Sometimes, dreams have no price, and if they are for sale, it is too extravagant. Taking a stroll through the hyper-exclusive residential neighborhood of Bel Air (Los Angeles) where personalities like Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock, Judy Garland, and Jennifer Aniston have lived and still reside, is the epitome of luxury.
This is evidenced by the indescribable mansion being sold for 400 million dollars in the best area of Bel Air, specifically at 11201 Chalon Road. If someone acquires it, it will become the most expensive property ever sold in the real estate history of the United States. In fact, it is referred to as the crown jewel of Los Angeles.
The architect and interior designer Peter Marino, one of the most renowned in the realm of opulent lifestyles, took a decade to bring to life, along with the builder Peter McCoy, this 6,500 square meter residence spread across three independent buildings on 3.2 hectares of flat land. Unheard of for this area full of small hills and winding roads. To get an idea of the grandeur, one must travel over 450 meters to reach the main mansion's entrance.
"Properties of this caliber simply do not exist," says Jack Harris, agent at The Beverly Hills Estates, a subsidiary of Savills in the UK, who manages the buying and selling alongside his colleague Michael Fahimian. The latter adds that "the owner spent over 70 million dollars just on land and then decided to build a mansion for a lifetime without a budget or defined deadlines. He gave the architect, designer, and builder carte blanche." According to the Wall Street Journal, the current owners are linked to the Al-Thani royal family of Qatar.
The interior features custom finishes in imported marble, noble woods, and artisanal tiles. In addition to the 39 bedrooms and 59 bathrooms, there are several formal living rooms with stone fireplaces and tables that can accommodate up to twenty diners; the state-of-the-art main gourmet kitchen covers an area of almost 300 square meters, complemented by a separate family kitchen with eight service pantries, a bar, and a juice bar. There is also a support infrastructure with multiple laundry rooms, storage for dishes and silverware, and secondary cellars for hosting massive culinary operations.
There are also informal dining rooms, several living rooms, a commercial standard tiered cinema room, a spacious temperature-controlled wine cellar, a billiard room, a large library with space for over 10,000 books. To serve all areas, there are three elevators, three dumbwaiters, 13 machine rooms, and offices dedicated to security and administration. To ensure the owners' safety, there are several panic rooms, art storage bunkers, luggage lockers, and even an X-ray room for medical emergencies.
Among the relaxation areas, there is an extensive outdoor complex with three pools, including a hot and cold plunge pool and a heated pool surrounded by cabanas, pergolas, and dining areas that even have a pizza oven and catering service. All are surrounded by meticulously maintained gardens featuring large palm trees and sculptures valued in millions of dollars.
Logistically and security-wise, it boasts a significant underground infrastructure with enclosed parking, an air-conditioned garage for over twenty cars, service corridors, advanced security and monitoring systems, and a spacious guest access courtyard.