Everything You Need to Know About the Famous Beverly Estate
Including which first couple honeymooned there in the 1950s.
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If the Beverly Estate's walls could talk, they would have a lot to say. The enormous property, nestled just a mile from the Beverly Hills Hotel, dates back to 1926—and a lot has happened since it was built. It was home to actress Marion Davies and publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst for 20 years. It was also one of John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy's honeymoon destinations in 1953—and eventually where he and his entire family gathered to celebrate his nomination win following the 1960 Democratic National Convention.
In the 1970s, it became known as "The Godfather House," thanks to its appearance in the award-winning film. And, ever since, it's been front and center in Hollywood, serving as the location for Beyoncé's Black Is King film, as well as Adele's 31st Great Gatsby-themed birthday party. At 50,000 square feet—which includes 28 bedrooms and 38 bathrooms!—it's no wonder this luxury retreat is a celebrity go-to.
To get an insider's perspective, we spoke to historian David Silverman of LA House Histories, who revealed fascinating details about the storied estate—from what's hidden behind the dining room walls to the sentimental reason behind the two-story library. For a peek inside the property's never-ending hallways, cascading ponds, arched ceilings, and more, read on.
It was first purchased for a modest $7,273.
Milton Getz, executive director of Union Bank, first purchased the land in 1923. Two years later, he secured a permit to construct his 22-room dream home. Back then, it was broken into three plots: the 18,000-square-foot house, land for his daughters to build homes on once they got older, and a horseback riding ring.
The library was a love letter to Getz's wife.
While mapping out the different rooms, the businessman made sure to include a two-story library, pictured here, for his wife. Estelle Getz enjoyed collecting rare books, and this special room gave her a gorgeous place to store all of them. The couple held onto the estate for 17 more years before ultimately selling it.
Getz paid special attention to the arched ceilings.
One of the most iconic design elements of the Beverly Estate? The remarkable arched ceilings. Getz even hired Italian painter John Smeraldi to decorate some of these spaces with intricate motifs.
You might know Smeraldi's other works.
Here's a closer look at one of the regal ceiling designs. Fun fact: Smeraldi also painted the ceiling of the famous Biltmore Hotel ballroom in Los Angeles, Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and the White House Blue Room, when President Theodore Roosevelt was in office.
The natural light is hard to beat.
Not only are the arched ceilings beautiful, but they also make the rooms feel larger than life. Plus, the windows bring in a ton of sunlight and offer views of the gardens and fountains outside.
Actress Marion Davies purchased the estate for a touching reason.
The home had three additional owners before actress Marion Davies snatched it in 1946 for $110,000. Previously, she'd been living at the famous Hearst Castle with her longtime partner, William Randolph Hearst. "He was in his 80s and he was having heart problems," Silverman told House Beautiful. "His doctors told him that he should be in L.A., closer to [them]. So that's why they moved."
Davies transferred ownership to Hearst before he died.
While it's been debated whether Davies or Hearst actually owned the iconic home, the answer is simple: They both did. "She thought that he should die in a house that he owned, because they were never married," Silverman told House Beautiful. "So she transferred the ownership to him. And then when he died, he transferred it back to her."
William Randolph Hearst put his own touches on the house.
Hearst had a huge real-estate portfolio. Besides one Scottish castle, the Beverly Estate was his only house he didn't build himself. Needing to focus on his health this time around, the newspaper tycoon didn't have much time to change the decor, but he did bring over some key features from Hearst Castle, like the library cabinets and wooden door frames throughout the home.
The third pool in the backyard wasn't always there.
It used to be a huge fountain. After moving in, Hearst converted the structure into a pool. However, the now-iconic cascading pond was an original amenity.
Hearst influenced the home even after his death in 1951.
"[Hearst] was just this crazy collector, and he had warehouses full of antiquities," Silverman told House Beautiful. "And [his estate] wanted to get rid of some of it. They sold some of it to architects and interior designers." The result? These gorgeous Venetian columns were installed by the pool in the 1960s, after the new owner bought them from Hearst's estate sale.
Take a closer look at those columns.
They create a separate outdoor space for sunbathing or comfy cabana furniture—and they certainly add a royal flair to the already-chic yard.
The billiard room didn't always have a fireplace.
A Hearst Castle staple for years, this mantel was another element brought in from the newspaper tycoon's estate sale back in the '60s.
The fabric walls were new too.
They added a sophisticated feel to the space. Everything else about this room was pretty much unchanged from the 1920s.
There may be secret treasures behind the main dining room mirrors.
There used to be artwork covering every wall in the main dining room. "In the '60s, they put up these mirrors on top of the paintings," Silverman told House Beautiful. "The hope is that when we take off the mirrors, that the mural will be behind it. We took off one, just to see if it's under there, and it wasn't underneath that one. But it might be underneath the other ones."
Each dining room wall had a theme.
For reference, here's a photo circa the 1930s of the same dining room. You can see the wall-to-wall murals, by artist Hugo Ballin. Each wall was meant to symbolize a different theme: the arts, the seasons, religion and philosophy, and the five senses.
Yes, there's a second (smaller) dining room.
Go through the big carved wooden doors, and you'll find yourself in another—smaller—dining room. The bright color, patterned wallpaper, and dark wooden touches bring a Mediterranean feel to the room.
It wasn't always pink.
While you might recognize the Beverly Estate's pink exterior, it was originally white. It was first painted the pastel color in the '60s.
The outdoor space was inspired by Italian gardens.
With its dome-like gazebo, sculpted hedges, and flowered pathways, it's not hard to see the landscape designer's inspiration.
The terrace staircase offers easy access to the pool.
"Indoor-outdoor living was big in the '20s," Silverman told House Beautiful. The terrace was created as the perfect place to look out on the cascading pond below—and consider a dip in the pool.
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