When it comes to the quintessential celebrity home, Los Angeles and its exclusive communities have quite a few. Pacific Palisades is one such destination, attracting some of the finest actors, musicians, and media personalities in Southern California. Here’s why celebrities love this part of the Westside.
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WHY CELEBRITIES LOVE PACIFIC PALISADES
When talking about the ultimate celebrity home, Los Angeles easily comes to mind. From Bel Air to Hollywood Hills and Bel Air, A-listers find refuge behind closed gates and guarded communities. Pacific Palisades is a secluded and close-knit community within proximity to Los Angeles’s top attractions.
Here you’ll find opulent mansions with stunning water and canyon views — all within driving distance to world-class shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions. Residents have ready access to upscale retail and spectacular dining at Pacific Palisades Village as well as ancient Greek and Roman art at the Getty Villa Museum.
As for outdoor recreation, some of the nearest beaches include Santa Monica State Beach, Will Rogers State Beach, and Sunset Point Beach. Known for its comfortable Mediterranean climate and hilly landscape, Pacific Palisades is an excellent choice for those who enjoy hiking and being in nature. In addition to its pristine three-mile coastline, it has an abundance of parkland and scenic trails.
When it comes to exclusivity, few communities come close to Pacific Palisades. Its tree-lined streets have been designed for maximum privacy and security. Encompassing just over 24 square miles and home to a population of about 23,000, this coastal community is one of the most coveted addresses on the Westside of Los Angeles.
It offers the finest luxury homes in Southern California. Discerning buyers can choose from a selection of architecturally significant homes and custom-built properties. These canyonside homes often command views of the ocean and city skyline. From historic Mediterranean and Spanish Revival-style homes to Modern mansions on massive lots, Pacific Palisades spares no expense when it comes to design, craftsmanship, lot size, and premium materials.
It comes as no surprise that celebrities are drawn to this corner of the Westside. Those who know the value of architecture, provenance, location, and understated elegance are willing to pay a premium for a home in Pacific Palisades.
INSIDE THE LUXURY HOMES OF THE STARS
SOLD by JAMES RESPONDEK in PACIFIC PALISADES: 3-bed, 3-bath home known as “The Vicino House”
If you’re looking for a celebrity home, Los Angeles has them in spades. Pacific Palisades has a high concentration of celebrity hideouts and investment properties worth millions. Here are some Pacific Palisades celebrity homes that have made headlines over the past year.
JLo and Ben Affleck
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck splashed out $64 million on a gated property in Pacific Palisades in early 2023. Situated on over an acre of land, the Cape Cod-style main house spans 13,000 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. As home to one of Hollywood’s most glamorous couples, it offers the best of home entertainment, including a state-of-the-art movie room, reading room, and playrooms for kids. The main house also features a chef’s kitchen with a large island, dressing room, walk-in closets, and wood-paneled studies.
The 3,000-square-foot guest house is just as comfortable with 2 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, one of which features a traditional Japanese-style soaking tub. In addition, it has a 800-square-foot gym, spa, swimming pool, fire pit, and sprawling green lawn.
All in all, the massive estate is an entertainer’s dream with a spacious kitchen and various recreation and gathering spots. Situated on top of a hill, the property faces towards a canyon and treats guests to stunning views of the city.
In fact, LA Mag claims that the home offers some of the best canyonside views of any estate on the Westside of Los Angeles. From the glimmering skyline to the open ocean, its location in Pacific Palisades is simply unrivaled.
The property previously belonged to March Capital Partners Managing Director Gregory Milken and his spouse, EJ. The couple are said to have made tasteful improvements to the home over the last few years before finalizing the sale with JLo and Ben Affleck.
Miles Teller
In March 2023, “Top Gun: Maverick” actor Miles Teller and model Keleigh Sperry paid a cool $7.5 million for their new home in Pacific Palisades. The Cape Cod-style mansion offers 6,622 square feet of living space with 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and several family rooms.
Built in 2015, the home has undergone renovations to include a gym, office, movie theater, and bonus room for possible customization. On the upper floor, the Tellers have four en suite bedrooms, including the main bedroom which features a walk-in closet and private balcony with sweeping ocean views. The main bathroom has a soaking tub, steam shower, and dual vanities.
