A West African heiress whose family has ruled Gabon for 50 years is selling her Beverly Hills mansion off of Sunset Boulevard for $17.495 million.
Pascaline Bongo, 60, who was herself a Gabonese politician, served under her father, President Omar Bongo, as minister of foreign affairs and director of her father’s cabinet during from the early 1990s until his death in 2009. Ms. Bongo’s half-brother Ali Bongo is now president of the country.
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The ultra-wealthy ruling family reportedly fell into dispute over their father’s inheritance. At times, their family saga sounds like the makings of a good soap opera. For example, Ms. Bongo has two children with Jean Ping—a high-ranking Gabonese official who was the main opposition candidate against Ms. Bongo’s brother Ali in the last presidential election.
The Bongo family is known for living lavishly. This particularly property, located in the flats of Beverly Hills, is catty cornered from the home of acerbic "X-Factor" judge Simon Cowell, and other neighbors include George Schaeffer, founder of the OPI nail polish empire, according to property records.
Ms. Bongo bought the property in 1997, while she was still serving in her father’s administration. The home was bought under the company Aminisha Corp. for $4.55 million, according to property records. Ms. Bongo is listed as the chief executive of Aminisha, with two of her children, Christopher Ping and Nesta Ping, as officers, according to filings with the state.
Their Los Angeles-area compound covers nearly an acre and has a tennis court, gardens, pool and separate guest house.
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The main house spans 9,000 square feet and has ample space for entertaining, according to the listing with Mica Rabineau and Rochelle Maize of Nourmand & Associates. Mr. Rabineau was not immediately available to talk about the property.
Large windows and French doors fill the home with natural light. The main entrance opens into a double-height foyer with a sweeping staircase up to the second level, images of the home show. Photos of the interior also reveal Ms. Gabon has a glass grand piano and numerous abstract artworks throughout the home.
A phone number for the Aminisha Corp. in Los Angeles has been disconnected.