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      in Luxury

      Stevie Wonder Just Snapped Up This $14 Million Bel Air Mansion From a Saudi Prince

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      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

    • 188 Shares159 Views

      in Luxury

      Formula 1 Star Lewis Hamilton Gets $50 Million for One of His Two NYC Apartments

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      Almost as soon as he bought the Manhattan triplex penthouse in early 2017, for a scorching $44 million, front-of-the-pack Formula One racecar driver Lewis Hamilton, one of the wealthiest sportsmen in the world, with an annual haul estimated at close to $50 million, caught a classic case of the Real Estate Fickle.

      The recently knighted 36-year-old Brit, who won the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last week and will start this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the coveted pole position as the odds-on favorite, never even moved into the 8,900-square-foot Tribeca aerie before he splashed out with the purchase of another insanely expensive penthouse just a block away and flipped the unwanted triplex back on the market just over two years ago for $57 million.

      With no takers at the sky-high price, the ask was chopped to $52 million before some Richie Rich came along and paid $49.5 million for the six-bedroom and six-full-and-two-half-bath spread, to date the highest price paid this year for a downtown condo. As noted by the New York Post, the buyer’s identity is shielded behind an LLC with a Seattle address and there’s plenty of unsubstantiated speculation racing around the celebrity gossip grapevine the new owner is a big tech heavy hitter like Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos. (If you know, let us know!)

      Inside the light-filled triplex with excessive space. 

      StreetEasy

      An elevator opens directly into the foyer and a separate elevator services the penthouse’s three floors, while the double-height corner living room showcases exposed wood support beams and a 20-foot ceiling. Configured around a huge island with two dishwashers, the separate kitchen sports high-end finishes and all the culinary bells and whistles $50 million can buy.
      Floor plans show there are three and potentially four guest bedrooms on the second level, along with a primary suite that consists of a private study, a morning bar and a walk-in closet. The main bedroom’s clean-lined bathroom is lavish though windowless. A den just off the main floor living room has an attached bath that makes it easily convertible to a sixth bedroom.
      The top floor is devoted to a spacious lounge complete with wet bar and powder room. The lounge spills out through walls of accordion-fold glass doors to a pair of terraces, the larger a massive wrap around affair with sweeping city and river views. Marketing materials indicate there’s a plunge pool, though it’s not clear it’s been installed, and the unit transfers with two deeded parking spaces in the secured, on-site garage.

      A view of the skyline and neighborhood from the home’s interior. 

      StreetEasy

      It’s unlikely the mystery buyer took out a standard mortgage but had they, the monthly costs for the penthouse (mortgage, taxes and building fees) would tally up to more than a quarter million bucks. Nick Gavin at Compass represented both Hamilton and the buyer.
      Converted from a 19th-century book binding factory, the handsome, low-rise red-brick building has had massive appeal to high-profile people looking to come and go without being peeped by the public or snapped by paparazzi. The building has an enclosed motor court that allows that. There’s also a courtyard garden, a gym and a spectacular indoor swimming pool. A short list of the many celebs who own (or have owned) units in the building include Mike Myers, Rebel Wilson, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, Meg Ryan, Jake Gylenhaal and Harry Styles.
      The Formula One star’s other Tribeca penthouse was acquired in late 2018 for just over $40.7 million, and online records indicate it sprawls across more than 6,500 square feet with four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. Lewis, whose primary residence is in Monaco, is reported to also maintain homes in Geneva and London.
      Check out more images of the property below.

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    • 188 Shares169 Views

      in Luxury

      Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers Just Bought This $14 Million Beverly Hills Compound

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      Michael “Flea” Balzary already owns two enviable homes in the Los Angeles area, a $7.5 million cottage in the Malibu Colony gated community and a funky $4.25 million compound in the La Crescenta foothills. The Red Hot Chili Pepper has always done well in real estate—last year, he sold a spicy oceanfront Malibu estate for $20 million to hedge fund manager Ross Laser, more than double what Balzary originally paid for the place—so he’s bolstering his real estate portfolio yet again, this time doling out an impressive $14 million for a 1.38-acre Mulholland Drive spread.

