Tech billionaire Peter Thiel has been identified as the mysterious purchaser of Casa Encantada, a historic Bel-Air estate that was sold in July for $130 million. The identity of the buyer remained confidential for months following the property's sale at an open-air foreclosure auction held in Pomona.
According to the Wall Street Journal, which first disclosed the buyer's identity, the winning bid was placed by a limited liability company associated with the venture capitalist and co-founder of PayPal and Palantir. The sprawling estate covers approximately 8.4 acres and overlooks the Bel-Air Country Club. The 1938 mansion features grand Deco-Hollywood interiors, including seven bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, multiple lounges and dining rooms, and a library paneled in walnut. Outdoor amenities include a 60ft tiled swimming pool, a tennis court, terraced gardens, and a two-storey guesthouse.
The property has a storied history of ownership, having previously belonged to hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, who acquired it in 1950, and billionaire David Murdock, who purchased the site in 1980 for a then-record $12.4 million. In 2000, it set another price record after selling to Gary Winnick for $94 million.
Despite the high-profile acquisition, Thiel reportedly does not intend to reside at the estate. Instead, he views the property as an investment and has outlined plans to upgrade it. This purchase expands a significant international real estate portfolio that includes compounds in New Zealand and Hawaii, as well as residences in Washington DC and Miami. Thiel also recently acquired a mansion in a prestigious neighborhood in Buenos Aires. Last year, he reportedly moved his primary residence from California to south Florida, a shift that occurred during regional debates regarding wealth taxes in California.
