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Real Estate
Sarah Jackson
Updated
2023-04-28T17:54:27Z
- The One Bel Air is a 105,000-square-foot megamansion said to be the biggest modern home in the US.
- It sold for $141 million, including fees and commission, to the billionaire CEO of Fashion Nova — far from the $500 million its developer originally hoped to fetch.
- Take a look inside the home, which boasts 21 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, a 10,000-square-foot sky deck, and more.
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Behold: A sprawling Los Angeles megamansion believed to be the biggest modern home in the US.
The property is known as The One Bel Air, and it fetched $126 million at auction last year.
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It was listed on Sotheby's Concierge Auctions from February 28 to March 3, 2022.
The auction site called the 105,000-square-foot home "America's most expensive and largest residence."
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The property, which is 10 years in the making, comes from film producer-turned-real estate developer Nile Niami.
Niami initially hoped to sell it for a whopping $500 million, which would have made it one of the most expensive homes in the world.
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But the home was beset with several delays, construction challenges, and cost overruns. In 2021, it was placed into a court-ordered receivership and later put into bankruptcy.
It listed for $295 million in January 2022, making it the most expensive home for sale in the US at the time, though it marked a sharp discount from the $500 million Niami hoped to get for the home.
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When no buyers bit, the home went into bankruptcy auction. Though the top bid for the home was $126 million, the auction premium and commission fees brought the total closer to $141 million.
The bidder? Fashion Nova's billionaire CEO, Richard Saghian.
Source: Business Insider
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Sotheby's Concierge Auctions said the sale was "more than double the highest US sale at auction and nearly 50% higher than the world record."
Here's a closer look at what Saghian got for his $141 million splurge:
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In the mansion's sprawling yard, you'll find a sculpture from Italian glass maker Simone Cenedese.
Here's the main entrance to the property.
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Inside, the mansion's foyer has a rotating sculpture and floor-to-ceiling windows, which make for a pretty great view at day...
...or night.
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The One boasts 21 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, and seven half-bathrooms.
Like the foyer, many rooms have expansive views of Los Angeles, like this one...
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...and this one.
You'll find a 10,000-bottle wine cellar in the dining room.
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There's plenty of space to lounge around in the family living room.
There are several rooms devoted to R&R.
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For some pampering, there's a full-service beauty salon and wellness spa.
The salon is one of the more vibrantly colored rooms in the mansion, with glossy red walls.
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There's an entertainment room for activities like playing billiards.
The mansion also boasts its own bar and cigar lounge.
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Here's the bar up close.
In the next room over, there's a private bowling alley.
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It has four lanes, several shelves of bowling shoes at the ready, and bowling balls oddly evocative of Trix cereal.
There's also a private nightclub on the premises...
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...as well as a private movie theater.
The One's 4,000-square-foot master bedroom has a walk-in closet with plenty of space for clothes, shoes, and accessories.
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Saghian will have room for plenty of books...
...in a two-story room that can function as either a library or office and boasts its own balcony.
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Five swimming pools dot the property.
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There are a few outdoors, one of which is on the rooftop of a 4,000-square-foot bedroom...
...while the other is above the private nightclub.
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Another pool functions as a floating lounge.
Inside, there's a pool in a room with a living wall and a mirror on the ceiling.
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...and a juice bar.
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Though the home was built in the last decade, it has taken a cue from the construction of centuries past with a moat surrounding three sides of the property.
Visitors to the mansion can have the guest house to themselves.
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The guest house also has floor-to-ceiling windows...
...and three bedrooms on its own.
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Outside again, the mansion has its own glass-walled jogging court, tennis court, and this putting green.
The home's other features include a 30-car garage, six elevators, and of course close proximity to Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, and downtown Los Angeles.
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Less than a year after buying The One, Saghian has scooped up another pricey property in California.
He paid $40 million in an all-cash deal for a 6,000-square-foot beachfront home in an exclusive Malibu area known as "Billionaire's Beach," The Real Deal reported Thursday.
As for The One, it still holds the title of biggest modern US home. Given its auction, however, it obviously no longer has the record for the most expensive home for sale in the US.
Currently, that record belongs to a $250 million penthouse in New York City called The One Above All Else. At 1,416 feet above the city, the penthouse is also the world's tallest residence.
Read next
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As an enthusiast deeply versed in the realm of luxury real estate and architectural marvels, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to dissect the article on "The One Bel Air." This megamansion, a testament to opulence and grandeur, unfolds a captivating narrative of aspiration, setbacks, and ultimate acquisition.
Let's delve into the concepts interwoven in this article:
1. The One Bel Air: A Modern Marvel
- Size and Significance: The One Bel Air stands as a 105,000-square-foot megamansion, touted as the largest modern home in the United States.
- Architectural Highlights: Boasting 21 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, a 10,000-square-foot sky deck, and various extravagant amenities, it represents the epitome of luxury living.
2. Development and Auction
- Origin and Ownership: Developed by Nile Niami, a film producer turned real estate developer, the mansion underwent a decade-long construction process.
- Financial Ambitions: Niami initially aimed for a staggering $500 million sale, positioning it among the most expensive homes globally.
- Challenges: The project faced delays, construction hurdles, and cost overruns, leading to its placement into court-ordered receivership and eventual bankruptcy.
3. Auction Dynamics
- Listing and Auction: Sotheby's Concierge Auctions hosted the property from February 28 to March 3, 2022, marketing it as "America's most expensive and largest residence."
- Price Fluctuations: Initially listed at $295 million, the property eventually went into a bankruptcy auction, where it sold for $141 million after commission fees.
4. The Buyer
- Purchaser Identity: Richard Saghian, the billionaire CEO of Fashion Nova, emerged as the winning bidder.
- Record-breaking Sale: The $141 million acquisition was hailed as "more than double the highest US sale at auction and nearly 50% higher than the world record."
5. Interior and Amenities
- Luxurious Interiors: The mansion features extravagant rooms, including a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, family living rooms, beauty salon, wellness spa, entertainment room, private bowling alley, bar, cigar lounge, private nightclub, and a movie theater.
- Master Bedroom: The 4,000-square-foot master bedroom includes a walk-in closet, a two-story room functioning as a library or office, and a literal candy bar.
6. Outdoor Spaces and Surroundings
- Pools and Recreational Areas: The property boasts five swimming pools, a glass-walled jogging court, tennis court, putting green, and a moat surrounding three sides.
- Guest House: Visitors can enjoy a guest house with floor-to-ceiling windows and three bedrooms.
7. Post-Acquisition Update
- Additional Real Estate Ventures: Less than a year after acquiring The One, Saghian purchased a $40 million beachfront home in Malibu's exclusive "Billionaire's Beach."
8. Current Real Estate Records
- Ongoing Records: While The One remains the largest modern US home, it no longer holds the record for the most expensive home for sale in the US. This title now belongs to a $250 million penthouse in New York City, known as "The One Above All Else."
In conclusion, The One Bel Air's journey, from ambitious development to a record-breaking auction and subsequent buyer acquisition, paints a vivid picture of the intricate world of luxury real estate in the 21st century.