More stories

  • in

    The Weeknd Lists His Los Angeles Penthouse, Dubbed the ‘Mogul,’ for $22.5 Million

    Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, the musical powerhouse better known as the Weeknd, has decided to sell his lavish LA penthouse a mere two years after buying it.

    The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter behind such hits as “Blinding Lights” and “Can’t Feel My Face” purchased the full-floor Westwood condo for $21 million back in 2019, in what was one of the priciest deals ever recorded in Los Angeles County. Ready for an upgrade, the R&B star put the sprawling 7,950-square-foot pad on the market for $22.5 million on Tuesday, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. It comes shortly after he shelled out $70 million for a Bel Air mega-mansion last August.

    The glitzy apartment is located in a boutique high-rise called Beverly West, which spans 22 stories and offers 35 luxury condos. The Weeknd’s crib, dubbed the “Mogul,” comes complete with no less than four balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows for views across the Los Angeles Country Club, the Pacific Ocean and Downtown.

    The entertainment bar with a TV wall of four 65-inch screens. 

    Beverly Hills Estates

    With direct elevator access, the elegant abode features four bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Fit for music royalty, the generous primary suite is complemented by a spacious ensuite with two vanities, a steam shower and soaking tub. Elsewhere, there’s a state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen designed by famed industrial designer Antonio Citterio, a high-tech gym, a wine vault and an entertainment bar with a TV wall composed four 65-inch screens. You can also expect high-end Italian furniture, stone floors and hand-knotted rugs. On top of that, the building’s shared amenities include a saltwater swimming pool, rooftop helipad and 24-hour concierge.
    If the Weeknd manages to land a buyer, it’ll be the second residence the budding real estate mogul has offloaded in as many years. He also sold his 12,500-square-foot Hidden Hills mansion to Madonna last April for $19.3 million.
    Angel Salvador of the Beverly Hills Estates holds the listing. He did not immediately respond to Robb Report’s requests for comment.
    Check out more photos below:

    Beverly Hills Estates

    Beverly Hills Estates

    Beverly Hills Estates

    Beverly Hills Estates

    Beverly Hills Estates

    Beverly Hills Estates

    Beverly Hills Estates

    Beverly Hills Estates

    Beverly Hills Estates More

  • in

    Actor David Spade’s Sleek, ’70s Beverly Hills Home Can Be Yours for $20 Million

    After two decades of ownership, David Spade is officially ready to part ways with his stylish Beverly Hills abode.

    Built in 1978, the Saturday Night Live alum’s home sits on three-quarters of an acre in the Trousdale Estates community. Its modern layout was designed by prolific architect Edward Fickett and includes 6,426 square feet of space containing four bedrooms, seven bathrooms and three fireplaces. The sunken great room in the home features 20-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors that open to a patio.

    The sunken great room 

    Tyler Hogan

    “The house is just like, window city,” the comedian told The Wall Street Journal in an interview. “It’s like, ‘Come over and bring Windex.’” In addition to becoming neighbors with actors Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, the home’s new owners will enjoy property amenities like a motor court, three-car garage, pool and tennis court.
    The Bachelor in Paradise host first viewed an aerial shot of the property back in 1990, and immediately knew he wanted to purchase it. “It looked so cool, it was the old ‘70s style and I wanted it right way,” he said in the WSJ interview.

    The pool and outdoor patio with scenic views 

    Tyler Hogan

    Unfortunately, negotiations fell through with the seller at that time and Spade wasn’t able to purchase the house until three years later for roughly $4 million. It’s now being listed for $19.995 million.
    That price jump reflects some improvements to the property, as the actor says he “gussied up” the residence little by little over the years. He started by replacing the Spanish-style, red-tile roof with sleek metal parapet and installing gray hardwood floors throughout the home. He eventually went on to upgrade the kitchen and his-and-hers primary bathrooms and expand the TV room by tacking on a bar.
    The all-new kitchen
    Although Spade initially bought the house because of its “good vibe,” the 57-year-old believes he is ready for a change—but “could easily still be there.” To get the ball rolling, he purchased a new home for $13.85 million this past fall in the famous Hollywood Hills. The new residence reportedly also has a modern design, but it’s far larger than the Beverly Hills home, with a span of about 11,300 square feet. It even has a theater which he will potentially use to record podcasts.

    The listing is currently held by Stuart Vetterick of Hilton & Hyland. To learn more about the property visit MLS.com. Check out more images below:

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan

    Tyler Hogan More

  • in

    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

    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

    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