Reports have emerged that the power couple, Beyoncé and Jay Z, has made a significant real estate move by purchasing a modernist mansion designed by the renowned Japanese architect, Tadao Ando. The sale, with a staggering price tag of $200 million, is said to set a new record for the most expensive home in California.

 

Tadao Ando, a Pritzker Prize-winning architect, is renowned for his exposed concrete and glass homes, often considered status symbols for American celebrities. The mansion is described as “massive,” “minimalist,” and “echoey,” boasting features such as a pool, a “water feature,” and an award-winning concrete driveway.

 

Originally commissioned by art collectors William and Maria Bell, members of the soap opera dynasty responsible for creating The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, the home was deemed “dazzling” and “spectacular” during its construction. However, Maria Bell acknowledged the challenge of living in what some might perceive as a Brutalist structure.

 

TMZ initially reported the sale, emphasizing the final $200 million price as an “unbelievable deal” compared to the original asking price of $295 million. The property’s history and architectural significance, coupled with the celebrity involvement, add an extra layer of allure to this extravagant real estate transaction.

 

While New York City still holds the record for the most expensive home in the United States with a $238 million penthouse overlooking Central Park, California continues to set and break records in luxury real estate. The surge in Malibu’s prominence for high-end properties is attributed to substantial investments by tech magnate Larry Ellison, who owns an estimated 10 homes on the famed “Billionaire’s Beach” in Malibu, according to the Wall Street Journal. Ellison, ranked as the fifth wealthiest person globally, also boasts significant commercial holdings and ownership of most of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.