UPDATE — 1/27/26, 5:40 p.m. ET: Gene Hackman’s home has been sold nearly one year after the actor’s shocking death.
Realtor.com reported on Tuesday, January 24, that Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s former home, which was listed for $6.25 million, is pending sale less than two weeks after it was initially listed. The home’s sale has been accepted on a contingent offer, meaning that several conditions must be met before the deal can be officially closed. The offer amount was not revealed.
Original story below:
Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has been listed for sale nearly a year after they were found dead inside.
Agents Tara S. Earley and Ricky Allen of Sotheby’s International Realty confirmed to the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, January 15, that the 53-acre estate is on the market for $6.25 million.
“There will be some buyers that are just adverse to purchasing a property where a death has occurred,” Earley told the publication. “There are other buyers for whom that doesn’t matter. We are selling the property on its virtues and all of the positives.”
The agents confirmed the home has been cleared of Hackman and Arakawa’s personal effects and professionally staged.
Academy Award winner Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died in February 2025 at the respective ages of 95 and 64. Us Weekly confirmed on February 27, 2025, that the actor and his spouse were found dead one day earlier inside their shared Santa Fe, New Mexico house. “It is with great sadness that […]
While the realtors said they would typically attach a celebrity premium to a home associated with a notable actor, this situation is a little different. As a result, Earley said, “We just priced it based on what we felt was the fair market value.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Earley and Allen for additional comment.
The six-bedroom estate is located in a gated community and includes a putting green and an artist’s studio. The main house boasts three bedrooms, but the property also features a three-bedroom guesthouse, a lap pool and a library where Hackman frequently watched movies.
“The Hackmans embraced Santa Fe, and Santa Fe embraced them,” Earley said. “You would see them in town and they were not treated as celebrities.”
Gene Hackman and Betsy ArakawaKevin Winter/Getty Images
The agent said Hackman “went into the Artisan art store and bought his supplies like everyone else.”
Us confirmed that the actor and Arakawa were found dead inside their shared Santa Fe, New Mexico, house, on February 27, 2025.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” Hackman’s daughters and granddaughter said in a statement to Us at the time. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
The cause of death for Arakawa was ruled as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, the rare infectious disease begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly to more severe disease.
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Oscar winner Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were married for over 30 years before they were found dead on February 26. Hackman was first married to Faye Maltese from 1956 to 1986. The couple shared three children, Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie. Maltese died in 2017. The Superman actor went […]
A private memorial was held for Hackman and Arakawa in New Mexico, People reported in April 2025. The service was attended by Hackman’s three children, son Christopher Allen and daughters Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne, whom he shared with ex-wife Faye Maltese.
During the 2025 Emmys in September 2025, some viewers were surprised to see Hackman missing from the in memoriam segment. His name was ultimately included as part of a longer dedication on the Emmys website.
His absence was reportedly due to time constraints and the producers’ focus on actors known primarily for their television work, rather than film.
Longtime actor, producer andformer rapper Mark Wahlberg is the newest celeb to call the Sunshine State home, with his recent purchase of a South Florida behemoth.
Located at 9200 Rockybrook Way in Delray Beach, the home is perched on what has been dubbed billionaires row, a stretch of land sporting the over-the-top homes of some of Florida’s most high-profile one-percenters. The strip is located within the gated community Stone Creek Ranch.
Wahlberg snagged the 18,206-square-foot home on a 2.7-acre lot for $37 million, according to Realtor.com. It has seven bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, two powder rooms, a hidden cigar lounge, home theater, wine cellar, gym, sauna and more. Outside, the estate boasts a resort-style lagoon pool, private tennis court, seven-car garage and lakefront views.
The billionaires row home was listed by Senada Adžem with Douglas Elliman, and the buyer was represented by Michael Costello with Compass Real Estate. All photos via stonecreekranch.com.
Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Orlando’s story through the lens of our community’s most exceptional and historic homes. Orlando Weekly’s real estate features are not ads and are assembled by our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home we should highlight? Let us know, and email cgreenberg@orlandoweekly.com.
