Some locations in the world will immediately conjure up images of a particular lifestyle. Beverly Hills is definitely one of them. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains and surrounded by the amenities of Los Angeles County, this compact and coveted area may only be around 5 and half square miles big, but it represents a self-contained city for the great and good from the world of film, music, business, and tech.
With Hollywood to the east, Santa Monica beach to the west, and the iconic Rodeo Drive serving as the exclusive shopping district, it is easy to see what makes 90210 one of the most prestigious zip codes on the planet.
Competition for real estate is understandably fierce, so let’s take a look at some of the residents who currently call Beverly Hills their home.
Leonardo Di Caprio
Elite Hollywood actor Leonardo Di Caprio picked up his impressive 1930s estate in the Beverly Hills Flats for $9.9 million in December 2021. This 500-square-foot home boasts 5 bedrooms and six bathrooms within the subtle and understated architecture, with flashes of decadence too. A sophisticated brass wet bar and gourmet kitchen deliver the perfect space for entertaining with privacy hedges at the rear keeping the pool, grill area, and fire pit away from any prying eyes. With Leonardo’s work schedule keeping him away for months at a time, this place can often be found available for rent for a price of around $32,000 per month.
Adele
As is often the case in Beverly Hills, Adele bought her residence from a previous owner with a similarly high profile. In this case, it was actor and writer Sylvester Stallone. Interestingly, she even chose to keep the statue of Stallone’s most famous character, Rocky Balboa, on the premises. This 18,00 square foot mansion sprawls over 3.5 acres with 8 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, and a stunning infinity pool that offers views across a vista of the surrounding canyons and cityscape. Additional renovations have added an extra floor as Adele seeks to turn her $58 million investment into a forever home for her family.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s Beverly Hills home can be viewed as the pinnacle of a restoration project with elements of history, grandeur, and design at its heart. In 2015, Taylor purchased the Samuel Goldwyn Estate for $25 million, a Georgian revival-inspired mansion originally built in 1934 for Goldwyn, one of the pioneers of the golden age of Hollywood. Her thoughtful and sympathetic restoration of the house led to its designation as a historic landmark two years later in 2017. With seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a library, and a purpose-built screening room it now also has all the modern amenities to cater for Taylor and guests with references to a number of famous entertainment eras all over the home.
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson’s home in Beverly Hills also represents a little bit of Hollywood history. Located on Mulholland Drive, perhaps the most iconic street in the area, this 43,000 sq. ft. estate has been his home since 1969. There are literally hundreds of stories regarding the glitz and glamour of Jack Nicholson’s infamous parties here with the lush landscaping providing a safe haven for some memorable nights. Over time, Jack has expanded his initial investment through the purchase of adjacent properties, even buying Marlon Brando’s neighbouring home for $2.5 million in 2005.
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos made his fortune as the creator and owner of Amazon and is now concentrating on the future of space travel. His Beverly Hills home now acts as his base with some out-of-this-world features and figures attached to it. It was purchased for $165 million in February 2020 from the record label boss, David Geffen in what was a record for real estate transaction in Los Angeles at the time. This expansive estate spreads over 9 acres with terraces, landscaped gardens, an entire swimming area, and even its own 9-hole golf course with immaculate views of the LA skyline to enjoy.
Denzel Washington
Two-time academy award winner Denzel Washington has called Beverly Hills home since 1992 when he bought his estate in the ultra-exclusive Beverly Hills Park community. This almost 30,000 square foot palatial mansion of 14 bathrooms and eight bedrooms was once owned by the Disney Walt Disney boss, Michael Eisner, costing Denzel $2.65 million at the time of purchase. Current valuations show this as an extremely shrewd investment as it could easily fetch around £30 million in today’s market.
John Legend & Chrissy Teigen
The musician John Legend and model Chrissy Teigen have been Beverly Hills residents since buying their home in Benedict Canyon in 2020. This contemporary masterpiece is the result of a long standing collaboration with the AD 100 designer Jake Arnold, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows and a sunken outdoor lounge. Their desire to blend modernity with a natural aesthetic is evident in the striking choice to plant a tree in the centre of the house. Their children are also well catered for with their own areas in the estate that include a full size climbing wall.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie bought his Italian Renaissance Revival mansion for $6 million in 1999.
It was originally built by the architect duoHarry Koerner and William J Gage in 1929 to include six bathrooms and 13 bedrooms. During a recent renovation to update the house, he joined forces with the architect Robert Attree to add more modern functionality to suit his lifestyle with a full recording studio and library adding to the 29 rooms. With views overlooking the Los Angeles County Club, this is a picturesque hideaway with plenty of room for dancing on the ceiling.
Interest will always remain high for Beverly Hills property. The glamour it projects, the stories attached to it, and the consistently high return on real estate investment provide an attraction that is hard to match. As you would expect, when the limited stock does become available there is always a long line of potential new residents queuing around the block in this world-famous area to stake their own claim for a home.
