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This video is the final piece to our Master’s Thesis from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication. It is a web series concept created and copywritten by Steve Gatena and Andrew McNeil. This video was originally done for realtor Christophe Choo from Coldwell Banker of Beverly Hills. We want to thank our professor Ben Lee, USC, as well as all of our sponsors Five Four Clothing, Helinet Aviation and O’Gara Coach for making this possible. Fight on!

1. William Randolph Hearst Estate

Located on North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, this gorgeous home was recently on the market for 160,000,000. Originally purchased in 1925 by Milton Getz vice president of Union Bank and Trust, this property was sold in 1947 to newspaper Czar William Randolph Hearst and film star Marion Davies. The original property was designed by architect Gordon Kaufman and landscape architect Paul Thiene in 1927.

2. La Belle Vie

Currently on the market for $53,000,000, this home is located behind lower Bel Air’s east gate. The current owner acquired the property in the late 80′s and hired renowned architect Michael C.F. Chan and designer Bebe Winkler to build the existing mansion modeled after French Second Empire Architecture. La Belle Vie includes a private Clinton Suite, home to President Bill Clinton during his Los Angeles visits.

3. Playboy Mansion

Likely one of the most infamous homes in the world, the Playboy Manson was purchased by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in 1971. The mansion was Los Angeles’s first ever residential listing sold for over one million dollars. This English Tudor style manor was originally built by real estate heir Arthur Letts junior, and is now home to some of the hottest parties in the world.

4. The Spelling Manor

Located in Holmby Hills on the most exclusive street in Los Angeles, this property is currently listed as one of the most expensive homes for sale in the world at $150,000,000. Once the home of film star Bing Crosby, the property was purchased by television mogul Aaron Spelling and his wife Candy in 1983. Comprising a palatial 56,500 square feet, this crown jewel sits atop nearly five acres of flat land on the Los Angeles Country Club Golf Course.

5. Fleur de Lys

Currently on the market for $125,000,000, the greatest of L.A.’s newest estates resembles a French Villa of the early 19th century. Completed in 2002, this impressive limestone estate is complete with over 41,000 square feet of living space and includes a pool pavilion. This estate will likely be known in time as one of the grandest and most authentic villas in the United States.

6. Weber, Hilton, Murdoch Estate

Located in lower Bel Air, this property is truly one of the grandest estates ever built in Los Angeles. Surrounded by the world famous Bel Air Country club and known as the Weber, Hilton, Murdoch estate, this land was originally purchased by Hilda Weber in 1934. In 1950 the home was sold and occupied by hotel magnate Conrad Hilton and in 1979 Mr. Hilton sold the property to David Murdoch who then sold the home in 2000 to Gary winnick for a whopping $95,000,000 leaving it as the highest residential sale to date in the U.S.

7. The Kirkeby Estate

Architecturally one of the most beautiful and elegant properties in Southern California, the Kirkeby Estate is most famous for being home of the Clampett family in the 1970′s TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. Millionaire Lynn Atkinson purchased the property in 1933 and hired architect Sumner Spaulding to build this mansion as a surprise for his wife Bernice. Five years after construction, Atkinson planned a surprise party to reveal the gift to his wife in front of friends. Upon arrival at the event, Atkinson’s wife whispered to her husband, “Who would ever live in a house like this? It’s so grandiose.” Horrified by his wife comment, Lynn replied, “Well, then let’s go, we don’t have to stay at this party.” As a result, this spectacular mansion was left empty for years until finally sold in July of 1945 to Arnold Kirkeby. In 1987 the Kirkeby family sold the property to producer Jerry Perenchio who subsequently purchased several adjacent homes and lots creating what is now one of the largest and most spectacular estates in the country on over 13 acres.

Duration : 0:3:15

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