The Weeknd’s recent Sunshine State tour stint must have left a lasting impression on the Grammy-winning artist, as he’s now the new owner of a lavish Florida mansion.
The Canadian singer-songwriter purchased the $50,000,000 home located at 41 Arvida Parkway in Coral Gables on Oct. 10, reports Realtor.
The 18,000-square-foot waterfront estate boasts a prime spot on a unique V-shaped peninsula, 574 feet of Biscayne Bay water frontage, a 200-foot private dock, a massive pool and elevated amenities throughout.
It comes with eight bedrooms, nine and a half bathrooms, a five-car garage and impressive design details like curved walls, a grand bifurcated staircase, soaring ceilings and more.
The Weeknd’s purchase comes weeks after his massively successful and sold-out Orlando tour stop at Camping World Stadium, which broke the venue’s record for attendance by an R&B pop artist, the stadium said. (And yes, we have photos.)
The home’s sale was handled by Eddy Martinez with One Sotheby’s International Realty. All photos are from Realtor.com.
Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Orlando’s story through the lens of our community’s most exceptional and historic homes. Orlando Weekly’s real estate features are not ads and are assembled by our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home we should highlight? Let us know, and email cgreenberg@orlandoweekly.com.
Dave Portnoy is expanding his real estate presence with a new Florida Keys residence, and breaking records while doing it.
The unapologetic internet personality and Barstool Sports founder purchased an Islamorada mansion this week for $27,750,000, the highest property sale the village has ever seen.
Located at 76180 Overseas Highway, the home has eight bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and a total 7,562 square feet across a main residence and a guest house.
The estate sits on 1.65 acres of waterfront land, and it comes with two pools, a private beach, a boat ramp and dock, an outdoor kitchen and 150 feet of private water access, per the listing. Inside, there are two laundry rooms, an elevator, a 180-bottle glass wine cellar, Sonos sound system and more.
There are also two gated driveways, a four-car garage and lots of tropical landscaping.
Portnoy, 48, already owned more than $95 million worth of real estate in both Florida and other areas like Montauk, Nantucket and Saratoga Springs. He also is the owner of a $14 million home in Miami.
All photos are from Realtor.com.
Every house has a story, and our mission is to tell Orlando’s story through the lens of our community’s most exceptional and historic homes. Orlando Weekly’s real estate features are not ads and are assembled by our editorial department. But we love public input. Do you know of a unique Florida home we should highlight? Let us know, and email cgreenberg@orlandoweekly.com.
“Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” star Josh Flagg is under contract to purchase the Trousdale Estates home of Charlie Puth, The Real Deal has learned.
Flagg, an agent with Compass, negotiated for the singer-songwriter’s Beverly Hills Mid-Century Modern home in an off-market deal, according to sources. The price was not disclosed.
The “We Don’t Talk Anymore” singer paid $9 million for the 4,439-square-foot property in 2017.
Puth originally placed the four-bed, four-bath home at 1875 Carla Ridge on the market in November 2023 with a nearly $17 million ask. It saw a series of price reductions throughout this year, with the most recent ask at just under $11 million before the listing was pulled from the market in July.
Flagg did not respond to a request for comment late Tuesday.
Architect Rex Lotery built the 1965 home, according to listings for the property. It comes with history, having served as a gathering place for advisers to President Ronald Reagan and socialite Janet de Cordova and her husband and “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” producer Fred de Cordova.
Carla Ridge, if closed, would add another notch in Flagg’s expanding real estate portfolio.
He currently resides on Strada Corta Road in Bel-Air’s lower East Gate, often referred to as Old Bel-Air.
Flagg also bought 605 North Alta Drive in Beverly Hills in 2018 for just under $6 million, according to property records. He sold the property in 2022 for $8.1 million.
In addition, Flagg purchased 710 North Bedford Drive in Beverly Hills, paying $8.4 million for it in 2022.
