Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

You Can Now Invest In The Mansion Where The 'Godfather' Horse's Head Scene Was Filmed

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

If you can't afford a mansion on your own, maybe you could throw down on one with some friends. If you have $125,000, you can become one of up to 320 investors in the Beverly Estate, according to Curbed LA. That's the crowdfunding campaign being run via Start Engine, at least. They're calling it "an offer you can't refuse," which is suitable considering this opulent house was where film producer Jack Woltz wakes up to find himself in bed with a horse's head in The Godfather.

According to the pitch, your investment "should offer much more peace of mind, and enjoyment, than the turmoil, uncertainties and unpredictability in world markets and currency risks and allows much desired diversification of investments." In addition to an estimated 5-20 percent turn on your investments, you'll also get a discount on renting the home for events, and you will be invited to various events thrown at the house.

The home is currently worth about $160 million, but could potentially be listed for more. If sold, that would work out well for investors. Just to rent the home is $600,000 a month. The home's current owner, financier Leonard Ross, is $40 million in debt, and filed for bankruptcy in 2010. At the time, Variety reported that Ross owed "a punishing $40,000,000 in mortgages on the walled and gated hilltop estate now known as The Beverly House Compound."

Support for LAist comes from

The home was built in 1927 by architect Gordon Kaufmann for Milton Getz, then sold to newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst in 1946, who gave it to his mistress, actress Marion Davies. Hearst died here in 1951, and it didn't take long for Davies to move in her own lover, Horace Brown. Plenty of other famous people have partied here, too, from the Kennedys to Rihanna. It's got at least 19 bedrooms, 40 bathrooms, and it's own nightclub, as well as an outdoor terrace that can seat 400.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist