part owner Robert H. Lurie, acquired the stunningly lavish Montecito hideaway in the mid-2000s, paying about $8.3 million. Since then, it’s clear the house and its extensive grounds have been exquisitely and painstakingly maintained.

      Reportedly designed by noted architect Lockwood de Forest Jr. and completed circa 1949, the five-bedroom main house is surrounded by 3.3 acres of lush lawns and terraced gardens shaded by mature specimen trees. Walled and gated, the impressive estate lies high in the foothills above downtown Montecito, at the very end of a quiet and secluded cul-de-sac. The property also happens to sit directly next door to an even larger compound owned by Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom.

      Though it has been modified and expanded over the years, the home’s rustic, wood-trimmed interiors still hark back to its midcentury roots.

      VirTour Media

      Best described as an ultra-refined and elegant take on a rustic cabin in the woods, Sharapova’s new home is filled with natural light, thanks to soaring walls of glass that blur the line between indoors and out. Sunlight also filters in through the skylit-topped entry foyer, which connects to a living room equipped with one of the largest brick fireplaces we’ve ever seen.

      Radically overhauled in recent years, the open kitchen offers commercial-grade appliances and a slim island hewn entirely from rustic hardwood. There’s also a separate and full outdoor kitchen tucked under a loggia and equipped with sleek stainless appliances, which we would guess were installed during Lurie’s ownership.

      Other property highlights include a resort-worthy master suite outfitted with a fireplace, a stainless steel-shelled soaking tub and vanishing walls of glass that provide direct access to a covered terrace with pool and ocean views. Speaking of the property’s current pool, it was installed during Lurie’s ownership and is stunning in all its sail-shaped, visually dramatic glory. Also on tap out back are a fully detached guesthouse with its own full kitchen and lounge area, plus a sunken fire-it seating area and a detached three-car garage.

      Sharapova, 36, still maintains a $9 million compound in the Santa Barbara County community of Summerland. But for many years, her main residence has been a heavily customized contemporary home in the affluent city of Manhattan Beach. More