Beyond Los Angeles, Flagg spent $4.3 million, with business partners Adam Rubin and Andrew Shanfeld, for 4727 North Bay Road in Miami. He’s also said to be eyeing multiple properties in New York with his father Michael Flagg.
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George Clooney is handing over the keys to his Studio City home after selling it for $14.5 million on Friday.
The home at 3240 Iredell Lane is located in Studio City’s Fryman Canyon area, a woody neighborhood flush with exclusivity and gated estates.
The mystery buyer was someone from the entertainment industry, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.
Westside Estate Agency co-founder Kurt Rappaport represented Clooney. Carolwood Estates’ Kevin Dees represented the buyer.
Rappaport and Dees both declined comment on the deal.
Clooney was a long-term holder of the estate.
The actor paid Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks $2.2 million for it in 1995, a year after Michael Crichton’s “ER” series on NBC began airing and propelled Clooney and many of his co-stars to fame. Clooney starred in the medical drama for five seasons.
“I was in the second season of ‘ER’ living in a little house and I thought, ‘Well, maybe it’s time to get a little bit larger house off the street, so I wouldn’t fall prey to every photographer,’” Clooney said of his decision to buy the home in a 2012 episode of CBS’ “Person to Person.”
The Studio City property is just one part of a larger portfolio of homes in New York, Italy and France owned by Clooney and wife Amal.
The six-bed, six-bath main house totals over 7,000 square feet and sits on more than 3 acres, according to Zillow. There’s also a sports court and pool. Major renovation work to the property was completed in the fall of 2022 and included the addition of two villas, with the Clooneys reportedly paying $1 million for the expansion.
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Bel-Air’s Vivenda da Lua, or House of the Moon, went into contract with an asking price of $15.8 million, making it Los Angeles County’s biggest pending sale last week.
The nine-bedroom, eight-bathroom home at 10651 Chalon Road sits in the top spot in the inaugural report for the county from brokerage Eklund-Gomes. Called the Eklund Weekly Luxury Report L.A., the weekly roundup tracks signed contracts of residential properties with prices of $4 million or more. All data is sourced from MLS.
Property records show Vivenda da Lua’s seller is a family trust tied to the late interior designer Erika Brunson, for whom the estate was designed.
Coldwell Banker Realty’s Joyce Rey has the listing for the property, which totals 9,183 square feet. Its design was modeled after a Spanish Portuguese villa.
Highlights of the Bob Ray Offenhauser-designed property include a three-story main house, attached guest suite, pool, gardens, library and Zen room.
The home hit the market in November for just under $20 million before a series of price cuts.
Overall, single-family homes in the county sat on the market for an average of 60 days, with prices averaging $6.9 million, according to the Eklund-Gomes report.
The House of the Moon sits less than two miles from another Bel-Air property, named Villa Del Amor at 10936 Chalon Road, which entered the market last week for $115 million. It’s owned by financiers and Sugarfina board directors Paul Kessler and Diana Derycz-Kessler.
The county’s second-largest contract last week is a home once owned by Muhammad Ali. The Hancock Park property at 55 Fremont Place is under contract for $13 million.
Property records show a notice of default sent Feb. 7 on the 10,567-square-foot home. It went to auction in April.
The Beverly Hills Estates’ Stefani Stolper and Kristen Lawson, along with Coldwell Banker’s June Ahn, are the listing agents.
The Fremont Place home was previously listed in 2022 for about $17 million by Michael Lawson, former Los Angeles Urban League CEO, and Mattie McFadden-Lawson.
Across Los Angeles County, a total of 27 single-family home contracts in the $4 million-plus market segment were inked between June 3 and June 9 for $185.5 million in volume, according to the Eklund-Gomes report.
Elsewhere in the country, Miami-Dade County counted 25 home and condo contracts totaling $220.5 million for the same period ended June 9, according to Eklund-Gomes Weekly Luxury Report Miami. The brokerage’s New York report counted 24 properties under contract totaling $193 million, according to a report for the same week from Olshan Realty.
