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      Paul Allen’s Historic Villa in the South of France Has Been Sold to a Hedge Fund Billionaire

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      Villa Maryland, Paul Allen’s hilltop mansion in the South of France, has just been snapped up by Millennium Management founder Israel Englander, Bloomberg reported.

      According to local agents, the palatial pad, one of the late Microsoft co-founder’s many prized real estate properties around the world, is worth upwards of €100 million (or roughly $105 million). Although the sale price has not yet been disclosed, the transaction, which was brokered by Savills, is positioned to rank among the biggest private-party transactions this year.

      Paul Allen’s home in the South of France sold to Millennium Management founder Israel Englander.

      Toni Anne Barson/WireImage/Getty Images

      Prominently sited above the seaside fishing village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a favorite summer destination for the beau monde, the 18-bedroom villa measures a whopping 27,000 square feet and sports 10 acres of terraced gardens. The Côte d’Azur spread dates back to 1904, when it was commissioned by shipping and railroad magnate Sir Arthur Wilson, an acquaintance of Edward VII.  

      Per the city’s website, Wilson held a number of grand receptions here, and Allen seems to have continued the tradition; according to the Wall Street Journal, Allen hosted a pirate-themed soirée at Villa Maryland in 1996 during the Cannes Film Festival. It was also reported that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spent time at the estate in 2008 before they separated in 2016. Every summer, Allen would anchor his megayacht Octopus in the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer before journeying over to the estate. 

      The entrance to Villa Maryland in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

      Toni Anne Barson/WireImage/Getty Images

      Englander, whose net worth clocks in at $11.4 billion, has recently been expanding his portfolio. At the start of 2022, he acquired a $20 million apartment in Paris, formerly owned by Jean-Victor Meyers, the great-grandson of the founder of L’Oréal. He’s also taken a lease on an office building in the French capital, Bloomberg reported. 

      Before Allen’s passing in 2018, he pledged that all of the proceeds from his trust would go to charity. Last year, his art collection was hammered down for a record-setting $1.5 billion at Christie’s, and several of the tech tycoon’s lavish properties have already been sold or are currently for sale. They include a sprawling Beverly Hills estate, a Bay Area mansion, a cluster of homes on Seattle’s Mercer Island, and Georgia O’Keeffe’s former home in New Mexico. More

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      Nancy Sinatra’s Former Beverly Hills Pad Can Be Yours for $3 Million

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      Got a pair of boots that are made for walkin’? You might want to throw them on and stroll on over to this hot property before it’s gone!

      As first announced by The Hollywood Reporter, a groovy midcentury modern abode once owned by singer Nancy Sinatra has just popped up for sale in a canyon high above Beverly Hills for the first time in five decades, asking a step under $3 million.

      “Rarely do we see a home come to the market with such a rich Hollywood history,” listing agent Steve Frankel of Coldwell Banker Realty told THR. “This is a wonderful opportunity to restore this midcentury gem and further cement it as the Hollywood treasure it is for years to come.”

      The singer poses at her former home with a selection of boots.

      Gunther/MPTV Images

      Per records, the eldest daughter of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra purchased the place while married to pop star Tommy Sands back in the ’60s, around the same time she released her No. 1 hit These Boots Are Made For Walkin‘. The Beverly Hills Post Office residence was subsequently occupied for a short time by Lost in Space director Sobey Martin, before ultimately selling to Abraham and Renee Frank for a mere $103,000 back in June 1973.

      Currently owned by the couple’s daughter Orly Frank, who has lived there since she was in high school, the low-slung whitewashed structure rests on a gated quarter-acre parcel in the Beverly Hills Post Office area, and features four bedrooms and a matching number of baths filtered across a little more than 2,700 square feet of “largely preserved” living space.

      Sliding glass doors open to a pool area surrounded by a sundeck.

      Jeff Ong

      Other highlights include a gated motorcourt with a “mod entry,” which opens into a spacious living room sporting a martini bar, white brick fireplace with a yellow floating hearth and walls of glass spilling out to a sundeck-encased pool area offering picturesque hillside views; and elsewhere is a dining area, the original kitchen and a primary bedroom hosting a walk-in closet.

      Last, but not least, there’s also a two-car garage that’s accessible via a driveway where Sinatra filmed the video for her ’67 tune I Gotta Get Outta This Town.

