Dude Bridges abides Winfrey’s offer
LOS ANGELES — Jeff Bridges didn’t have to look far to find a buyer for his compound in Montecito. The actor and his wife, Susan Geston, have sold their estate to neighbour and media mogul Oprah Winfrey for $6.8 million US.
With the transaction, Winfrey is adding to her stock of Santa Barbara-area real estate while Bridges appears to be paring down his portfolio.
Two years ago, the star of The Big Lebowski sold his larger property in the area — a Tuscan-inspired vineyard estate of nearly 20 acres — for $15.9 million. He also unloaded several parcels of land in Malibu this year.
The Spanish-style estate is a nice addition to Winfrey’s collection of homes in the community, which is popular with celebrities.
In 2001, she paid $50 million for a 42-acre estate known as The Promised Land, currently valued at about $90 million. She also owns a nearby horse farm that she bought at auction in 2015 for $28.9 million.
Winfrey’s new place is anchored by a 100-year-old home built by architect James Osborne Craig. Surrounding that are gardens, redwoods, oak groves, orchards, a guesthouse and a pool house. Equestrian features include a carriage house and horse facility with five stalls and a tack room.
Remodelled during the Bridges’ stay, living spaces feature dramatic beamed ceilings, bay windows and French doors. Several corner fireplaces are spread throughout the singlestorey interior.
In the master suite, a new bathroom boasts heated teak floors and a sleek shower of marble and glass. There are three bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Outside, the four-acre property features landscaped entertaining areas, a courtyard with a fountain, brick patios and a swimming pool and spa.
Bridges, 69, won an Academy Award in 2010 for the film Crazy Heart. His movie credits also include Hell or High Water and True Grit. Last year, he starred in Bad Times at the El Royale.
Winfrey, 65, hosted her syndicated talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show for 25 years and more than 4,500 episodes. In 2008, she launched her own cable channel, Oprah Winfrey Network.
Forbes estimates her net worth at $2.7 billion.
Who wants to buy Philbin’s house?
The home in Greenwich, Connecticut, of television host Regis Philbin and his wife, Joy Philbin, is for sale at $4.5 million, about $2.6 million less than they paid for the property in 2008.
A long driveway leads past mature trees, lawn and garden pathways to the 2.6-acre estate, which centres on a stone-clad English manor of 13,600 square feet. Beyond the double-door entry, the six-bedroom, 12-bathroom house opens to a two-storey foyer with a sweeping staircase.
A formal dining room has panelled walls, and there’s a pub with a wet bar. The kitchen has two islands. Seven fireplaces are spread throughout three floors.
Outside, spacious terraces descend to a hedge-lined swimming pool with a fountain and diving board. A tennis court sits to the side. Across the property is a guesthouse with a kitchen, loft and bedroom.
Regis Philbin, 88, is best known for hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Million Dollar Password and Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee, which later became Live! With Regis and Kelly.
He holds the Guinness world record for most time spent in front of a television camera.
Jonas brothers move into separate properties
Joe and Nick Jonas no longer share the same address, but they aren’t exactly moving far apart.
The brothers, of Jonas Brothers fame, who previously co-owned a home in Los Angeles, have bought separate, newly built homes in Encino for $14.1 million and $20 million, respectively.
The two purchases are among the highest prices ever paid for homes in San Fernando Valley, which has seen a smattering of sales above $10 million this year.
Joe Jonas’ new house, which he shares with his wife, Sophie Turner, is a two-storey contemporary with 15,000 square feet of designer-curated space, high ceilings and pocketing walls of glass that open to outdoor living spaces.
Designed for entertaining, there are chef’s and preparation kitchens, several living rooms, a home theatre and a gym. A custom wine cellar sits behind a glass-and-steel wall in the formal dining room. Including a twostorey guesthouse, there are 10 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms.
Nick Jonas’ home, which he bought with his wife, Priyanka Chopra, sits at the end of a long, gated driveway on more than three acres of grounds. Similarly equipped for indoor-outdoor living, the multilevel house has pocketing walls of glass that open to an expansive covered patio.
Among features of note are an indoor basketball court, a bowling alley and a home theatre. There are seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
The Jonas Brothers reunited this year to release Happiness Begins, their first studio album since 2009.
Joe Jonas, 30, was previously performing with DNCE, the funkpop band he founded in 2015. Nick Jonas, 27, appeared recently in the film Midway and has a role in the upcoming adventure movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Next Level.
Fashion leader Rodriguez has designs on a sale
Fashion designer Robert Rodriguez has listed his home in the flats of Beverly Hills for sale at $18.9 million.
Set on a tree-lined street, the Spanish-style home dates from 1927, but recently underwent a three-year renovation and expansion. The 7,314 square feet of living space has herringbonepatterned wood floors, custom millwork and crisp white interiors. Two 20-foot-long skylights top the two-storey entry.
Pocketing doors conceal a hidden bar in the step-down living room, which is anchored by a custom fireplace. The open-concept kitchen is equipped with an island, built-in booth seating and a butler’s pantry. Including a separate guesthouse, there are six bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
Grounds of a third of an acre contain a swimming pool with a spa, lawn and a dining patio.
Rodriguez gained recognition at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where he won a Critics Award for Best Designer of the Year, before accepting a position at Christian Dior. He launched his fashion line in 2003.
Rodriguez bought the property three years ago for $8.7 million.