Zsa Zsa Gabor was no stranger to the limelight in her heyday, so it stands to reason that the actress and socialite would own a home of a similar caliber. The woman who Merv Griffin once described as “glamour personified” is still taking offers for her $14.9 million mansion, but in the meantime the property’s breathtaking Bel Air views and elegant charm are being used in another capacity.
Already featured in the early Oscar contender Argo, which stars Ben Affleck, Gabor’s Bel Air manse will again be flexing some serious star power in the coming year. According to Gabor and husband Price Frederic von Anhalt’s realtor, Roger Perry of Rodeo Realty, the storied estate will continue to build on its already rich history as the backdrop for another highly anticipated film, Behind the Candelabra.
“It was built by Howard Hughes, rented by Elvis Presley and it belongs to Zsa Zsa Gabor,” says Perry of the 8,878-square-foot French-style home. “This property has a lot of history. Moreover, they just filmed the HBO Liberace movie, coming soon with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon. If only these walls could talk!”
And it’s not just film stars who have graced Gabor’s palatial abode. The property, which boasts six bedrooms, seven baths and a wealth of indoor-outdoor space dedicated to entertaining, has seen its fair share of U.S. presidents, CEO’s and other dignitaries over the years, including Queen Elizabeth, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and even Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.
While the home, with its antique fireplaces, elegant touches and generous formal sitting areas, makes for a picture perfect movie locale, Perry speculates that it may eventually be retired from big screen – that is, depending on what the future owners decide to do.
“Since the home is somewhat dated, buyers in this price point will do one of two things: gut it and bring it back to its old glory, or tear it down and build a new 10,000-20,000-square-foot mansion,” says the Rodeo Realty broker, who indicated that the location of the property alone alone has attracted interest from builders, celebrities and even foreign buyers.
“Some love the old John Elgin Woolf architecture. Some love the view. Some came just because Zsa Zsa is there. It’s glamour from another time.”
