Lachlan Murdoch, the elder son of media magnate Rupert Murdoch and co-chairman of News Corp, just purchased a one-of-a-kind Bel-Air mansion for $150 million, setting a record as the second most expensive residential property sale in the U.S.
According to reports, in addition to the main property, the sale also includes a vacant space directly next door, which happens to be the location of Ronald Reagan's former home. The late Univision Chairman and CEO Jerry Perenchio owned the estate previously. And this isn't the first time the château-style residence, known as Chartwell, has set a record. When it was initially listed for $350 million in 2017, it became the priciest home in the entire country.
As to be expected, Chartwell is nothing short of luxurious. The French Neoclassical-style mansion that Murdoch now calls home is situated on more than 10 acres in the exclusive East Gate Bel-Air area and was designed by American architect Sumner Spaulding in 1933. It was even featured on the beloved television series, “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Along with the main property, its guest house, which was designed by architect Wallace Neff, features five bedrooms. The mansion also includes pristine gardens, a tennis court, a 75-foot pool as well as a pool house, plus space for 40 vehicles.
However, considering that the 25,000-square-foot mansion was last renovated during the 1980s, it's in need of major work. But that shouldn't be an issue for Murdoch, whose family made headlines earlier this year for selling its 21st Century Fox film and television assets to Disney for a whooping $71.3 billion.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