      According to THR, Frank is selling because her parents have since passed away. “My mom just loved that house so much and so did my dad,” she said. “It’s a great home. It has all the midcentury modern bones.”

      Click here for more photos of Nancy Sinatra’s former Beverly Hills house.

      David Sutton/MPTV Images More

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      Taylor Swift’s Historic Rhode Island Seafront Home

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      This historic oceanfront home is owned by pop superstar Taylor Swift. Dubbed “High Watch”, it sits on the highest point in Watch Hill, a historic district in Westerly, Rhode Island. It is situated on 5 acres of land and features 700 feet of shoreline with views of Little Narragansett Bay. The colonial style home was […] More

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      ‘Clerks’ Filmmaker Kevin Smith Lists Ben Affleck’s Former Hollywood Hills Home

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      Indie filmmaker Kevin Smith is best known for making indie films set in his native state of New Jersey. These include the cult favorite Clerks franchise (1994–2022), Mallrats (1995), and Chasing Amy (1997). And he remains deeply tied to the Garden State, where he’s long owned a comic book store in Red Bank and where he recently bought the historic Atlantic Moviehouse in the coastal community of Highlands.

      But, for the last two decades, he and his wife, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, have lived in Los Angeles, in a rambling mansion in the Hollywood Hills that he bought from his buddy and frequent collaborator Ben Affleck. Now looking to downsize, the couple has listed the property for sale for just under $6 million. The listing agents are Brock Harris and Lori Harris of Brock & Lori at Keller Williams Realty Los Feliz.

      The three-story home was built in the mid-1990s and is characterized by swooping curves.

      Gavin Cater

      Smith told Mansion Global that he and his wife first saw the 8,144-square-foot house at a Fourth of July barbecue in 2001, instantly “admiring how beautiful the home was.” Affleck, then at the height of his early fame as a leading man, had bought the house just a few years earlier but, according to Smith, had soured on it because it sits right up next to the street, making it too visible to paparazzi.

      Since they loved it so much, Affleck suggested they buy the house for the same price he paid in 1998. And, in early 2003, they did, shelling out $1.62 million for the three-story home that’s notched into a steep hillside. Notable for its verticality and curved façade, the five-bedroom, eight-bath home was built in 1993 and features nearly 12-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, custom-crafted ironwork, and a combination of hardwood and terra cotta tile flooring. An elevator services all floors, including the street-level three-car garage.

      A sculptural bar anchors one end of the living room.

      Gavin Cater

      There’s a sculptural wet bar in the fireside living room, and the kitchen, with two stainless-steel-topped islands, wooden cabinets, and designer appliances, features a curved wall of windows with a leafy, over-the-treetop view of the surrounding hills. Other rooms include a dedicated dining room and a library where Smith recorded his SModcast podcast, as well as the Vegan Abbatoir podcast he co-hosted with his actress and musician daughter, Harley Quinn Smith.

      Three of the four guest bedrooms are ensuite, while the primary suite is described in marketing material as “reminiscent of a Parisian apartment.” The spacious suite includes a living room with fireplace, a raised bedroom area, an adjoining study/office, two walk-in closets, and a sophisticated bathroom with a sauna. 

      Huge potted plants envelop a secluded patio warmed by an adobe fireplace.

      Gavin Cater

      A plant-filled patio with a chunky, tile-accented adobe fireplace runs along a slender gap between the house and a retaining wall, while the rooftop swimming pool and spa are bathed in sunlight.

      The home was used during the pandemic as a set for the TBS reality competition series Celebrity Show-Off, on which Smith placed as runner-up. Now empty nesters, the couple have downsized to a recently renovated home in nearby Studio City.

      Other Hollywood heavy hitters who have called the Outpost Estates neighborhood home include Dolores del Rio, Bela Lugosi, and Gore Vidal, along with Charlize Theron, Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, Winona Ryder, and David Lynch.

      Click here for more photos of Kevin Smith’s L.A. home. More

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      ‘NYPD Blue’ Creator’s $25 Million L.A. Spread Sells to a Prominent Media Financier

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      Last year, Joe Ravitch warned Variety of further upcoming media upheaval and the looming prospect of a “good recession.” But that hasn’t stopped the veteran media financier — his Raine Group famously took home $65 million in fees for advising the WWE on its recent takeover by the Endeavor Group — from investing lots of money into Los Angeles real estate. Ravitch and his wife Sonya were the buyers who recently paid $25 million for a rather stunning Pacific Palisades compound with a very Hollywood history.