At the main level is an open-concept great room that adjoins a fireside living room, formal dining room, and gourmet kitchen with a breakfast nook, eat-in island, and high-end appliances. Outside, the sprawling backyard features a gorgeous roof deck with breathtaking views of the Santa Monica Mountains and enough room for a new swimming pool.
The Tellers had been shopping around for a celebrity home in Los Angeles before snapping up the mansion, which is a trade up from their slightly smaller — but no less lavish — starter home. The couple has since listed their Spanish-style home in Studio City for $5.75 million. The home offers more than 5,500 square feet of space with 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms.
SOLD by JAMES RESPONDEK in PACIFIC PALISADES: 7-bed home on Amalfi Drive
Jhene Aiko
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Jhene Aiko is busy building her luxury real estate portfolio, having acquired her very own Pacific Palisades mansion in July 2023. She paid around $5.6 million for the elegant home, which she shares with rapper Big Sean. The couple welcomed their first child together in November 2022.
Built in the 1980s, the Mediterranean-style home features 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. On the main level, the grand foyer leads into a formal living room with a vaulted wood-beam ceiling, two-way fireplace, and custom shelving. The home’s exterior design, which includes a terracotta tile roof and creamy stucco finish, evokes the rustic elegance of Southern Europe. In addition to aesthetics, security is also a priority for the songstress as the property comes with an advanced Ring Alarm system.
The property is situated on a half-acre lot and has its own swimming pool, full-size pickleball court, three-car garage, and outdoor dining area with mature trees and sweeping views of the surrounding hills.
Chris Pratt
“Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt and wife Katherine Schwarzenegger have listed their Pacific Palisades home for $32 million after two years of renovation work. Originally built in 1995, the couple acquired the hillside home for $15,601,500 in 2018 and partially rebuilt it from scratch. The remodels were so extensive that the listing states the property’s construction date as 2021. Pratt and Schwarzenegger moved in that same year and presented the home on the Netflix hit series, “Get Organized With the Home Edit”.
Today, the mansion spans over 12,900 square feet with 6 bedrooms and 12 baths. The modern interior exudes a California-casual vibe with custom finishes and premium materials.
Highlights include the great room, which offers stunning ocean views, and the formal dining room, which can accommodate 14 guests. There is a fire pit and 5 fireplaces throughout the property to set the mood for intimate gatherings.
Located in the gated community of Marquez Knowles, in which there are only five other homes, this rebuilt property is perfect for entertaining, with picturesque views of the Los Padres Mountains, Santa Monica Bay coastline, Catalina Island, and the “Queens Necklace” along the California coast.
Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo
In May 2022, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo set a real estate record with the sale of their Pacific Palisades home for $51 million — about $20 million more than they paid for it in 2018. It was the third most expensive real estate sale of the year in the Southern California market. The home was previously owned by Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, who lived on the property for almost a decade until their divorce in 2017. As a beloved celebrity home in Los Angeles, the property is also the former residence of 1940s actor Gregory Peck and film producer Brian Grazer.
Built in the 1930s, the Cliff May–designed compound spans three acres with a main house, guesthouse, and separate building for lifestyle amenities. The main house is a Ranch-style home offering 9,000 square feet of living space. With 10 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, it offers more than enough space for a growing family. It also features a spectacular Dolby screening room, game room, and modern kitchen with a large walk-in refrigerator.
The guesthouse has four additional bedrooms for visitors coming from out of town. A separate building comes with a well-equipped gym, yoga studio, and home office. The compound offers abundant outdoor space and mature landscaping for enhanced privacy. On the grounds are a swimming pool, marble bar, basketball court, and a chicken coop with fresh eggs. Its elevation commands stunning views of downtown Los Angeles to the east and the glistening waters of the Pacific to the west.
Levine and Prinsloo listed their Pacific Palisades mansion just as they shelled out $52 million for the Oakview estate in Montecito — another record-setting deal for 2022. Originally built for actor Rob Lowe in 2009, the Georgian-style structure has been featured in Architectural Digest. The 10,000-square-foot main house sits on a 3.5-acre lot with a swimming pool and tennis court.
Darren Dreifort
Former Dodgers pitcher and minor league spring training instructor Darren Dreifort is selling his Pacific Palisades property for a staggering $8.5 million. Situated on a coveted corner lot in coveted El Medio Bluffs, this home has 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, and a spacious rooftop deck with sweeping mountain and ocean views across 3 levels. The interiors feature hardwood floors, decorative wood paneling, and plenty of natural light throughout.
On the main floor is an office, formal living area, and family room with a fireplace for gatherings. Home chefs will especially love the dining room and gourmet kitchen with a spacious island and large casual dining banquette. There is also a bedroom with its own private bathroom.
The primary suite, along with three large bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, is located on the top floor while the lower level has its own entrance as well as kitchen, fitness studio, game room, two bedroom suites, and ample storage space.
The sprawling backyard features a swimming pool, spa, basketball hoop, and plenty of outdoor living space for entertaining friends and family. Built in 2009, this Traditional-style home is among the finest that Pacific Palisades has to offer.
SOLD by JAMES RESPONDEK in PACIFIC PALISADES: 6-bed home custom-built by Albino Martinez
Kawhi Leonard
NBA player Kawhi Leonard purchased an 11,815-square-foot Pacific Palisades mansion in 2021. Built in 2018, the hillside estate offers spectacular views of the Pacific and Santa Monica Conservancy. It has 7 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms along with a private gym, game room, bar, and movie theater. The spacious backyard features a gorgeous infinity pool with views of the surrounding areas.
The property’s previous owner, Relativity Media founder and film producer Ryan Kavanaugh, initially listed the home for $25 million before slashing his asking price to $17.5 million and inking the deal with Leonard for $17 million.
Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for a four-year, $142 million deal during the 2019 offseason. Since then, the two-time NBA champion has built an impressive luxury real estate portfolio, which also includes a $13.3-million San Diego property and $6.7-million condo in the Ritz Carlton Residences.
Matt Damon
In the last quarter of 2021, Hollywood A-lister Matt Damon sold his Grant Kirkpatrick-designed mansion in the desirable Riviera neighborhood for a cool $18 million. According to records, the buyer is none other than TV executive and former Warner Bros. CEO Ann Sarnoff.
Encompassing 13,500 square feet, the mansion has 7 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. It sits on two-thirds of an acre, offering plenty of indoor and outdoor living space. The 3-story home has a tropical theme with a 35-foot atrium, mahogany ceilings, and natural wood, stone, and glass accents throughout.
Lavish amenities include a screening room, game room, massage room, bar, wine cellar, gym, and office. The spacious backyard has a resort-style feel with a swimming pool, spa, cascading falls, koi pond, and play area surrounded by swaying palms, lounge chairs, and lanais.
Damon is an Academy Award-winning actor best known for starring in films such as “Good Will Hunting”, “The Bourne Identity”, and more recently, “Oppenheimer”. He also owns luxury properties in New York City and Bedford on the East Coast.
YOU, TOO, CAN LIVE LIKE A STAR
SOLD by JAMES RESPONDEK in PACIFIC PALISADES: 5-bed, 3-bath home in the highly sought-after Riviera community
The next best thing to being Hollywood royalty is living like one — enjoy the trappings of luxury when you find your dream home in Pacific Palisades. With a fantastic selection of custom-built and architecturally significant homes, you’re bound to find a unique property in this community. If you’re up for extensive renovations and remodeling work, there’s virtually no limit to what you can achieve in terms of customization and rebuilding a home from the ground up.
Whether you’re a lover of architectural history or simply enjoy the finer things in life, this Westside neighborhood has plenty to offer when it comes to luxury real estate, amenities, lifestyle, and social events. From exquisitely designed homes and panoramic views, to high-end retail and outdoor recreation, it’s safe to say that Pacific Palisades has it all. As a private and exclusive community, you’ll find yourself in good company when you move to this affluent enclave.
DISCOVER THE PACIFIC PALISADES LUXURY MARKET WITH JAMES RESPONDEK
When it comes to market knowledge on luxury real estate in Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas, no one comes close to James Respondek. With over 35 years of experience, he leads a team of professionals at The Respondek Group.
James has generated total sales of $1 billion over the course of his illustrious career, having helped countless clients find the perfect home and get a foot through the door in Los Angeles’ most exclusive communities. He has worked with generations of Palisadians, providing tailored service for each client, from contract signing to closing.
Ready to find your dream home in Pacific Palisades? Reach out to James and the Respondek Group at 310.488.4400 or send them a message here.