[imagesource: Simon Berlyn]

Beverly House, the sprawling estate where scenes from The Godfather were filmed, sold for a whopping $63,1 million (around R930 million) in an auction last week.

It was the home of businessman, newspaper publisher, and politician William Randolph Hearst, known for developing America’s largest newspaper chain and media company, Hearst Communications.

The legendary Los Angeles estate sold to Nicolas Berggruen, nicknamed “the homeless billionaire” for his lack of a physical address that allows him to jet-set all over the show, per Forbes.

He is also the co-founder of the Berggruen Institute, an independent think tank aimed at reshaping political and social institutions in the face of the great transformations of the 21ˢᵗ century.

Listing agent Gary Gold of Beverly Hills-based brokerage Hilton & Hyland was very happy with the sale, calling it one of the “most rewarding of his career”.

Gold also sold the Playboy Mansion in 2016 for $100 million.

The sale of the Hearst estate (above) as one of LA’s most historic homes has been a real win for everyone involved:

The future of the 29 000-square-foot mansion was cemented in August when it was announced that it was scheduled to go to auction on September 14 with an accepted offer in hand for $47 million.

An intense interest at the courthouse helped push the price even higher, with six parties taking part, Gold says. “It was quite the scene. You have all these people bidding at one time. There was a lot of interest in the property.”

“It seems like everyone was very pleased with the outcome,” Gold says.

Not only does it have the Hearst connection, but John F. Kennedy honeymooned there with Jacqueline Kennedy in 1953.

It is also home to one of the most memorable scenes in The Godfather, per Galerie, when a film executive crosses Don Corleone and winds up with a horse’s head in his bed.

Scenes from the Whitney Houston film The Bodyguard were also shot on the property.

The sprawling estate was designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann and is considered one of his finest masterpieces:

The sprawling residence is museum-like with its intricately carved ceilings, paneled walls and a 50-foot entry hall with loggia.

Other highlights include a 22-foot-high arched, hand-painted ceiling and a two-story library wrapped in hand-carved woodwork.

The billiard room holds a large antique fireplace that was sourced from Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Calif.

Take a photo stroll through the place:

The library:

The great room:

The billiards room:

The art decor wet bar:

The living room:

The dining room:

Perhaps this interesting property will tempt Berggruen to become less of a “homeless billionaire”.

[sources:forbes&galerie]