Spectacular Homes
Thirty-seventh President of the United States, Richard Nixon, always enjoyed telling the American people what simple folk he and his wife, Pat, were in order to appeal to the middle-class voters. Fond of saying that Pat wore plain cloth coats instead of mink, it seems reality told a different story. His unassuming simple lifestyle narrative was cast aside when it came to the choice of his vacation White House. All presidents have had their special getaways, many were owned long before they became president. But it was after Nixon became president in 1969 that he instructed a campaign aide to find him a presidential retreat to be used as his Western White House along the California coast. Aide Fred Divel scoured the coastline and found the 26-acre Hamilton H. Cotton estate in the then sparsely developed town of San Clemente on a ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was grand and impressive enough for someone of Nixon’s new international importance; the home had even hosted Franklin D. Roosevelt in the past. During his presidency, he and Pat entertained many heads of state there, including Leonid Brezhnev when signing the Soviet-American communique in 1973. It was where Nixon wrote his memoirs after he resigned his presidency to avoid impeachment after the Watergate scandal of the 1970s. Nixon’s Western White House is now for sale, priced at $57.5 million.
A super luxurious enclave perched slightly above one of the best surfing beaches in California, La Casa Pacifica was modeled after a country home in San Sebastian, Spain and was designed by Carl Lindbom for Cotton in 1927 in the Mission-Colonial style. Structures are built within the current 5.45 acres with 450 feet of beachfront. They include a main residence of approximately 9,000 square feet with seven bedrooms, a 3,000-square-foot poolside entertaining pavilion with guest wing, a two-bedroom guest house and multiple staff accommodations. When Nixon first arrived after buying the compound, he replaced the existing tennis court with a swimming pool and made the necessary additions to house the Secret Service. The home’s location was adjacent to Camp Pendleton Marine Base providing convenient access to Air Force One and additional security.
San Clemente has grown considerably since the Nixons lived there. Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, it is filled with Spanish architecture, lovely seaside parks and walking trails and is one of the best surfing spots along the California coast. Packed with charm, and visual beauty, it is the southernmost city covered by the Los Angeles metropolitan area and carries the city slogan, "Spanish Village by the Sea.”
The Nixons sold the estate in the mid 1980s to former Allergan Pharmaceuticals chief executive Gavin S. Herbert, who has now listed it for $57.5 million. The estate is co-listed with Linda May of Hilton & Hyland, Beverly Hills and Rob Giem of Compass Realty, Newport Beach.
Photo credit: Jim Bartsch
Source: hiltonhyland.com
MEL GIBSON'S MALIBU MANSION!
Multi-talented, Academy Award-winning Mel Gibson has propelled his acting career, and simultaneously his real estate investments, into a $425 million net worth - a far cry from when he moved with his middle-class parents from New York to Australia at age 12. Mel studied acting at Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Arts and soon became a major movie star at age 23 after his lead role in the 1979 Australian-film Mad Max
, for which he earned just $15,000. Today, whether acting, directing, inciting controversy or purchasing some of the most romantic properties on the planet, he does it with passion. From action figure, to comedy, from stage to film, he has proven himself in the entertainment industry as evidenced by his many awards and has funneled that income into property investments with holdings in Australia, Costa Rica, the United States and Mago Island in Fiji. He has quietly but seriously made philanthropic donations in the countries where he invests and intends to keep the Fijian island in its natural, undeveloped state. Consistently, Gibson’s real estate choices reflect his penchant for the earthy and rustic with a strong romantic vibe cushioned among lush plantings. Such is the case with this Malibu, California mansion which he purchased in 2008 and added his personal stamp and highlighted its Old World characteristics. Mel’s home is now on the market, priced at $14.495 million.
One of the most beautiful estates in central Malibu, Gibson’s estate is accessed through a long-gated drive ending at a large motor court. The 6,578-square-foot house is entered via the two-story foyer that opens into an expansive great room with high vaulted-beamed ceilings, stone-arched doorways, large chandeliers, dark-wood floors, walls of transomed French doors exposing canyon and ocean views and a grand stone Inglenook-style fireplace. With five bedrooms and five baths, there is a large French Country kitchen with bespoke cabinetry, marble countertops, island for workspace and casual dining, a den, gym and family room. Outside are terraces overlooking ocean views, one with a romantic, vine-covered pergola for alfresco dining, and a three-car garage with a two-bedroom guest house above. Preferring a lush landscape, Gibson added additional plant materials native to Southern California. There are two swimming pools and the 5.5-acre property includes membership in the La Costa Beach Club.
One of Mel Gibson’s collection of properties in his rustic-elegant style is for sale in Malibu, priced at $14.495 million. Listing agents are Sandro Dazzan of The Agency, Beverly Hills and Branden Williams with Hilton & Hyland, Beverly Hills.
Photo credit: The Agency
Source: theagencyre.com
PARIS MANSION ASKS $280 MILLION!
A six-story mansion near the Eiffel Tower is for sale at $280 million. One of the most expensive homes in the world, very little is known about the giant place except it is owned by two elderly sisters and a strict policy of no interior photos. src:
www.celebritynetworth.com
