Fleur de Lys, one of the biggest mansions in Los Angeles, has sold for $102 million in hard cold cash in a bidding war between three billionaires. The transaction is the most expensive sale to have gone down in the history of L.A. county, according to several news reports.
Though several reports are identifying the buyer as Michael Milken, the famous businessman and "junk bond king," the Los Angeles Times is reporting that Milken's representatives have denied purchasing the property.
While the buyer still remains a mystery, the seller is popular L.A. socialite Suzanne Saperstein. Suzanne and her then husband David Saperstein, founder of Metro Networks, built the 50,000-square-foot mansion and the estate over 11 long years. After collecting adjacent plots for five years, the estate was built in a span of six years.
However, after Suzanne and David's much publicized split over infidelity issues, the socialite received the residence in the divorce settlement, reports Curbed. In 2007, she put the gigantic estate on the open market for $125 million. It stuck to the asking price over the years after delisting in 2009 and reappearing in 2011.
Located in the upscale Beverly Crest area, The Real Estalker has dubbed the 4.6-acre estate an "unapologetically palatial white elephant." A 600-foot driveway leads up to the front of the giant mansion, which has 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms. Inspired by Vaux-le-Vicomte, a palace on the outskirts of Paris, the home features marble flooring, soaring ceilings, large doorways and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Other than the luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms, the house also has a huge ballroom to accommodate 500 people, a duplex wooden library, a music room, a theater and a 3,000-square-foot wine cellar. Outside, the home has sprawling manicured gardens, an infinity pool with a spa, a tennis court and two motor courts. Separate guest and servant quarters are also included.
There were several rumors about the Fleur de Lys selling to Formula One heiress Tamara Ecclestone. It was also speculated that a Chinese billionaire offered $85 million for the property last month, and there was news of a Russian billionaire picking up the gigantic mansion, too.
Fleur de Lys has also been used in several advertisements and movies. "The Green Hornet" offered ample shots of the castle.
You can also see the photos of the home here.