Olshan produces a weekly luxury market report for Manhattan, with Eklund producing a similar roundup for Miami, Austin and now L.
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Albert Pujols has sold his 9,200-square-foot mansion in Irvine’s Shady Canyon for $8.8 million, after initially asking $9.98 million.
The retired first baseman and 11-time MLB All-Star sold the Mediterranean-style villa at 25 Cactus, in gated Shady Canyon, Realtor.com reported. The buyer was undisclosed.
The slugger known as “The Machine” bought the five-bedroom, eight-bathroom house in 2012 for $5.55 million after he signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
The property was relisted and removed for that price in March, June and August, with a contingent deal in October, then removed in February at $9.98 million. It sold on March 5 in an apparent off-market deal for $1.18 million less.
The two-story, red-tiled mansion, built in 2010, has a double-height foyer with a curved wooden staircase and white tiled floors. There’s a luxury kitchen, multiple living rooms, a formal dining room and a laundry room.
The home comes with two offices, a movie theater, a wet bar and a meditation room. There’s also a bonus room that could be turned into a wine cellar, kid’s playroom or home gym, according to Realtor.com.
The kitchen has a marble center island, wood cabinets, a walk-in pantry and a breakfast nook. A formal dining room has a coffered ceiling and doors that open to the backyard. Sitting areas have stone fireplaces, beamed ceilings and wooden shutters.
The master bedroom has a wall of windows, a spa-style bathroom with a center tub, two walk-in closets and a laundry room.
Outside, there’s a resort-style pool with a Baja step, a rock slide grotto and a waterfall, plus a Jacuzzi, fire pit and patios surrounded by gardens, with a four-car garage. The monthly HOA fee is $725.
Brokers Charisse Okamoto and Carrie English of Caliber Real Estate held the listing.
Shady Canyon features 300 homes on nearly 1,100 acres. The large lots coupled with a sense of privacy has prompted athletes, executives and others to call Shady Canyon home, including best-selling author Dean Koontz and Alteryx Executive Chairman Dean Stoecker.
Pujols, a native of the Dominican Republic, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999, and went on to play for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the L.A. Dodgers before retiring as a Cardinal in 2022, having won two World Series, two Golden Glove Awards and socked 703 home runs.
NHL star Max Pacioretty has sold his contemporary-style home near Las Vegas, Nevada.
IS LuxuryForbes Global Properties
While Carolina Hurricane’s left wing Max Pacioretty may be lamenting his team’s early exit from the 2023 NHL playoffs, he still has plenty of reason to celebrate with the recent sale of his Las Vegas mansion. At $11 million, the deal is the most expensive in the exclusive neighborhood, The Ridges, where the 2018 home is located, as well as the priciest of the year for the Greater Las Vegas area.
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Sleek in both design and finish, the single-story, custom-built home features an open-concept floor plan, walls of glass and soaring, coffered ceilings. A light-filled courtyard serves as the entrance.
The 10,181-square-foot contemporary home was built custom in 2018 and later reimagined and expanded … [+] by the hockey player and his family.
IS Luxury
A soft color palette embellishes wood elements seen in hardwood floors, built-in cabinetry and paneled ceilings as well as colorful views of the surrounding red rock landscape.
Marble is ubiquitous, found in the kitchen’s dark-hued double island and backsplash, primary bathroom flooring and a striking Calcutta fireplace in the living room.
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The chef’s kitchen is fit for a crowd with two islands and ample marble counterspace.
IS Luxury
“Each space thoughtfully incorporates timeless design with an authentic feel,” listing agent Madison Blau Benshimon of IS Luxury shared in a press release. The top-producing luxury specialist added that the home at “42 Crested Cloud is a particularly special property because it achieves the perfect balance of elegance and livability.”
This blend of luxury and comfort is embodied in the sprawling primary suite, complete with a stylish stone fireplace, massive dual steam shower, soaking tub, and pocketing walls of glass leading directly to the pool area.