      Though the house has a coveted 90210 zip code, it’s technically located in the steep mountains above LA’s Studio City neighborhood. Built way back in 1948, but completely renovated in the early 2000s by LA architect Aleks Istanbullu, the three-story architectural estate sold to Flea and his fashion designer wife Melody Ehsani for a nearly $2 million discount off the original $16.9 million ask. The sellers were former Paramount chief Adam Goodman and his wife Jessica, who acquired the formerly ranch-style estate in 2010 for $4.2 million from Emmy-winning animator Gábor Csupó of “Rugrats” fame. Before that, the property had been owned in the ’90s by Blue Note Records president Don Was.

      The interior of the light-filled mansion. 

      Realtor.com

      Out of sight from the street and resting beyond a long gated driveway, the private residence is secluded amid resort-like grounds and surrounded by famous neighbors — directly across the street is Jack Nicholson’s longtime main residence; also nearby are Warren Beatty’s massive mansion and Lana Del Rey’s multimillion-dollar compound.
      Trimmed in green steel and redwood, the heavily modified architectural structure includes seven bedrooms and eight baths in over 7,300 square feet of living space. There are skylights and hardwood floors throughout, and glitzy amenities include a state-of-the-art Bel Air Circuit movie theater with a 15-foot screen and soda machine, plus an underground wine room — climate-controlled, naturally.

      The home’s movie theater with a 15-foot screen. 

      Realtor.com

      The front door opens into a double-height living room ideal for entertaining, complete with walls of glass spilling out to an al fresco dining deck. Back inside, a set of steps leads past a library and up to a dining room, which in turn abuts a sleekly contemporary kitchen outfitted with luxe stainless appliances. Overlooking the living room is a mezzanine level holding a family room with its own cantilevered balcony; the home’s entire third level encompasses a sumptuous master suite with a sitting room, copper-faced fireplace, gym, steam shower, sauna and two rooftop decks offering up mountain views. A spa-like bath is equipped with a concrete soaking tub set beneath a big window.

      Outside are lush, ultra-private grounds laden with custom amenities. A kitchen and wood-burning fireplace are great for outdoor catering, a firepit lounge area is perfect for s’mores, and a hepatica leaf-shaped pool boasts an “underwater viewing room.” Kids will love the trio of whimsical treehouses, which are connected by a suspension bridge. Adults may favor the putting green and the detached four-car garage. There are also guest quarters and an “art cabin,” per the listing.

      The outdoor bar next to the hepatica leaf-shaped pool. 

      Realtor.com

      Born in Australia but bred in New York, Flea remains best known as a founding member and bassist of L.A.-based rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose recordings have garnered them six Grammy awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 59-year-old has also dabbled in acting, with roles in more than 20 films and TV shows including “Suburbia,” “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “The Big Lebowski.” Flea cofounded the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a nonprofit music education organization for underprivileged children; in 2019, he published “Acid for the Children,” a memoir of his early life.
      Josh Altman and Matt Altman of the Altman Brothers Team at Douglas Elliman were the listing agents; Sherri Rogers and Anthony Stellini of Compass repped the buyer.
      Check out more images of the property below.

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    • 200 Shares149 Views

      in Luxury

      ‘Daily Show’ Host Trevor Noah’s Sleek and Stylish Bel-Air Mansion Could Be Yours for $30 Million

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      Less than a year ago, Trevor Noah dropped $27.5 million on an extravagant Bel Air mansion—just months after selling another nearby Bel Air home to Bird founder Travis VanderZanden for a little over $21 million. Now the South African comedian and Emmy-winning host of “The Daily Show”—who also owns a $10 million penthouse in the New York City borough of Manhattan—has decided to clean house in California, flipping his recently purchased digs back onto the market.

