Photo: The Agency
While some mega-mansions are labeled as soulless and devoid of character, 1011 North Beverly Drive is rich with history. The former estate of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst and actress Marion Davies was the honeymoon destination of choice for John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, and featured in blockbuster films such as The Godfather and The Bodyguard.
Photo: The Agency
Dubbed The Beverly House, the 18-bedroom, 25-bathroom manse listed for $125 million last week, making it the second most expensive property on the LA market, behind 67 Beverly Park Court, an “authentic Italian village” asking $165 million.
The Beverly House’s current owner, attorney and real estate investor Leonard Ross, is facing foreclosure and has been given four months to sell the property and repay his creditors the $60 million they’re owed. According to public records, Ross purchased the estate in 1976 for $473,000, or about $2.14 million in today’s dollars. This is not the first time Ross has attempted to offload the 3.5 acre property — it’s been listed three times since 2007 for upwards of $195 million.
Photo: The Agency
Luxury real estate brokerage The Agency holds the listing, with founder Mauricio Umansky and managing partner Santiago Arana named as the agents. The pair are reportedly encouraged by the recent sale of the Warner estate, purchased by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for $165 million earlier this month, and the Chartwell estate, which was snapped up by media heir Lachlan Murdoch for $150 million last December.
Photo: The Agency
The Beverly House was designed by famed architect Gordon Kaufman, who worked on the Hoover Dam, in the Spanish Revival style. Known for its distinctive H-form, the residence boasts a two-story library with hand-carved wood paneling and a wraparound walkway, a formal living room that bears 22-foot arched ceilings, and a billiards room with herringbone parquet floors and a stone fireplaced sourced from Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California.
Photo: The Agency
The excess doesn’t stop there; an 82-foot-long hallway can be found on the main level, bested only by an upstairs corridor that measures 102 feet long. A large addition was built by the current owner in 1995 — you’ll recognize that area of the home from The Godfather (remember the horse’s head?).
Photo: The Agency
There’s an onsite spa, sizable swimming pool, lighted tennis court, two screening rooms, commercial-grade kitchen, and terraces that can accommodate hundreds of your closest friends. The sprawling gardens were designed by acclaimed landscape architect Paul Thiene and are characterized by cascading waterfalls, manicured hedges and mature trees.
Photo: The Agency
As Ross only has until May 31st to sell The Beverly House, a high-rolling buyer may be able to score a deal on this historic LA adobe.
