Holmby Hills Estate

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Holmby Hills Estate

 

Located in a part of town where moguls and movie stars make their home, this storied estate can be yours for $23.5 million. But that's twice what the owners paid for it two years ago. 

The 10,000-square-foot, country English-style mansion is located on two acres near Beverly Hills, in the Holmby Hills enclave of Los Angeles. Built in 1938, the house was once owned by the vaudevillian and comedienne, Fanny Brice, of Funny Girl fame. In later years, Sandra Moss, former wife of Jerry Moss, who founded A&M Records along with Herb Alpert, occupied the residence. In 1992, Sandra Moss sold the property to the movie producer, Alan Ladd Jr., the son of the late actor, Alan Ladd. 

Media management executive Dennis Holt and his wife Brooks purchased the property in 1998 from Ladd for about $11 million. Just last month, a 14,000-square foot mansion owned by Kroll-O'Gara (nasdaq:KROG - news - people) Vice Chairman Tom O'Gara sold on the same street as the Holt home for $13.5 million. And although Holt's property has more land than O'Gara's, two acres as opposed to a little over one acre, Holt may still have a hard time finding a buyer at that price. 

In the movie capital of the world, why not have a dramatic staircase to make a dramatic entrance?

More than 30 years ago, Holt founded Western International Media, currently known as Initiative Media. The privately held company was one of the first, and is still the largest, media-buying company in the U.S. 

In 1994, Holt sold Western International Media to The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG - news - people) for a reported $50 million. In 1999, he founded Patriot Communications LLC, a telecommunications company based in Los Angeles. 

The Holt home has a master suite with his-and-hers bathrooms as well as three additional bedroom suites. It has a movie theater, a wine cellar and six fireplaces. The property also features a north-south tennis court, a swimming pool and two guesthouses. For more information on this property, contact Joyce Flaherty of Coldwell Banker at (310) 273-3113. --Felicia Paik 

Forbes Fact

Situated between Beverly Hills and Bel-Air, Holmby Hills is one of the most desirable residential enclaves in Los Angeles, with properties easily selling in the double-digit millions of dollars. The city's bold-faced names like to live here, including Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, television producer Aaron Spelling and Internet mogul David Bohnett. In years past, showbiz types such as Barbra Streisand, Gary Cooper and Sonny and Cher have all called Holmby Hills home. -- F.P


http://www.forbes.com/2001/03/30/0330how.html

Michael Jackson�s Final Home Contents Up for Auction

Two years after Michael Jackson�s death, the King of Pop still commands the news. Days ago, Jackson�s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of MJ and just yesterday it was announced the contents of Michael Jackson�s last home � the massive Holmby Hills estate he was renting when he died � will be sold in a live auction.

Despite the lure of Jackson�s personal possessions, the official press release does not mention the singer at all but focuses on the �history of these items,� explained celebrity auctioneer and Julien�s Auctions president Darren Julien to the Associated Press.

Among the auction items is a chalkboard with a message scrawled on it by one of Jackson�s children, which is expected to fetch over $400. Additionally, upholstered chairs smudged with Jackson�s makeup and the bed where Jackson died will also be auctioned. The auction is planned for December 17 and a limited-edition auction catalog is available for pre-sale for $100. Other items include 18th century paintings, Louis IV furniture and 19th-century sculptures.

Michael Jackson leased the gated mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive and its furnishings from December 2008 up to his death June 25, 2009 with his three children while he prepared for his world-wide comeback tour.

Previously MLS-listed on the Holmby Hills real estate market for $28,995,000, Jackson�s leased home is also currently for sale for an undisclosed price, not through the auction. The 7-bedroom, 13-bathroom mansion is a French Chateau-style home with similar furnishings to that of Jackson�s Neverland Ranch. Contents from Neverland Ranch were sold by Julien�s Auctions in April 2009.

Although often controversial, Michael Jackson was undeniably one of the U.S.� top performing artists with the record for biggest album sales for 1982's �Thriller� and the title of most-awarded singers with multiple Grammy awards and 13 Billboard number-one hits.

http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-09/contents-of-michael-jacksons-final-home-up-for-auction/