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The open-concept floorplan also incorporates a two-way bar that opens to the patio.
IS Luxury
In addition to the 55-foot-long swimming pool centered by an island seating area and water features, the backyard also houses an outdoor kitchen, firepit and sports court.
Other highlights include a glass-door wine cellar, home theater and gym fit for a professional athlete.
The outdoor kitchen features a large space for dining and all the toys barbecue master would want.
IS Luxury
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Fellow IS Luxury agent Anthony Spiegel represented the buyer.
Pacioretty appeared in 74 games for the Hurricanes this season, racking up 24 assists and 25 goals in the process. The 15-year veteran previously spent four seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights from 2018-2022.
The home hit the market in November for $11.999 million.
A Manhattan Beach, California, home, which sold for $10.5 million, has ties to basketball star … [+] Shaquille O’Neal and Emmy-winning writer-producer Danny Zuker.
Strand Hill Properties
A Manhattan Beach, California, estate once home to a Hollywood writer-producer as well as two popular sports figures recently sold for $10.5 million. The five-bedroom estate is located in the Hill District of the Southern California coastal city, a small enclave known for its large lots and prestigious houses.
The five-bedroom home in Manhattan Beach’s Hill District was previously owned by baseball player Ken … [+] Brett, older brother of Hall of Famer George Brett.
Strand Hill Properties
The home with French Country flair at 501 John Street was sold in May by photographer Annette Lombardi and Danny Zuker, the Emmy Award-winning writer and executive producer of the popular TV sitcom “Modern Family.” The series ran 249 episodes before it ended in 2020.
In the mid-1990s, the home was leased by Shaquille O’Neal during his early days with the Los Angeles … [+] Lakers.
Strand Hill Properties
The house was previously owned by Major League Baseball player Ken Brett, the older brother of Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett. The one-time youngest pitcher in World Series history who died in 2003 raised his family here. In the mid-1990s, it was dubbed the “Shaq House” when Shaquille O’Neal rented it during his early days with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 5,725-square foot residence was remodeled a decade ago.
Strand Hill Properties
The 5,725-square foot residence on three levels was remodeled a decade ago by Andrea and Jeff Browning of Model Design Inc. in San Pedro. The oak and stone flooring as well as bespoke cabinetry throughout lend the home a timeless, contemporary feel.
Oak and stone floor are among features of the home. In the office, a box beam-style ceiling draws … [+] the eyes upward.
Strand Hill Properties
The main level features a kitchen and dining area where French doors open out to a backyard pool and spa, barbecue, fire pit and pool house.
The primary bedroom on the upper floor delivers views of the ocean as well as the nearby hills of … [+] the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Strand Hill Properties
The primary bedroom on the upper floor delivers views of the ocean as well as the nearby hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It features an en-suite bathroom with a soaking tub, steam shower, stone fireplace and loft area. Four additional bedrooms plus a library are located on the upper level.
A soaking tub, steam shower and artisanal tile-work highlight the primary bathroom.
Strand Hill Properties
The lower level basement, which could be used as a media or family room, covers more than 500 square feet.
The lower basement level offers more than 500 square feet of flexible space.
Strand Hill Properties
The home is located on a corner lot with a wraparound driveway in the affluent Hill Section, which is bordered by Pacific Coast Highway to the east, Ardmore Avenue to the West, Manhattan Beach Boulevard to the north and the city of Hermosa Beach to the south. Houses here boast large lots and, as the name suggests, are located on a hilltop. Although the neighborhood dates to the 1950s, many houses were torn down to make way for modern residences.
An aerial view of the Manhattan Beach pier and community.
Guests attend the Dreamscape event held by Hilton Estates Group in June at a $25-million estate in … [+] the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Getty Images for Hilton Estates
Seated around their kitchen island, Barron N. Hilton and Tessa Hilton pop corks on stylish bottles of Casa Del Sol Tequila. The Sherman Oaks, California, couple are investors in the brand, used to enliven estate events they produce.
