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The Long Battle Between Two of LA's Craziest Megamansions

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[Left: Fleur de Lys; right: The Manor]

A few days ago, news broke that Petra Stunt is hoping to sell the infamous Holmby Hills estate known as The Manor for at least $102 million. That number, of course, is not a coincidence: it's the record sale price set by the nearby Fleur de Lys estate just a few months ago. But that's only the latest shot fired in a long war between the neighboring megamansions; the story involves television kings, heiress sisters, acres of limestone, and so much more, and we've broken it all down for you right here:

The Estate
Fleur de Lys: LA's fifth largest house is about 35,000 square feet on 4.6 acres with 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, a pool/spa complex, a ballroom for 500, a two-story library, a commercial kitchen, a staff dining room, a cutlery room, security center, and 3,000-square-foot wine cellar with tasting room. It's also covered in limestone. It was built in 2002.
The Manor: Los Angeles's largest house (for now) is 56,500 square feet on 4.69 acres, with 14 bedrooms, 27 bathrooms, gobs of Italian limestone, a projection room, wetbar, library, service wing, billiards room, two-lane bowling alley, wine cellar with tasting room catering kitchen, gym, beauty salon, doll museum, and at least one giftwrapping room. It was built in 1990.

Rich Idle Blonde Woman It's Most Closely Associated With
Fleur de Lys: Suzanne Saperstein built Fleur de Lys with her ex-husband David I. Saperstein, who made his fortune in radio traffic reports. They split shortly after their palace was finished.
The Manor: Candy Spelling built The Manor with her now-deceased husband Aaron Spelling, the wildly successful television producer known for creating Dynasty; Beverly Hills, 90210; and Charlie's Angels. (They're Tori Spelling's parents, BTW.)

For Sale
Fleur de Lys: Fleur de Lys first went up for sale in 2007 asking $125 million.
The Manor: The Manor was first listed in 2008 for $150 million and stuck with that asking price until the day it sold for way, way less.

Sold!
Fleur de Lys: Fleur de Lys holds the Los Angeles house sale record—it went for $102 million in an all-cash, bidding war sale, but not until March 2014.
The Manor: The Manor sold first, in mid-2011, but for a pathetic $85 million (it was the highest-priced sale that year).

The New Owner
Fleur de Lys: British reality star/F1 heiress Tamara Ecclestone was reportedly quite interested in Fleur de Lys, but the new buyer is probably (although not definitely) Junk Bond King/indicted financial fraudster Michael Milken.
The Manor: Tamara's sister, then-22-year-old handbag designer/heiress Petra (Ecclestone) Stunt, also checked out Fleur de Lys, but ended up buying The Manor, which she later called cozy and "a good investment."




[Left: Saperstein's new rental; right: Spelling's penthouse]

The Seller's New Home
Fleur de Lys: Word is that Saperstein is renting a huge and garish contemporary estate, in the gated Beverly Park neighborhood, that was originally built for Perfect 10 magazine founder Norm Zada. It has 11 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, a skybridge, and more, and was listed for $84,000 a month.
The Manor: Spelling moved on to a $35-million, 18,000-square-foot penthouse at Century City's The Century; it has a screening room, its own saltwater pool, and a single giftwrapping room.

Post-Sale Fate
Fleur de Lys: Just a few days after selling in March 2014, Fleur de Lys went up for rent at $400,000 a month. Weirdly, it was reported in May that Milken had thrown a giant housewarming party at the estate.
The Manor: Stunt gave The Manor a "massive VIP lounge" look with black-and-white-striped marble floors, velvet walls, crystals everywhere, and a giant fish tank. She also converted the doll museum into a spa with massage parlor, three hair stations, and two mani-pedi chairs, and invited over notoriously unclassy friends including the Hilton sisters and Mel Gibson.

Most Pathetic Move
Fleur de Lys: After nearly two years off the open market, Fleur de Lys was relisted for $125 million, the very same day that The Manor closed its sale to Stunt for only $85 million.
The Manor: Only a few months after the Fleur de Lys sale, Stunt has gotten competitive, announcing that she'd like to sell The Manor for $150 million, but will settle for anything higher than that record $102 million.
· Fleur de Lys [Curbed LA]
· The Manor [Curbed LA]

Fleur de Lys

350 N. Carolwood Dr., Los Angeles, CA