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Elon Musk helped Jordan Walker-Pearlman buy the longtime home of his uncle, Willy Wonka actor Gene Wilder.

The tech mogul loaned millions to the late actor’s nephew to buy this iconic property but is now making moves to foreclose on it.

Musk was hailed for his generosity after he not only agreed to sell the home to Wilder’s relative, filmmaker Jordan Walker-Pearlman, for $7 million (R123m) but that he had also agreed to loan him $6.7m (R118m) in order to make the purchase possible.

Sadly, that fairy tale has come to and end as Walker-Pearlman and his wife, Elizabeth Hunter, have fallen badly behind on their loan payments, forcing Musk to file a notice of default.

The notice serves as the first step in foreclosure and allows Musk to force a sale of the property 90 days after it has been filed, according to the Wall Street Journal.

At the same time, Walker-Pearlman and Hunter have listed the property for $12.95m (around R228 mill), with the listing describing it as “a piece of Hollywood history.”

“Nestled in the exclusive Bel Air neighbourhood, this timeless property, designed by celebrated architect Robert Byrd, offers unparalleled views of the Bel Air Country Club,” the Realtor listing says.

Indeed, the historic home has seen its fair share of celebrity movement.

It was the long-time home of Wilder, who lived there with his third wife, Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner, until her death in 1989. Then, a trust linked to Musk bought the home for $6.75m in 2013. When the billionaire made the surprising decision to sell almost all of his physical possessions in 2020, that included Wilder’s former home, per Real Estate:

In a series of tweets at the time, Musk shared that he planned to “own no house,” before noting that his one “stipulation” in the mass fire sale was that, “Gene Wilder’s old house … cannot be knocked down or lose any [of] its soul.”

In 2022, Walker-Pearlman fondly recalled Musk’s generosity, describing it as a gesture steeped in kindness. He shared how, for years, he had harboured a deep longing to own the property—a place etched in his heart from countless childhood memories. Musk’s willingness to extend the loan was more than just a financial transaction; it was the fulfilment of a dream that had been nurtured over a lifetime.

“He could have sold it for so much more,” he told the Journal. “His sensitivity to me can’t be overstated.”

Despite Musk now taking legal action against Walker-Pearlman and his wife, the filmmaker appears to have no ill will toward the billionaire businessman.

“There’s no tragedy here,” he said, noting that the 2023 Hollywood strikes took a grave toll on their ability to keep up with payments on their loan.

“Elon gave us a magical opportunity. I have no complaints,” he said. “This is likely the closing of a very unicorn and beautiful chapter of our lives. I’m not disgruntled at all.”

I guess that means some other lucky person will have the chance to take on this “unicorn” property, with four bedrooms, and a living space that includes a media room, dining room, library, breakfast nook, and sauna.

Outside, a lush garden unfolds, leading to a timeless kidney-shaped pool. Here, guests can bask in the luxurious surroundings, soaking in the sweeping views of the opulent Bel-Air neighbourhood.

And so it goes, from one legend to the next.

[source:realestate]