Even though it was never legally put on the market, a lavish Los Angeles home has sold for an astounding $70 mιllιon to Abel Tesfaye, the Canadian music legend better known as The Weeknd. This deal is one of the priciest real estate deals in California in 2021.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that the “Blinding Lights” singer now possesses a nearly 33,000-square-foot mansion in affluent lower Bel Air. the singer’s former Hidden Hills residence was sold to Madonna in April for $19.3 mιllιon.
The owners of the Bel Air home, Reinout and Danielle Oerlemans, were married Dutch celebrities; he founded the TV production company Eyeworks, and she dated Lance Armstrong while she was a professional cyclist, according to property records.
In the summer of 2015, the couple paid $21.4 mιllιon for the existing property. Three years later, they completed a three-year renovation that included the addition of 13,000 square feet of living space, an indoor pool/spa, and a variety of lavish amenities. The couple also transformed the early 2000s mansion, which had a vaguely Tuscan feel, into a cutting-edge showcase by meticulously selecting contemporary pieces from around the globe.
The 1.6-acre home is situated on a very isolated island-like parcel of land with views of the Bel Air Country Club. Double gates and a long driveway lead up to it. Inside, The Weeknd has access to a Turkish-inspired hammam, a theater, a gym, and a separate recording studio.
Nearly all of the living areas feature floor-to-ceiling glass walls that open to an outdoor living room and terraces with views of the golf course. While the industrial-style office and formal dining room have coved ceilings, the formal living room has lustrous orange walls and a towering black marble fireplace.
There is also a beautifully updated gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, two islands with marble waterfall borders, and copper drawers and cupboards with unique handles created from leather belts. A sports court, an infinity pool that is surrounded by a waterfall, and other amenities are located on the beautifully landscaped grounds.
Rayni and Branden Williams of The Beverly Hills Estates represented the sellers in the deal, and Angel Salvador represented The Weeknd.