‘I want to protect him’ – French Montana bought a villa right next to Drake’s house after rumors that his villa was attacked in the night

Not even three years ago, Moroccan-American rapper and songwriter French Montana paid L.A. Clipper Paul “PG-13” George a little more than $8.4 million for a nearly 16,000-square-foot mansion in the guard-gated and star-studded Hidden Hills enclave, where some of his neighbors include a multitude of Kardashians and sports stars.

Now, the three-time Grammy-nominated “Unforgettable” singer — whose 2017 single has amassed an astounding 1.5 billion YouTube views! — is looking to expand his property portfolio to other locations across the U.S. and around the world and has put his sprawling suburban L.A. home on the market for nearly three times what he paid. The late 1980s California ranch house meets Spanish hacienda is newly listed for $22.75 million with Tomer Fridman at Compass. (Photographs by Mike Kelley made available by The Fridman Group.)

The seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom estate, situated on nearly 1.5 acres in the coveted Ashley Ridge section of the posh, equestrian-friendly neighborhood, is largely unchanged from when Montana purchased it. Indeed, the wood and steel desk in the mahogany-paneled study, the purple tufted bed in the multi-room master suite, and the chairs surrounding the dining table were visible in the property’s listing photographs the last time it was on the market.

Massive operable skylights and expansive walls of windows ensure that the home is bathed in natural light. In the expansive living room, which is large enough for at least three seating areas, there is a marble fireplace, a recessed bar, and an indoor planter filled with lush tropical plants that bring nature indoors. Other features include a spacious kitchen with a U-shaped island and a breakfast nook by the fireplace, a kitchenette and a spacious walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom, and a five-car garage.

The house wraps around three sides of a stone-paved terrace with a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, covered lounge with fireplace and television, and a deck with tree-framed mountain vistas over the surrounding mansions.

Montana worked with the Ukraine-based design firm Iqosa for two years to develop plans to transform and enlarge the existing home to approximately 19,000 square feet with nine bedrooms, two service quarters, a home theater, fitness and spa facilities, a glam room, and a stainless steel prep kitchen, should the next owner wish to update and upgrade the property. According to the marketing materials, the city of Hidden Hills and the neighborhood’s homeowner association have approved the plans for the interior redesign.

Miami and Paris are possibilities, but this is not the first time Montana has purchased a home in the Calabasas area from another celebrity: in 2016, he paid Selena Gomez $3.3 million for a gated estate that he subsequently sold for $5 million in the summer of 2021.