Barron N. Hilton and Tessa Hilton address a star-studded crowd at their “Goddess Art Show in April … [+] 2022. The event, held at a $39.5-million Bel-Air listing, attracted a crowd of about 300.
Hilton Estates Group
First up: Blanco, with its hints of mint, spice and caramel; Reposado, offering up raisin, honey and tobacco; and, finally, Añejo, with flavors of dark cacao, apricot and chestnut.
“It has a kick near the end,” says Barron, sipping the Añejo. Adds Tessa, his wife of four years, “It’s been so long since I tasted it.”
Nine months to be exact. Tessa Hilton was two weeks away from giving birth to a boy, Caspian, on Sept. 4, giving the parents a matching set; their daughter Milou Alizée is 2 years old.
The dynastic pair―Barron is the scion of Hilton Hotel founder Conrad Hilton and Tessa descends from German nobility―have more birth news: their recent launch of Hilton Estates Group, an avant-garde event production company of sorts that aims to boost profiles of properties that languish on the market. Fueled by their tequila brand, the events are a mix of au courant art, couture, cuisine and name entertainment.
Guests take in the Andy Warhol-inspired art show at the Goddess event.
Rochelle Brodin for Hilton Estates Group
The well-heeled crowd might include a few faces dashed with glitter, a crossdresser or two and, of course, Barron’s older sister, Paris.
In short, the bougie meets boho bashes are crafted to be as unforgettable as they are unconventional, creating a stir in elite real estate circles―drawing eyes and pocketbooks to properties lonely for suitors and that all-important sale.
A stylized flyer for Hilton Estates Group’s “Goddess Art Show’ featuring a portrait of fashion model … [+] Karlie Kloss.
Hilton Estates Group
Such immersive experiences are increasingly employed to rivet eyeballs on high-end estates. In hopes of luring buyers, some properties have starred in short films with five-figure budgets. In Los Angeles, urbane cannabis-themed open houses bake in sales opportunities with each bite of an OG Kush edible.
The Hiltons’ April launch event was held at their colisted property, 419 St. Cloud Road. The $39.5 million mansion is down the block from Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s former home at what was originally 666 St. Cloud Road―the address, considered an ungodly stain for some, was discreetly changed to 668 before the Reagans moved in. The Hiltons are brokers at Hilton & Hyland, which was cofounded in 1993 by Barron’s father, Rick Hilton. Barron is the firm’s Senior Vice President.
Singer Paris Jackson performed at the event, which was billed as the “Goddess Art Show,” with DJ sets mastered by Kim Ann Foxman. The 300 guests gathered on the terrace and grounds of the Georgian home with modernist styling.
The art displayed around the newly built home included “a beautiful sort of Andy Warhol-esque portrait series” created by her father, Tessa says.
Model-DJ Paris Hilton and art photographer Franz von Walderdorff pose in front of Walderdoff’s … [+] portraits at the event held by Casa Del Sol & The Hilton Family.
Rochelle Brodin for Hilton Estates Group
The St. Cloud event was a family affair in additional ways―Barron’s father, Rick, built the new eight-bedroom, 16-bathroom palatial property, and his wife, Kathy Hilton―Barron’s mother―created interiors in collaboration with Nicole Gordon Studio.
Dresses are seen at Dreamscape by Hilton Estates Group in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Getty Images for Hilton Estates
The home’s vast 3,300-square foot terrace was used to display the art, which also included photography by Brian Bowen Smith and Kathyrn Boyd Brolin―husband Josh was in tow. Also present: “politicians, tech CEOS and entrepreneurs,” says Barron, adding that much beyond the Brolins, “we can’t really say who was there but, you know, some big people.”
Post-event, the couple hosted three showings with qualified buyers––not from the highly curated guest list, but from insider circles who caught the post-event buzz. “And then we thought, you know, this can really turn into something where other agents are coming to us,” Barron says.
