A story about Brad Pitt and his former Los Angeles estate has drawn attention for an unusual reason. The actor reportedly bought a neighbour’s house while expanding his property, but allowed the elderly man living there to stay without paying rent until his death at the age of 105. Hollywood actress Cassandra Peterson shared this amusing story in an interview about Pitt’s longtime home.
What Cassandra Peterson said about the neighbour
Cassandra Peterson is best known for playing Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.
In a conversation with PEOPLE, Peterson said that Pitt purchased a neighbouring property occupied by an elderly man. Rather than asking him to leave after buying the house, the actor allowed him to continue living there without rent. The anecdote’s most important detail is that the elderly man was not simply a tenant who happened to live near Pitt. He was the former owner of a house that the actor acquired as part of his growing Los Feliz estate. According to Cassandra Peterson, the man, identified as John in her account, was already in his 90s when Pitt bought the property. His wife had died, and he continued living in the home.Peterson told PEOPLE that Pitt allowed John to remain there without paying rent until he died. She described the actor as “very, very kind” to the man. The arrangement lasted much longer than anyone might have expected. Peterson said John “just kept living forever” and eventually died at 105.
How Brad Pitt built his Los Feliz compound
In 20222, Brad described the Los Feliz house as the first home he bought after making money in Hollywood.
Pitt’s connection with the Los Feliz property began in 1994, when he bought a Craftsman-style mansion from Peterson, best known for playing Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. The purchase price was $1.7 million. The house, built in 1910, had architectural details that appealed to the actor, including mahogany panels and copper ceilings. Peterson told Architectural Digest that she had warned Pitt about alleged paranormal experiences in the house. She claimed to have seen apparitions during her time there, but Pitt was reportedly not discouraged from buying it.The property became the starting point for a much larger estate. According to Architectural Digest’s 2023 profile of Pitt’s real estate portfolio, the actor bought neighbouring properties over the years, expanding the compound to about 1.9 acres. The estate eventually included: a 6,692-square-foot Craftsman main house, a swimming pool, a private tennis pavilion, a skate park and additional homes acquired as the compound expanded.Pitt also spent years renovating the property. In 20222, Brad described the Los Feliz house as the first home he bought after making money in Hollywood. The actor’s interest in architecture was also well known. In a 2004 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he spoke about his appreciation for buildings and design, saying that architecture could affect the way people feel and think.
The estate was once home to Pitt’s family
The Los Feliz compound was not simply an investment property. Pitt had described it as his children’s childhood home in a 2017 interview with GQ. Over the years, the property became associated with his life in Los Angeles, including his years with Angelina Jolie and their family. Pitt eventually put the estate on the market in 2023. He sold the longtime property for approximately $33 million to oil heiress Aileen Getty. The sale brought an end to nearly 30 years of ownership.
Brad Pitt’s other notable property purchases
The Los Feliz compound was only one part of Pitt’s interest in distinctive homes. He bought a coastal retreat in Santa Barbara in 2000 and a Beverly Hills mansion with Jennifer Aniston in 2001. He also purchased a Malibu home in 2005. In 2022, Pitt bought the historic D.L. James House in Carmel, California, for approximately $40 million. In 2023, he also purchased a midcentury-modern home in Los Feliz for $5.5 million, shortly after selling his longtime compound. These purchases reflect a recurring interest in architecture and design that Pitt has discussed publicly over the years.
