The Danny Thomas Palatial

If you had to name the single best home site in LA, this one would top the list. Set on 2.5 acres on a secluded promontory in Beverly Hills’ coveted Trousdale Estates enclave, it commands 360-degree views of the entire LA basin from Downtown to the canyons.

The compound and its approx. 18,000 square foot home were created for one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars: comedian, actor, TV producer and philanthropist Danny Thomas. His former home, at 1187 North Hillcrest Road, is listed at $135,000,000 by Aaron Kirman, President of Aaroe Estates, the international luxury property division of John Aaroe Group.

The Danny Thomas Estate is influenced by Moorish architecture, with distinctively shaped arches showcasing the views. The sumptuous interior, which includes a ballroom and a media room, is highlighted by $2.5 million in Baccarat chandeliers, gold leaf ceilings, hand-woven carpets, and opulent European details.

A large outdoor entertainment area with vast dining and viewing pavilions leads to a pool that overlooks the entire LA panorama. The huge motor court accommodates twenty cars, a rare find in land-tight Trousdale.

Trousdale Estates began as a showplace for superstars of Midcentury architecture and the celebrities who loved them, from Dinah Shore and Dean Martin to Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon. Now, with the reemergence of the Mad Men era in popular culture, the Beverly Hills enclave has captured the imagination of a new generation of celebrities, architects, designers and innovators.

They’re creating a new mix of sensitive redos, new designs, and carefully curated originals that are making the enclave more desirable than ever. Last December, Sally Forster Jones and Katia De Los Reyes of John Aaroe Group sold the estate next door for $70 million, the highest price in the history of Beverly Hills. The buyer was Swedish billionaire and Minecraft game programmer/designer Markus Persson.