estate

Wilt Chamberlain spent about $1m building his Bel Air estate in 1971; after renovations and a near-$19m asking price, it sold for about $9.7m

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Built for Wilt Chamberlain in 1971, the Bel Air estate was listed several times from 2018 onward, at one point asking nearly $19 million. (Wikimedia Commons)

Built in 1971 for approximately $1 million, Wilt Chamberlain’s custom-built Bel Air residence sold in 2024 for $9.675 million after many years on the market at a peak asking price of nearly $19 million. The 9,395-square-foot property, called “Ursa Major,” was designed by David Rich and drew inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural style. Built … Read more

Henry Fords Fair Lane once sat on more than 2,000 acres; after his death, the Michigan estate became a historic landmark

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Fair Lane’s mansion, gardens, powerhouse, and other buildings reveal the estate’s roles as a family residence, engineering site, and landscaped retreat (Wikimedia Commons)

By the time Henry Ford started purchasing land around the Michigan side of the Rouge River in the early 20th century, he was creating a large-scale setting for his country home. He owned more than 2,000 acres by 1909, surrounding the area known today as Fair Lane in Dearborn. It comprised forestland, farmland, and river … Read more

In Sandy Springs, Peggy Miles helped protect her familys woodland; after her death, her estate transferred two acres to complete Lost Corner Preserve

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Heritage Sandy Springs Park, Sandy Springs Georgia (Wikimedia Commons)

A serene area of woodland in Sandy Springs, Georgia, has become a lasting source of enjoyment for the community through the efforts of one woman who sought to preserve her lifetime home. Margaret “Peggy” Miles was born and raised at the 24-acre family farm where the mature trees and natural habitats were untouched. Rather than … Read more

In Indiana, Lois Farris cared for family farmland; after her death at 99, her estate left a 400-acre farm for wildlife restoration

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Representative image of a rural farm with open fields, a pond and wildlife in a natural habitat. (AI-genearye/ ChatGPT)

In White County, Indiana, a 400-acre family farm is being transformed to support native wildlife, prairie plants and wetlands, fulfilling a conservation vision that began nearly two decades before its owner’s death. Lois Lynn Lowe Farris, who lived to be 99, left the property to NICHES Land Trust through her estate, ensuring that a significant … Read more

In Californias Napa Valley, poet Jane Mead managed her family ranch for 15 years; after her 2019 death, her estate gave 1,318 acres to a land trust

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A protected ridge above a valley, now set aside for wildlife and rare plants. (AI-generated/ChatGPT)

Some people leave behind money. Others leave behind a ridge. When poet Jane Mead died in 2019 at 61, her estate donated her family ranch to a trust. According to the Land Trust of Napa County, the 1,318-acre Mead Ranch sits near Atlas Peak, above Yountville, in California’s Napa Valley. The group announced the gift … Read more

In 2019, Garry Shandlings estate left $15.2 million to UCLA, establishing four funds for medical research

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The comedian’s estate left $15.2 million to UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, creating four funds for endocrine surgery, infectious diseases, pancreatic diseases and broader medical research. The gift reflected Shandling’s experience with hyperparathyroidism and was also honored with a learning studio named after him. (Wikimedia Commons)

Garry Shandling spent much of his career entertaining audiences, but his own experiences with illness also shaped his legacy. In February 2019, UCLA announced that the comedian’s will had left $15.2 million to the David Geffen School of Medicine to support medical research. The bequest established four funds covering three specialized fields and broader medical … Read more

In 1997, Sting bought a 16th-century Tuscan estate as a family retreat; the 865-acre property now produces organic wine, olive oil, honey and fruit

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In 1997, Sting bought a 16th-century Tuscan estate as a family retreat; the 865-acre property now produces organic wine, olive oil, honey and fruit

PC: Il Palagio Official website​ Above the Tuscan town of Figline Valdarno, among the hills of the Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Il Palagio occupies a large stretch of farmland with a history reaching back centuries. The estate became part of Sting and Trudie Styler’s life in 1997, when the couple bought the historic property and began … Read more

In 2018, Ron Burkle bought Bob Hope’s 5-acre Los Angeles estate for $15 million; after restoring it while preserving Hope’s oak library and golf hole, he sold it for $26 million in 2023

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In 2018, Ron Burkle bought Bob Hope's 5-acre Los Angeles estate for $15 million; after restoring it while preserving Hope's oak library and golf hole, he sold it for $26 million in 2023

An iconic piece of Hollywood history in Los Angeles has changed hands for $26 million (£20 million) after undergoing a sensitive multi-year restoration project. American businessman Ron Burkle acquired the sprawling five-acre Toluca Lake compound that once belonged to the legendary entertainer Bob Hope in 2018 for $15 million (£11.5 million). Following a meticulous restoration … Read more

Sydney Sweeney bought a $6.2 million 1930s Bel-Air estate on 1.25 acres; she wanted to restore its overgrown garden without erasing its old Hollywood character

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Sydney Sweeney bought a $6.2 million 1930s Bel-Air estate on 1.25 acres; she wanted to restore its overgrown garden without erasing its old Hollywood character

A vine-covered mansion in Bel-Air might seem like an obvious candidate for a complete renovation, particularly when its new owner is a Hollywood actor with the means to start afresh. Sydney Sweeney had a different approach when she bought a property dating back to the 1930s in 2023. Rather than stripping away its aged features … Read more

Russell Peters bought a 1.5-acre Hidden Hills estate for $6.45 million in 2017; three years later, he sold the 11,600-square-foot mansion for $7.8 million

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Russell Peters bought a 1.5-acre Hidden Hills estate for $6.45 million in 2017; three years later, he sold the 11,600-square-foot mansion for $7.8 million

Comedian and actor Russell Peters has sold his 1.5-acre estate in Hidden Hills, California, for $7.8 million. The sale price was $700,000 below the asking price. Records show Peters, a native of Canada, paid $6.45 million for the property in 2017. The estate is anchored by an 11,600-square-foot mansion built in 1998, with eight bedrooms … Read more