When Playboy Enterprises bought its Holmby Hills estate for $1.05 million in 1971, it was the first house in Los Angeles to sell for more than $1 million.
Now, the ultimate bachelor pad will likely set another price record: The estate is in contract for $105 million, the Los Angeles Times is reporting. When the deal closes, it will be the most expensive home to sell in L.A. — again. The record was most recently held by the Fleur de Lys estate, also in Holmby Hills, which sold for $88.3 million in 2014.
The Playboy Mansion hit the market for $200 million about six months ago. It was listed with agents Gary Gold and Drew Fenton of Hilton & Hyland, and Mauricio Umansky of The Agency.
The buyer is Daren Metropoulos, the son of billionaire investor C. Dean Metropoulos and the former co-chief executive of Pabst Brewing Company. Metropoulos also owns the house next door, which he bought from Playboy founder Hugh Hefner for $18 million in 2009, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In addition to the lagoon-like swimming pool and once-model-laden grotto, the 20,000-square-foot mansion comes with a four-bedroom guesthouse, a game house filled with pool tables and pinball machines, and a zoo featuring exotic birds and monkeys on an estate covering more than five acres. The 90-year-old Hef will be allowed to live on the property for the rest of his life, a stipulation of the listing.
For those in the market for a trophy home of their own, here’s a look at the five most expensive properties for sale in the Los Angeles area that are currently listed on Mansion Global.
ON THE MARKET IN LOS ANGELES
1. 301 North Carolwood Drive
Price: $150 million
Bedrooms: 10
Bathrooms: 20
The Playboy Mansion may hold the title of L.A.’s most expensive home for now, but this nine-figure listing will almost certainly take the throne — that is, if it sells for anywhere near its $150 million asking price. Known as Mon Rêve, the spec house was built on property that once belonged to Barbra Streisand. The estate includes a hiking trail dotted with trees; a spa with a salon and a lap pool; and an entertainment suite known as Club Mon Rêve, which features a lounge, a wine room and a theater complex.
Agent: Ginger Glass, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
2. 1187 North Hillcrest Road
Price: $135 million
Bedrooms: 7
Bathrooms: 10
Perched atop a promontory in Beverly Hills' Trousdale Estates, this 2½-acre property has sweeping views of Los Angeles. The estate was the former home of comedian Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. With 18,000 square feet of interior space, the Moorish-style mansion boasts Baccarat chandeliers, gold leaf crown moldings and colorful mosaic tiles.
Agent: Aaron Kirman, John Aaroe Group
3. 10250 Sunset Boulevard
Price: $88 million
Bedrooms: 17
Bathrooms: 22
Designed in the 1930s by architect Paul Williams, the 30,000-square-foot compound known as Maison Du Soleil is also located in Holmby Hills. The colorful estate, which belongs to fashion designer Max Azria, features a movie theater, a luxurious bathhouse and manicured gardens.
Agent: Rayni Williams, Hilton & Hyland Real Estate
4. 2727 Benedict Canyon Drive
Price: $85 million
Bedrooms: 11
Bathrooms: 17
This 16-acre estate in the Beverly Hills Post Office neighborhood counts Cher and Eddie Murphy as its former owners. Minutes from Rodeo Drive, the 20,000-square-foot manse was recently renovated. The property includes stables, two riding rings and a tennis court, as well as riding trails that wind through the woodlands. There’s also a Moroccan-style guesthouse.
Agent: Aaron Kirman, John Aaroe Group
5. 312 North Faring Road
Price: $65 million
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 8 full, 6 partial
This Georgian Traditional-style manor sits on nearly two acres in Holmby Hills. The main residence, pictured here, was completely restored over a five-year period. There’s also a guesthouse, a pool house that can be used as a gym, an additional guest suite and a lighted tennis court. The home first belonged to actress and comedian Fanny Brice.
Agent: Loren Judd, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Write to Gina Faridniya at gina.faridniya@dowjones.com