HILL OF BEANS
America’s most expensive house where Beverly Hillbillies was filmed has £126million knocked off the asking price
A HOUSE once listed for £275m, making it the most expensive property in America, has had a whopping £126m knocked off its price tag.
The palatial Bel-Air estate, which boasts a ballroom, a 12,000 bottle wine cellar and underground elevators and tunnels, was used as the setting of TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.
12
12
12
It had previously been put up for sale as an exclusive "pocket listing" not advertised publicly for £275m ($350m), but after a huge price slash, it's now on the market for £149m ($190m).
Known as Chartwell Estate and designed to mimic an 18th Century French chateau, it features 10.3 acres of gardens, a 75-foot swimming pool, a tennis court and an underground car park that can fit 40 vehicles.
Chartwell also includes "sweeping panoramic views of downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean."
It sits behind high walls and enclosed by trees to give its wealthy inhabitants privacy, with access only via a guarded gate.
The interiors were masterfully renovated in the late 1980s by Henri Samuel, one of the most important designers of the 20th century
BEVERLY HILLBILLY MANSION
The property was the home of the Clampett family in the popular TV series The Beverly Hillbillies, which ran from 1962 to 1971 and could be seen in the show's opening credits.
In the first episode, they famously mistook it for a prison before moving in.
According to , the property was built in the 1930s for a property developer who gifted it to his wife. But she hated its opulence, and refused to move in.
It then sat empty to the 1940s when it was bought by hotelier Arnold Kirkeby who later sold it to media magnate Jerry Perenchio.
Perenchio, a former talent manager and later chairman of Univision, spent the next 30 years renovating it and bringing it up to its current state.
He left it behind after his death in May at the age of 86.
MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS
There are actually five separate properties on the estate - one of which was the longtime residence of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
The limestone chateau has a "world-class" wine cellar, a ballroom, formal salon and a panelled dining room, plus a five-bedroom guest house.
Hilton & Hyland, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services are currently listing the property.
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Topics