Historic Holmby Hills Estate Once Owned by Rod Stewart Sells in Two Parcels for $86 Million

A historic nearly six-acre estate in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, featuring a 1925 Spanish Colonial Revival mansion previously owned by rock star Rod Stewart, has been sold in two separate transactions totaling $86 million (£68 million). According to real estate records published by The Wall Street Journal and detailed by Galerie Magazine, the combined sales conclude more than 30 years of ownership by daytime television executive producer Bradley Bell and his wife, former diplomat Colleen Bell.

The couple originally purchased the property from Rod Stewart in 1992 for $6.25 million. Over the following decades, they undertook a meticulous two-year restoration of the main house while progressively acquiring adjacent land parcels—including acreage from actor Gregory Peck—ultimately consolidating a sprawling 5.8-acre compound in one of the city's most exclusive residential districts.

Rather than transferring the entire estate to a single buyer, the owners divided the compound into two distinct parcels for the recent sales. The larger portion, encompassing approximately four acres, features the main 17,000-square-foot residence. This main parcel was acquired for $57 million by television, commercial, and film producer David Zander. Real estate records and reports note that Zander has a history of purchasing and rehabilitating significant historic properties, such as Lasata, the Hamptons estate associated with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis during her childhood.

Drew Fenton of Carolwood Estates represented the buyer in the main parcel transaction, while Ben Bacal of Revel Real Estate represented the sellers. The second parcel, spanning roughly two acres and containing a historic cabin built around 1911, was sold for approximately $29 million to Nick Kaiser, co-founder of private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners.

The main residence holds an established place in the architectural history of Southern California. Retired distillery executive Henry Kern and his wife, Elsa Mary Kern, commissioned the home in 1925, enlisting Montecito architect George Washington Smith, an early pioneer of the Spanish Colonial Revival style. According to historical accounts by the late real estate historian Jeff Hyland in The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills, the original commissioners pushed Smith to incorporate far more elaborate ornamentation than was typical for his designs.

During his residency in the 1970s, Rod Stewart introduced several distinct modifications to the property, including the installation of marble flooring and an Art Nouveau-style disco room. When Bradley and Colleen Bell acquired the estate in 1992, they launched a comprehensive restoration effort to undo those interventions. Their work included removing the marble surfaces to expose Smith's original hand-laid tile floors and uncovering historical carved coffered ceilings by stripping away later additions.

Following decades of restoration and land expansion, the completed compound merges 1920s architectural heritage with contemporary luxury amenities. The estate comprises the 17,000-square-foot main house along with a guest house, totaling 13 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms. Prominent interior and exterior features include Brèche de Vendôme marble flooring, two-story art gallery walls, a formal dining room with a 20-guest capacity, a green wood-paneled speakeasy, a private screening room, dual gyms, a tearoom, a motor court centered around a large stone fountain, a resort-style swimming pool with a spa, an outdoor kitchen, and a full-size professional soccer field situated on the landscaped grounds.

The $86 million combined transaction ranks among the largest residential real estate sales recorded in Los Angeles. Industry observers note that the deal underscores sustained market demand for large-scale historic properties situated within prime Westside neighborhoods.