Journey Through Time: The Legacy of the Sonny and Cher Estate

The Sonny and Cher estate, or Owlwood Estate in Holmby Hills, California is more than just a luxury home once owned by giants of the music industry. It’s a storied landmark that has seen decades of glamor and its fair share of notoriety. It’s a property that has transformed almost as many times as it has changed hands. Since its inception in the early 20th century, the estate has been owned by the wealthy and the famous, many of whom have left their mark and added to its fascinating history.

In 2020, the estate was bought for a staggering $88M but long before then, it had passed into the folklore and legends of Beverly Hills and the Westside. Although there is plenty of documentation about this iconic property, there surely is so much that we’ll never know. If the walls of this property could speak, what stories would they tell?

Exploring the Estate’s Design

What would later be called Owlwood Estate in Holmby Hills, California was originally 12,000 square feet. It now covers more than 50,000 square feet set in 10 acres of prime real estate. Its architect, Robert D. Farquhar, had Italian Renaissance in mind, but over time, it has become a blend of classical and modern influences. It now has 13 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms and is still one of the biggest pieces of residential real estate in the area.

One of its most interesting features is its entertainment room. Although it was reworked to be used as a room for entertaining guests and playing pool, it used to be the screening room of 20th Century Fox studio head Schenck, with the original slots for film reels still intact.

Owlwood Estate in Holmby Hills, CA features dining rooms, reception rooms, and great parlors that have housed and entertained many iconic celebrities and figures of Hollywood. Many sections of the house still have their original hand-carved, intricate mantels, elaborate moldings, crystal chandeliers, gold fixtures, and grand marble fireplaces. They were constructed and restored using high-quality materials, showcasing original features that were ahead of their time and blending in a new, modern-day vision to keep the property fresh and exciting.

The surrounding park is filled with oak trees and magnolias, some of which are over 100 years old. Walking through the park will get you to the pool and pool house area, where there is an Olympic-sized pool fit for American actress and Olympic athlete Esther Williams. The area also is fitted with a full-sized tennis court which was built in later years.

The History of the Sonny and Cher Estate

Before it became known as the Sonny and Cher Estate, the property was simply 141 S. Carolwood. Built in the 1930s, this architectural marvel was initially envisioned as a symbol of grandeur and sophistication. Commissioned by wealthy businessman Arthur Letts, the property was to be a family estate. At the time it was the largest house in LA and was designed by renowned architect Robert D. Farquhar, who was also responsible for designing Beverly Hills High School and worked on the design of the Pentagon. Unfortunately for Arthur Letts, he passed before work had even begun on the property. His widow and inheritor of the property, Florence Letts, remarried to a man named Charles Quinn, and it would be they who would be the first owners of 141 S. Carolwood.

In the 1940s, it passed through Hotel Bel-Air founder Joseph Drown, who eventually sold it to 20th Century Fox co-founder Joseph Schenck, who built a screening room inside the mansion and spent many nights hosting card parties. His most famous renovation to the house was a tunnel he supposedly built specifically for Marilyn Monroe, who became a regular at his parties, home screenings, and poker games. The two were rumored to be having an affair, with the tunnel acting as a discreet way to enter and exit the mansion.

Schenck sold the house in 1956 to Superior Oil’s William Keck. His contribution was the addition of an indoor swimming pool and gold bathroom sink fixtures shaped like oil rigs.

Legendary actor Tony Curtis (father of Jamie Lee Curtis) bought the estate a year later for around $300,000 using the purchase as a symbol for “making it in the industry,”. He moved in with his second wife, then 21-year-old Christine Kauffman, a German actress whom he met on the set of Taras Bulba (1962), and their two young daughters (neither being Jamie Lee Curtis). They entertained many influential guests like American actor Gregory Peck, controversial French-Polish film director Roman Polanski, and French film director and screenwriter Jean Renoir. Amusingly, Curtis is thought to have disliked the golden oil rig sink furnishings installed by previous owner Keck and removed them.

In 1967, a young couple named Salvatore Bono and Cherilyn Sarkisian La Piere came to a party held by Tony Curtis. Of course, we know them as Sonny and Cher, and it seemed Cher took an immediate liking to the place. Although they tried to buy the property, Tony Curtis refused. However, a few years later, the couple got their chance when Curtis offered it for $1M. Filming commitments meant he would spend much of his time in London and this provided the opportunity to sell. After some negotiation, Sonny and Cher managed to land the property for $750,000.

As we will see, this was not a happy period for the couple, and in 1976, the property was sold to Ralph Mishkin and his wife Chase Mishkin. It was this couple who decided to name the estate Owlwood, from the owls found on the estate. Mishkin and his wife restored the house completely and made it public that it had fallen into some disrepair. Some of the renovations they made to the Owlwood estate include adding a breakfast room, exterior jacuzzi, and a summer porch.

Only 2 years later, in 1978, the property was passed to Ghazi Aita, a businessman and some would say playboy from Monaco, for $4.2 million, which, at the time, was double the highest price paid for a house in California. A year later, he expanded the property to 8.5 acres by buying the neighboring property, 10600 Sunset, for $4 million. In 1999, he put both houses on the market for $58.9 million.

The estate was sold four years later to a buyer who was later revealed to be the owner of subprime mortgage lender Ameriquest Roland Arnall. He expanded Owlwood to 10 acres by buying singer Engelbert Humperdinck’s property, known as the Pink Palace once owned by American actress and playboy playmate Jayne Mansfield. Arnall razed the 10600 Sunset mansion and bulldozed the Pink Palace without permits, leading to a lawsuit that was settled in 2006 by Ameriquest without admission of guilt. As a result, they set aside $325 million in penalties and restitution. Arnall died in 2008, leaving his wife the owner of the iconic house until it was bought by Chicago-based LLC Carl Urban Investments, who has expanded and remodeled the house extensively.