Enter Hilton & Hyland agents David Kramer and Andrew Buss, whose $25 million listing at 13158 Boca De Canon Lane needed a nudge.
At the Dreamscape event in Brentwood, fashion designer August Getty’s couture gowns are seen … [+] draped on mannequins, including some designed for the Met Gala.
Getty Images for Hilton Estates
The Hiltons trucked in some dazzle: fashion designer August Getty’s couture gowns draped on mannequins, including some designed for the Met Gala. The headliner for the estate bash: Getty’s famed “Million Dollar Dress” encrusted with 500,000 Swarovski crystals, displayed behind glass. Paris Hilton wore the $270,000 gown―its true value making for a lousy name―at the 2017 Hollywood Beauty Awards.
The Dreamscape event featured a performance by singer-actress Rainey Qualley.
Getty Images for Hilton Estates
Singer Rainey Qualley performed for the 170 guests gathered around a stage at the 12,087-square-foot modernist farmhouse home. At one point, the plug was pulled on a riotous light show, plunging the crowd into darkness. Then, a DJ-mastered beat rose to a crescendo, the lights flipped back on and waiters marched out with trays of champagne glasses filled with Boston Market’s newest release: rotisserie chicken nuggets.
“It was weird, but it worked,” says Barron. “It was this big, impactful moment.”
“It was quirky,” adds Tessa.
“It was fun, kind of reminiscent of the Oscars,” Barron says. “They have the In-N-Out or Fatburger truck, and you see everyone in their beautiful suits and gowns eating these juicy cheeseburgers.”
The $39.5 million mansion is down the block from Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s former home.
Anthony Barcelo for Hilton Estates Group
While weaving in such contrast among the classes gets a crowd talking, Barron says the resulting Instagram-ready visuals make for optimal marketing grist―for the properties as well as partner brands, such as Ketel One Vodka.
The Hiltons say the events enliven what can sometimes be a staid profession, affording them a creative outlet.
Barron Hilton and wife Marilyn Hilton on the steps of plane on their way to Houston, Texas.
Bettmann Archive
“We were missing that artistic side, and we need to feed that,” says Barron, a hand on his tattoo-covered right arm. On his wrist: a Rolex watch that belonged to his father, gifted to him after they closed on W. Barron Hilton’s Bel Air home in 2021. “I had always admired it,” Barron says of the watch.
The hotel mogul―Barron Hilton’s namesake grandfather―lived in the Paul R. Williams estate from the 1960s until his death in 2019 at age 91. He is credited for expanding his father’s hotel empire and fortifying the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, now among the world’s largest with assets valued at $8.5 billion.
While Barron’s artistic contribution to the couple’s new enterprise is backed by studies at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, Tessa’s was partly honed in Berlin. She lived in the city during a Bard College study-abroad program when she was 19. She received bachelor’s degrees in written arts and French from the school located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.
Attracted to the underground music scene, Tessa frequented the trendy Kreuzberg district, which became a counterculture haven after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. “I started to follow DJs who came from all over Europe,” says Tessa, who formerly worked in fashion. “I’d observe the sound and then worked with different synthesizers in the studio back on campus.”
She frequented the legendary techno nightclub Tresor, part of Kraftwerk, a former 1960s-era power station that hosts exhibitions and events. One morning in the cavernous space, she and others removed shoes and reclined on sleeping cots, covering themselves in silver space blankets to keep warm on that December day.
After the art show event, the couple hosted three showings with qualified buyers who heard about the … [+] Bel-Air property from guests of the party.
Hilton Estates Group
“There would be this sound design installation going on, live with different synthesizers,” she says. “The ceiling seemed to go on for miles. It almost becomes the sky as you listen.”
Tessa says such unconventional Berliner experiences “definitely have an impact” on creating events for the couple’s new Hilton Estates Group. “Obviously, they’re not going to be as trippy. Maybe not yet―maybe down the line. But it’s definitely helped me think outside the more conventional real estate realm.”
