Saturday, January 19, 2008

Fleur de Lys: 350 N Carolwood Drive


Walking straight across the street from Disney's old property is the Fleur de Lys mansion at 350 N. Carolwood Drive in Los Angeles (Holmby Hills). It is owned by David and Suzanne Saperstein. They bought three parcels in 1996 and 1997 and combined them to build this 35,046 square foot home with 12 bedrooms and 15 baths, which they promptly named "Fleur de Lys". It is modelled after Versailles and is currently on the market for $125 million.

David Saperstein made his billions in car dealerships and, later, as the largest stockholder of the Westwood One radio network. Why is the home for sale? Well here is the story according to the internet.

In 2006, the Texas business magnate and Republican Party donor David Saperstein fell for the family's young nanny, Hillevi Svensson. During a cross-country flight on board the family's private Gulfstream IV jet in 2006, David served his wife of 24 years with divorce papers during a stopover in Houston, apparently due to Texas divorce laws that favor him. She then filed her own papers in California, which is more alimony-friendly.

Suzanne has been awarded Fleur de Lys as a part of the settlement, and has placed it up for sale. Anybody have an eighth of a billion jingling in their pocket?

Next, we'll visit the homes of rich people whose names you actually know. By the way, that's the house on Walt's old property at the upper left of the bottom picture. The road that runs between the two mansions is Carolwood Drive.

2 comments:

  1. What an interesting story. I enjoyed it.

    sandy

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  2. I've driven by this mansion & stopped to take a better look.

    It's truly breathtaking.

    These pictures do not do it justice in regards to its actual size.

    The backyard lawn is a fresh-deep-green & beautifully manicured.

    The staff has their own "gated-entrance" to use & the grounds are monitored by large CCTV camera's.

    Not a lot of privacy due to the road on one side of the property rising up along a hillside overlooking the grounds, etc.

    .

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