Fans of Al Pacino's 1983 film "Scarface" could most likely remember the character's opulent mansion, one of the most stunning houses ever featured in Hollywood movies. Wall Street Journal reports that the estate, which has been looking for a new owner since 2014, has been sold at a bargain price of $12.26 million. The initial asking price was $35 million.
The property is located in Montecito, California, as listed by Riskin Partners. It is known as "El Fureidis" or "Little Paradise." But there is nothing little at all with the property. With 10.5 acres, the compound has four huge bedrooms and five and one half baths.
The estate, built in 1906, was designed by architect Bertram Goodhue. Its original owner, James Waldron Gillespie, wanted the mansion to reflect his world travels. The finished product takes on a neoclassical Byzantinian look, complete with tall columns, gold leaf detailing and Persian-inspired landscaping.
"Together, Gillespie and Goodhue embarked on a yearlong trip to Europe and the Mediterranean region to gather inspiration for the estate; a significant portion of their journey included over 500 miles on horseback from the Caspian Sea to the Gulf of Persia," the listing states. "This journey birthed the concept of a grand Roman villa with Persian gardens, a very progressive architectural style for the time."
Inside, the mansion has numerous areas for entertaining, decorated with elaborate furniture and details. The formal living room, painted in warm white, has paneled ceiling hand painted in sky blue, representing the heavens. Adjacent to the living room are the library, sitting room and lounge.
The formal dining room has a barreled ceiling, painted in 24k gold leaf, depicting a scene of Alexander the Great's conquest of Persepolis. The artwork was done by artist Henry Wadsworth Moore, whose signature remains intact. There is a musician's balcony adjacent to the room, accessed via a glass door.
Outside, the sprawling gardens are covered with a variety of trees, many of which are over 100 years old. The gardens also have multiple fountains and swimming pools. There is an exquisite roof deck, which provides a 360-degree view of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands.
The estate's piece de resistance is its domed atrium, 18 feet in height, with hand painted and 24k gold leaf details. It is said to be modeled after the church of St. John Lateran in Rome.
Since its establishment, the property has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation. Its bathrooms and kitchen have state-of-the-art appliances, such as built-in floor heaters and steam showers.
Aside from the movie "Scarface," the mansion has had celebrity guests, including Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, and John F. Kennedy.
According to WSJ, the buyer was 59-year-old Pradeep Yohanne Gupta, CEO of private investment bank IQ Holdings.
Take a tour of this celebrity real estate in the video below:
