Some celebrity homes are built to impress, others become landmarks in their own right, passing through the hands of Hollywood royalty before becoming coveted real estate. In Pacific Palisades, a sprawling estate with a multi-generational history has done both. It was previously owned by actors Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, and later became the private retreat of Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and model Behati Prinsloo before selling for an estimated $51 million.The Los Angeles Times reported that Levine and Prinsloo bought the three-acre compound from Affleck and Garner in 2018 for $31.95 million. The sale was a big win financially for the musician and his wife, turning the estate into one of the costliest home sales in Southern California in 2022, the report says.
A Hollywood heritage
The report says the property’s appeal far exceeds its celebrity owners. The main ranch-style house, designed by noted midcentury architect Cliff May in the late 1930s, set the architectural tone for an estate that blends understated California design with sprawling grounds.The couple purchased the home in 2009 and then set about extensive renovations, Architectural Digest reports. It was the former home of producer Brian Grazer, who bought it in 1992. Even before that, legendary actor Gregory Peck lived there in the late 1940s and early 1950s.The estate has earned a special niche in the history of Los Angeles real estate by virtue of its succession of high-profile owners, and each chapter has enhanced its allure.
Inside the three acre sanctuary
The estate has three main buildings — a ranch-style house of about 9,000 square feet, a guest house and a separate building that houses a gym, office and yoga studio. The amenities are in line with those of a luxury estate, including a screening room with Dolby sound, a game room, a marble bar and a walk-in refrigerator, according to the Architectural Digest report.Levine and Prinsloo took Architectural Digest on a tour of their house as part of their Open Door series. Inside, the interiors offered a subdued palette of plastered walls, warm wood floors, clean lines and steel-framed windows and doors, balancing the modern sophistication of a California ranch with its casual character.Outside, landscaped walking paths link the property’s various spaces, and grounds offer a swimming pool, basketball court, chicken coop, lawns and patios. The estate also features panoramic views that stretch from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean.
A multi-million dollar property sale
Levine and Prinsloo bought the estate and flipped it in 2022 for $51 million, a huge leap in price. The sale was one of the priciest home sales in Southern California that year, according to the Los Angeles Times, demonstrating the ongoing appetite for special properties in coveted coastal neighborhoods.The property was listed by Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency and the buyer, whose identity was not disclosed in the report, was represented by Aaron Kirman and Dalton Gomez of Compass.The deal also is indicative of the changing fortunes of Los Angeles’ celebrity property market. The estate was one in a portfolio of high-profile homes linked to Levine and Prinsloo, Architectural Digest previously reported.Ultimately, the Pacific Palisades compound is about more than acreage and fancy amenities. Architectural heritage, celebrity connections, and a manicured setting have kept it relevant for generations, turning a historic home into one of the area’s most noted luxury property transactions.Images Courtesy: Google Earth and Instagram/Adam Levine and Ben Affleck