      Views of the outdoor landscape from the interior of the home. 

      Redfin

      Noah is asking $29.75 million for the modern Bel Air structure, which was designed by architect Mark Rios as a personal residence for himself and his fertility doctor husband Guy Ringler. Composed of three white and windowless cubes out front, the rear of the six-bedroom, 9.5-bath home has floor-to-ceiling walls of glass with ocean and mountain views. Over-the-top amenities run rampant—a Japanese-style spa underneath the pool boasts a wooden tub, sauna, and massage and changing rooms, while a wine room has a hidden door that opens to a glass-encased elevator that travels to a gourmet kitchen sporting dark wood cabinetry. There’s also a stylish timber-clad library, plus a gym, club room and rooftop terrace that doubles as a screening room.

      One of the property’s six bedrooms. 

      Redfin

      Other highlights of the three-level residence include a living room adorned in wide-plank oak floors from Germany, which opens to an outdoor bar and kitchen topped by a terrace; and a formal dining room abutting a den. A swank master retreat is spotlighted by dual baths and walk-in wardrobes, and four additional ensuite guest bedrooms can be found elsewhere in the house. Then there are the lush manicured grounds, replete with a 15-by-60-foot infinity-edge pool, fireside conversation pit and the aforementioned outdoor kitchen.

      The backyard of the home featuring an infinity-edge pool. 

      Redfin

      Noah, 37, has helmed Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” since 2015. In 2017, he inked a contract extension that will keep him in the host’s chair through the end of 2022. He also recently embarked upon a “Back to Abnormal” world tour and relays on Instagram that he snagged a role in the upcoming “The Matrix 4: Resurrections” film, slated for release in December; according to the New York Post, Noah has rented another NYC penthouse, this one in Tribeca’s luxe 70 Vestry building at a rate of $52,000 a month.

      Jonah Wilson of Hilton & Hyland holds the listing.
      Check out more images of the mansion below.

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    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Luxury

      Inside a $21 Million Midcentury Modern Estate Frank Sinatra Once Called Home

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      It’s not exactly in “New York, New York,” but Frank Sinatra’s old Los Angeles digs still have plenty of midcentury-modern charm. Fans of the singer can now snap up the estate, located in the quiet suburb of Chatsworth, for $21 million.

      The home has a long history: It was built by architect William Pereira in 1949 and is one of only a small handful of private residences that he ever designed. Best known for his future-forward structures, Pereira’s résumé includes buildings such as the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The property was created for bank heiress Dora Hutchinson, who leased the place to Sinatra. He lived there in the ’50s and ’60s.

      The living room 

      Scott Everts/Fox/Agency

      The 8,200-square-foot main home has since been meticulously restored recently so that it closely resembles its original design. It’s a seven-bed, seven-bath residence, with a separate guest house for visiting friends and family. Guests can have a few drinks outdoors at the 2,000-square-foot outdoor lounge area or take a dip in the 50-foot pool. (The guest house also has its own small pool.)
      There’s opportunity to make money on the estate, too. Given its distinct architecture, the home has been featured in TV shows such as Mad Men, Big Little Lies and Californication. According to the listing, this production business brings in revenue of about $1 million a year–if you’re comfortable with your home being on the big screen, that is.

      The pool 

      Scott Everts/Fox/Agency

      One of the property’s biggest opportunities has to do with its acreage. It’s a 14-acre parcel altogether, and the estate comes with approval for 10 additional homes with separate entrances from the old Sinatra house. That’s great for a family compound, but you can also develop equestrian facilities, a greenhouse or a gym on the property if that’s more your thing.
      Plenty of room to put your own spin on the listing, or just leave it as is. In the words of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, the best is yet to come.
      Check out more photos below:

      One of the bedrooms 

      Scott Everts/Fox/Agency

      The kitchen 

      Scott Everts/Fox/Agency

      The guest house and pool 

      Scott Everts/Fox/Agency More