      Built in 1937 and designed by famed architect Paul R. Williams, the Tudor-esque home was reportedly occupied Sylvester Stallone during the 1970s. In 1997, it was acquired by prolific and Emmy-winning producer Steven Bochco, who created some of the most beloved television shows of all time — NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues and Doogie Howser, M.D., to name a few.

      Sited on the Pacific Palisades Riviera, the compound is equipped with a lighted tennis court.

      Anthony Barcelo

      Bochco utilized the 1.4-acre spread as a main residence until his 2018 death, after which it was inherited by his son Jesse. The younger Bochco put the Palisades Riviera estate up for grabs last summer, asking $35 million, but it took a year and several big price chops before Ravitch came calling.

      Completely walled and surrounded by an enormous hedge, the very private compound features two gated driveways and a two-story, mansion-sized main house that was recently renovated and painted a crisp white throughout, per the listing. But the real star of this show are the property’s park-like grounds, which also encompass a detached guesthouse, a full-size tennis court and a poolside cabana. All told, the place offers seven bedrooms and 10 baths in nearly 11,000 square feet of living space.

      The kitchen has a pizza oven, marble countertops and a breakfast nook with garden views.

      Anthony Barcelo

      In the main house, indoor highlights include a modernized kitchen kitted out with a wood-burning pizza oven and stone countertops, plus a library with a built-in bookshelves, a family room with a drop-down projector screen, a wine cellar and a separate guest wing. The detached guesthouse has a bedroom and bathroom, plus its own kitchen and gym.

      Outdoors, the rolling grounds include vast swaths of grassy lawn, mature trees and a sparkling pool set well away from the main house. Scattered throughout the property are several spots ideal for al fresco dining and entertaining.

      The lush grounds span 1.4 fully landscaped acres.

      Anthony Barcelo

      Ravitch, 61, is relocating to L.A. from New York, where he owns a home in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park neighborhood. That three-bedroom apartment sports contemporary finishes and is currently listed for sale, asking $5 million.

      The listing was held by Aaron Kirman, Morgan Trent and Dalton Gomez of Aaron Kirman Group at Compass.

      Click here for more photos of the Bochco Estate. More

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      Filmmaker Gavin Hood Is Selling His Resort-Like Malibu Estate

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      It’s officially a wrap for Gavin Hood, who has decided to part ways with his compound in Malibu’s exclusive Point Dume enclave after less than four years of ownership.

      The South African film director—best known for his work on the Oscar-winning Tsotsi, as well as Rendition, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Ender’s Game—is asking exactly $7 million for the Cape Cod-style spread, which he originally acquired for about $4 million, back during the initial onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic.

      Built in 2003, and tucked away on a double-gated and fenced parcel spanning just over an acre, the wood-sided structure features three bedrooms and an equal number of baths in almost 3,800 square feet of two-level living space boasting dark hardwood floors, high ceilings and plenty of natural light throughout.

      The Cape Cod-style estate features a three-bedroom main home resting bedside a separate guesthouse with two garage bays.

      Roy Gelbart/One Shot Productions

      A koi pond sits right outside the front door, which opens into a foyer that flows to a formal sitting/music room and private study with built-in shelving, both of which are adorned with rustic stone fireplaces. Other highlights include a family room, wet bar-equipped dining area, and gourmet kitchen outfitted with granite countertops, an eat-in island, and GE Monogram and Sub-Zero appliances.

      All of the bedrooms can be found upstairs, including a spacious master retreat flaunting a balcony overlooking views of the ocean and Santa Monica Mountains, along with a walk-in closet and bath decked out with an inviting soaking tub; and outdoors, the resort-like grounds host an infinity-edge pool and raised spa, a secluded hammock, barbecue and bar setup, and several spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining.

      A picturesque koi pond sits directly outside the front door of the main home.

      Roy Gelbart/One Shot Productions

      Rounding it all out are two attached garage bays flanking a detached two-story guesthouse, which has its own bedroom, bath, living area and French doors spilling out to a waterfall-fed turtle pond sporting a meditation deck. There’s also a coveted key to Little Dume Beach, plus an outdoor shower for rinsing off after your surf session.

