From Haunted AMERICAN IDOL House to Supreme $72M Estate
Renovated, expanded and newly christened Villa Colibri has come a long way since it was known as the haunted American Idol house.
Filled with antiques from Europe and featuring a golf course, tenniscourt, and three pools, the lavish Villa Colibri also had a bit of a reputation.
Yes, it was once an “American Idol” mansion—one contestants fled, claiming it was haunted and full of spiders.
However, its haunted American Idol house days were many moons ago. Not long after the aspiring singers vacated the Beverly Hills, CA, home, Munchkin CEO Steven B. Dunn bought the property for $11.2 million. He and his wife, Laura, then spent millions to renovate the property and expand the footprint from 2.14 to 10.57 acres. They’ve now put it on the market for $72 million.
No surface or structure on the property was left untouched or unimproved, according to Timothy DiPrizito, who is co-listing the estate with fellow Coldwell Banker Global Luxury agents Joyce Rey and Stephen Apelian.
With the main house, guesthouse, and two additional buildings, the total indoor living space is approximately 17,000 square feet, with eight bedrooms, nine baths, and five half-baths.
There are European antiques throughout the residence, including an early 19th-century Murano glass chandelier, a 17th-century Trumeau fireplace, a pair of 17th-century Spanish doors, an 18th-century stone fireplace, and an antique door from a jail in Amsterdam that leads to a 600-bottle wine cellar.
One of Villa Colibri’s most arresting features is the clever golf course, designed by golf ace Dean Reinmuth.
And there are historic domestic treasures as well. The extended driveway is lined with mature olive trees, and paved with 17th- and 18th-century cobblestones from the streets of New York City. The driveway leads to parking for over 40 cars.
“This estate is full of classic elements that will stand the test of time,” says DiPrizito.
“It’s not a trendy home,” he notes, referring to the modern white boxes that are being built throughout the area. “It’s a timeless estate that 100 years down the road will still speak of elegance and style.”
