Located in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, Bel Air is a residential neighborhood considered by many to be an enclave for Hollywood royalty. Founded in 1923, Bel Air is part of the Platinum Triangle, the name given to the three most affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles, with the other two being Holmby Hills and Beverly Hills. Today, Bel Air is the address of choice for many of todayâs biggest celebrities and high-profile personalities, many of whom seek a level of privacy and exclusivity not offered by other communities in the area. As of December 2022, luxury homes for sale in Bel Air had a median listing price of $4,295,000, although it is not unusual for some properties to sell for much more upon closing.
Here are some of Bel Airâs most prominent residents and the homes they have made for themselves in this beautiful neighborhood:
Jennifer Lopez
Pop diva and actress Jennifer Lopez counts her Bel Air home as among her many investments. The $40 million French-inspired estate, which she bought in 2016, features 7 bedrooms and spans 13,932 square feet. It has a large, professional kitchen, a screening room with enough room for 30 guests, a dedicated âglam roomâ where Lopez films her skincare tutorials, a 100-seat theater, a guest house, and a multi-car parking space. The property sits on 8 acres of land and has a swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub, a lounge area, and a basketball court.
Kim Kardashian
The entrepreneur and TV star, Kim Kardashian, invested in a Bel Air home as well. Purchased in early 2013, the $11 million luxury property spans 9,000 square feet, has 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, and in-demand features like a professional-grade kitchen, an ultra-modern and minimalist floor plan, and an expansive backyard with a swimming pool. The house was sold for a whopping $18 million in 2018, making it one of the most expensive luxury homes for sale in Bel Air to be listed in the area.
Beyonce and Jay-Z
When it comes to Bel Air properties, nothing comes close to the $90 million estate purchased by Beyonce and Jay-Z. Designed by architect Paul McClean, the mansion currently serves as the familyâs home base, with features and amenities that has been described by Vogue as being âunlike any other.â The 1.88-acre property, purchased in 2017, boasts 8 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a 15-car garage, a spa, private staff rooms, a home cinema, 4 swimming pools, and a basketball court.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift made waves when she purchased the historic Goldwyn estate back in 2015. Built during the 1930s, the property was commissioned by film producer Samuel Goldwyn, who threw dinner parties in the home with film legends Clark Gable and Charlie Chaplin in attendance. Bought by Swift for a jaw-dropping $25 million, the 10,982 square-foot Goldwyn estate was built in the Georgian Revival style. It included features that harkened back to the days of Old Hollywood include such as the original hardwood floors and French doors. The property now has 7 bedrooms and 10 baths, a private screening room, a swimming pool, a guest apartment, a gorgeous backyard garden, a covered outdoor patio, and a private tennis court. Two years after Swift bought the estate, it was declared a historic landmark by the Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage commissioners. The record-breaking music star and future movie director is now in the middle of restoring the estate to its original condition.
Nicolas Cage
The American actor and film producer bought a gorgeous mansion in Bel Air for $6.5 million back in 1998, before selling it for $10.5 million in 2010. Built during the 1940s, the 11,817-square-foot, red-brick mansion counted singers Dean Martin and Tom Jones as among its former owners. The home was well-known for its extravagant interior decoration and luxurious finishings. At the time of Cage’s ownership, the mansion had 6 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, a theater, a library, and a 1,800-bottle wine cellar. Gray Stone Mansion Built in 1928, the Greystone Mansion is a Tudor Revival home designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann. Oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny had intended to give the property as a gift to his son, Ned Doheny, Jr. and his family. The Greystone Mansion cost over $4 million (or the equivalent of $69 million in 2022 ) to build and was considered the most expensive home in California at the time. The estate has 46,000 square feet of living space sitting on 16 acres of land. Luxury features included a grand hall, an elaborate living room with a balcony for musicians, a movie theater, a bowling alley, and a bar
It was purchased by the City of Beverly Hills in 1965 and made into a city park in 1971. Greystone Mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Today, the estate and its grounds are often used as locations for films, music videos, and television shows.
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