      The listing is held by Nerissa Hood and Michelle Butler of Engel & Völkers Calabasas.

      Click here for more photos of Gavin Hood’s Malibu house.

      Roy Gelbart/One Shot Productions More

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      Judd Apatow Just Sold His $27 Million L.A. Home to a Mystery Buyer

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      Judd Apatow, who already sports a net worth reportedly well north of $150 million, just added a huge check to his bank account. In a deal that quietly closed last month, records reveal the super-prolific Hollywood director/producer (Bridesmaids, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and actress Leslie Mann sold their mortgage-free Los Angeles main residence for $27 million.

      Because the deal was inked off-market, photos and details are scant. In fact, the lavish Brentwood Park estate has never been publicly marketed for sale. Built in 2005 by “Prison Break” producer Marty Adelstein, the manicured property was sold to Apatow in 2009, in an $18 million deal also inked off-market.

      Tax records and aerial imagery reveal the traditional-style main house is quite large, with five bedrooms and seven baths in more than 10,000 square feet of living space. There’s also a detached pool house, plus a semi-detached three-car garage connected to the house by an enclosed walkway.

      Other amenities include a full finished basement, a gated motorcourt, a backyard swimming pool and lush lawns shaded by mature oaks and sycamores. The entire property, which spans three-quarters of a flat acre, is ringed by tall hedgerows for residential tranquility.

      The gated estate features a detached pool house, an in-ground trampoline and a swimming pool.

      Google Earth

      Although it seems very likely their name will emerge in the coming weeks, the buyer’s identity is not yet known and remains shielded behind a mysteriously-monikered LLC. And as the house is located on what is perhaps the most prime street in Brentwood Park, some of the buyer’s new neighbors will include a long list of high-profile people — Sofia Richie, David Foster, and “South Park” creator Trey Parker, to name a few.

      Maybe it’s not really a surprise that Apatow and Mann have sold their elegant estate. The showbiz pair recently became empty nesters, and last year Mann jokingly told Seth Meyers that she was left with “no idea who I am,” when her children moved out. No word yet about where the couple is relocating, but records show they’ve long owned a $9 million condo in New York City’s West Village neighborhood. More

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      Dave Portnoy Drops a Record $42 Million on a Hedge Fund Manager’s Waterfront Nantucket Retreat

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      Earlier this year, prolific property collector Dave Portnoy bought a humble ranch-style house in the Saratoga Springs neighborhood of Upstate New York, just steps from the area’s famed thoroughbred race track.

      Now the veteran sports personality— best known as founder of the Barstool Sports media empire—has added to his prime real estate portfolio yet again, but in a much bigger way, with records showing he paid a whopping $42 million in an off-market deal for a waterfront compound in the Monomoy area of Nantucket. He also shelled out an extra $2 million for furniture and other items.

      Per The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the sale, the deal set a milestone for the most expensive residential real estate transaction ever recorded both on the affluent island and in Portnoy’s native state of Massachusetts—easily topping the $38.1 million transfer of another waterfront compound in Nantucket by venture capitalist Evan Jones and his wildlife photographer wife Cindy this past June.

      The sellers, a pair of trusts known as MAK Daddy and MAK Shack, are both linked to hedge fund manager Mike Colby and his wife Kathi in records. Colby, a longtime executive at Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater Associates, paid a little more than $13 million for two parcels spanning 1.2 acres back in 2016. The couple subsequently razed the existing site structures and engaged architecture and design firm Workshop/APD to create an all-new compound.

      Completed around 2018, the spread is now spotlighted by a four-bedroom main house boasting casual yet elegant interiors highlighted by a double-height entry foyer displaying a sculptural staircase, plus bi-folding glass doors overlooking sweeping views of Nantucket Harbor.

      Other standout features include a living room sporting a freestanding fireplace and pair of sunburst-inspired chandeliers, as well as a dining area, kitchen outfitted with a marble eat-in island, and primary bedroom suite with a private terrace that has an outdoor shower. There’s also a pool area, along with a detached guesthouse hosting a gym and media room.

      Peter Engen of Lee Real Estate acted on behalf of the sellers; the buyer was repped by Shellie Dunlap, also of Lee Real Estate.

      Click here for more photos of Dave Portnoy’s Nantucket house.

      Read McKendree and Workshop/APD More