Glamour, Glitz, and a Break-Up

In the 1960s and 1970s, 141 S. Carolwood estate was synonymous with the legendary duo Sonny and Cher. When they owned it, it marked a period of glitz and glamour as the estate hosted countless star-studded events. The estate was already famous and continued as a hub for Hollywood’s elite at the time.

The couple’s influence on the estate was profound, especially with Cher’s flair for dramatic interiors and Sonny’s penchant for entertaining and shaping the mansion’s character. The two even filmed their TV show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, inside the house itself, offering a blend of musical performances, comedy sketches, and guest appearances.

Cher decorated the house with lavish European furnishings, with her decorator going on frequent buying trips to Europe. In a self-deprecating comment, she wrote in her memoir The First Time, Cher admitted “I guess we were trying to appear established. We were nouveau riche, but better nouveau than never,”.

Unfortunately, Sonny and Cher’s marriage would crumble in spectacular fashion soon after they moved in, and the separation would be one of the most acrimonious in showbiz history. For a year, they lived in separate wings of the house mainly due to CBS threatening to cancel their show if either moved out. Cher eventually took full ownership of the mansion in their divorce settlement in 1975.

The lavish parties held at the estate, as well as its high-profile guests, cemented the estate’s status as a cultural icon, influencing both Hollywood and global pop culture. This era saw a cultural explosion that blended entertainment, fashion, and celebrity culture into a singular, unforgettable narrative. Additionally, the estate’s appearances in various films and media have made it an enduring symbol of the lavish dream that is Hollywood.

Through the Ages: The Evolutionary Tale of the Estate

Over the decades, this prime piece of Beverly Hills luxury real estate in Holmby Hills has undergone numerous transformations and restorations, with each tenant adding a new chapter to its history. Notable renovations have enhanced the original charm of the estate. At the same time, it incorporated modern amenities, not only making trends but keeping the estate at the pinnacle of luxury living. These transformations have preserved the mansion’s historical essence while adapting it to the contemporary standards of comfort and sophistication.

Owlwood Estate in Holmby Hills, CA now stands as a beacon of history and luxury in Beverly Hills and the Westside. Its enduring significance is a testament to its impeccable design, rich heritage, and continuous allure in the Beverly Hills and the Westside’s luxury real estate market including the Westside. It’s huge and luxurious, and its historical and cultural value has added to the value of the property itself.

Insights From a Global Luxury Real Estate Virtuoso: Joyce Rey’s Perspective

Joyce Rey is not only one of the most celebrated Beverly Hills luxury realtors, including the Westside, she is one of the most famous realtors in the world. Though not as much a household name as some we’ve mentioned here, Joyce Rey has nevertheless played her own part in the history of Owlwood Estate. In fact, it is one of many highlights of her illustrious real estate career. Her connection to the mansion dates back to the 1970s when she handled two of its sales. In 1978, Rey had one of her most notable transactions when she sold the estate, doubling the previous price record for a residence in the USA at the time.

Her role in selling Owlwood not only highlights her ability to manage high-value properties but also contributes to her recognition as a leading figure in the luxury real estate market. It’s safe to say that the Owlwood property, with its rich history and connection to Hollywood royalty, benefited from Rey’s expert touch. Also, it must also be noted that in the early part of Joyce Rey’s career, Owlwood Estate was a large early step that would cement her position as arguably the most successful realtor in the US.

Rey is also recognized for her extensive career for Coldwell Banker and has amassed over $6 billion in career sales. Her career began in the 1970s, with her first major sale being the residence of Greek businesswoman and socialite Christina Onassis. If the name rings a bell, Christina’s father was Aristotle Onassis, a billionaire who graced the worlds of politics, business, and celebrity. This pivotal sale set the stage for Rey to represent other landmark properties like the Harold Lloyd Estate, Pickfair, Chartwell, Le Belvedere, and, of course, the Owlwood Estate in Holmby Hills, California.

Her success is marked by a number of different accolades and high-profile transactions. She has repeatedly broken sales records and is consistently included in prestigious lists such as The Los Angeles Journal’s “The Lost Angeles 500: Most Influential People in LA County” and The Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 30 Real Estate Agents.” She’s also been quoted in notable publications like Forbes Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Her expertise and reputation have made her a go-to agent for celebrity clients and luxury real estate transactions.

Joyce Rey has seen and sold many of the finest properties in Beverly Hills and the Westside but the Sonny and Cher Estate stands out. When asked about the property her reply was definitive. “I was crazy about this home from the moment I walked in the door! With its prime location adjacent to the Los Angeles Country Club, manicured gardens, and extraordinary architecture, this home had the perfect balance of scale and elegance. I’ve never seen anything like it!”

For the Finest, Turn to the Best

The Sonny and Cher estate is more than just a luxurious residence; it is a living piece of history. From its early days as a symbol of opulence to its iconic status during the Sonny and Cher era, and through its various transformations, the estate has remained a cornerstone of Beverly Hills and the Westsides’s architectural and cultural landscape. It continues to enchant and inspire.

If you’re looking to explore luxury real estate that’s a cut above the rest, reach out to Joyce Rey, one of the most respected names in Beverly Hills luxury real estate. With her unparalleled expertise and extensive portfolio of on- and off-market luxury properties, Joyce Rey can find the right property for even the most discerning clients. Contact her at 310.291.6646 or leave a message here and let Joyce Rey open the doors to some of the finest homes in the US.