Elon Musk and Nicolas Cage are just some of the celebrities who have bought homes in Bel-Air, and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are about to make the Los Angeles neighbourhood even more star-studded.
The couple – who got back together in 2021 – were in escrow on a 10-bedroom mansion in March 2022 and have since struck up a deal, TMZ reports. Affleck and Lopez were originally spotted house-hunting in the area in the summer of 2021 and checked out at least three mansions.
But they managed to snap up the Bel-Air abode for around US$50 million, according to the report.
Here’s what you need to know about the sprawling spot where the famous families will blend.
It’s in a prime location
Bennifer’s new home is situated right across the street from the prestigious Bel-Air Country Club, plus it has amazing views of the Century City skyline and golf course.
The 20,000 sq ft of living space is on a 0.5 hectare (1.2 acre) plot of land surrounded by lush gardens and is dubbed the Bellagio Estate. Images show that the gorgeous views are even available from the comfort of the next owner’s bed.
The home has doubled in value
The property was built by architect Paul Williams in the 1930s. Hedge fund manager Todd Lemkin and his wife Kasey bought the home for US$27.6 million in 2016. Lemkin is believed to have spent millions on renovations to update the aesthetic and increase the value.
It’s perfect for two families
The Gigli actors’ home has four kitchens – a main one and another for catering in the primary house – plus a guest house kitchen and outdoor kitchen for barbecuing … ideal for summer days spent lounging in the infinity edge pool.
With five children between them, the seven bedrooms are perfect for them in the main building. (There’s also one guest house and two bedrooms in the staff quarters.) All that space affords them the luxury of a gated entrance with full motor driveway and even a separate entrance for the service team.
Property agents Linda May and Drew Fenton, who listed the property with Hilton Hyland, say the wardrobes rival even the finest department stores – so the couple will have plenty of room to store their best red carpet ensembles.
However, the couple’s purchase of this home could’ve sparked an argument between Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, according to reports. Affleck and his ex – who have three children together – were seen arguing outside Garner’s car soon after the announcement of the house deal.
This is the $65million mansion on in Holmby Hills which Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck reportedly viewed, The 8 bed, 12 bath, 31,450 square foot mansion sits on 1.4 acres in the exclusive Holmby Hills which has been dubbed 'Billionaires Row' pic.twitter.com/ebyLb5Xqee
— JLo Gallery (@jlogallery) July 18, 2021
This abode fought off stiff competition
This wasn’t the only home the couple looked at. Last summer, Affleck and Lopez were shopping around the Holmby Hills area and a 31,500 sq ft home was in the running, TMZ reported at the time. The eight-bedroom, 12-bathroom mansion (furnished by Fendi Casa) not only had a bowling alley, but a medical suite with a dental office and operating room too.
It’s the most expensive place the stars have ever bought
Bronx-born J. Lo owns a US$20 million condominium in New York City and a mansion in the Hamptons area. The singer only bought a home in LA’s Encino area a couple of years ago and not long before that bought her current US$28 million Bel-Air mansion from actress Sela Ward.
In 2017, Lopez sold the Hidden Hills, California home she shared with ex-husband Marc Anthony and their twins Max and Emme – for US$10 million. Marc Anthony listed their Long Island, New York property for US$12 million in 2015 after they split, but only ended up getting US$9 million for it.
Berkeley-born Affleck currently has a US$19 million mansion in the Pacific Palisades area of California. The actor also owns an estate in Georgia. Garner sold their Palisades marital home for US$32 million in 2019 to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and his model wife Behati Prinsloo. They almost doubled the value of the 16,000 sq ft property after buying it from Hollywood producer Brian Grazier for US$17.5 million in 2009.
Note: This story was originally published on SCMP and has been republished on this website.
