In May 2023, Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z purchased a $200 million dollar Malibu home overlooking the Pacific Ocean, inking the most expensive real estate deal in California history, according to TMZ.
The sprawling six-acre compound sits along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu’s Paradise Cove neighborhood, an exclusive stretch of real estate dubbed “Billionaires' Row.” The zip code is shared by the likes of Apple designer Jony Ive, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen–whose lavish $177 million dollar estate formerly held the record for priciest listing in the state.
Supplanting their new neighbor, the Knowles-Carters’ nine-figure closing now takes the cake as the second-most expensive home purchase in American history (the top being $238 million for an NYC apartment). Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency represented both parties.
Beyoncé accepts award for Renaissance at the 2023 Grammys.
The seller is renowned art collector William Bell, son of the creator of American soap operas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. Bell, who bought the property in 2003 at $14.5 million, spent over 15 years completing the 30,000 square feet compound–designed to showcase his legendary art collection.
The home holds architectural significance as one of only a few private residences designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando in the United States. (Another being fashion designer Tom Ford’s Santa Fe ranch, Cerro Pelon, which Aldo completed in 2012.) Ando is credited with popularizing the "haiku" effect, using empty space to emphasize the beauty of zen aestheticism and pure geometry. His non-residential work in the U.S. includes the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in Missouri and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Japanese architect Tadao Ando posing at the National Art Center in Tokyo.
Shortly after her ex-husband purchased an Ando-designed Malibu beach house, Kim Kardashian enlisted the esteemed architect on two new projects for herself: a lakeside lodge and a “spaceship-inspired” Palm Springs vacation home she describes as “concrete, gray-toned, really zen” in a 2022 Vogue interview. Kardashian recently flew to Japan to meet with Ando.
While Ando’s stark aesthetic is becoming a status symbol among the celebrity set, the Beyoncé hive isn’t so sure. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should,” one commenter wrote of the L-shaped compound. “It looks like a corporate park in Arkansas” said another, while someone else likened the home’s stark geometries to “one of those shipping container homes.” Others are simply in sticker shock: “Sounds like the seller snagged the deal.” “The property taxes on that thing must be insane!”
Though not everyone’s cup of tea (according to the contractor, the home is made up of 7,645 cubic yards of concrete–so, not exactly “cozy”), it makes sense that the business and entertainment moguls would be drawn to the simple, art-forward design. Beyoncé and Jay Z’s private collection is extensive, including works from Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Mark Rothko, and a Tiffany-blue Basquiat.
Plus, it seems the Knowles-Carters got a bit of a deal on the home, originally listed for an eye-watering $295 million. Beyoncé, who’s on track to net $2 billion from her international Renaissance tour alone, has yet to announce the family’s move-in date.
