The physician behind the faces of the Kardashians and A-listers from Jennifer Aniston to Britney Spears, Dr Raj Kanodia pumped big bucks into creating the ultimate Bel Air mega-mansion. However, the esteemed plastic surgeon has struggled to find a buyer, even after dropping the asking price from $180 million (£129m) to $99 million (£71m). Click or scroll on to take a tour of the lavish property that nose jobs, fillers and Botox built and discover exactly why it hasn't sold...
Renowned for his scarless rhinoplasties and natural-looking tweakments, Dr Kanodia snapped up the property next door to his long-time Mediterranean-style mansion back in 2011 for $6.8 million (£4.9m) and planned to build a relatively modest 3,000-square-foot home. Hiring the best architects, engineers and interior designers money could buy, he soon got carried away, and the budget spiralled out of control.
Despite warnings from well-heeled friends that he was way out of his league and would end up running out of cash, Dr Kanodia, who was buoyed on by a booming ultra-high-end real estate market, pressed ahead. He eventually splashed a reported $70 million (£50m) on the 34,000-square-foot 'era-defining' glass and Portuguese limestone palace, which was several years in the making.
Dr Kanodia approached the ambitious self build project with the same artistry, perfectionism and attention to detail he's known for in the world of cosmetic surgery. Every aspect of the stunning nine-bedroom, 20-bathroom mega-mansion screams opulent luxury, from the 90-foot infinity pool to the spectacular open-concept living spaces.
Entering the property, you can't fail to be bowled over by the lush living wall and eye-catching water feature. Sparing absolutely zero expense, the top plastic surgeon went all out financing the project and had to turn to what he dubs 'hard-money lenders' for funding. According to CNBC, he eventually secured a humongous loan from Bank of Internet USA.
The three-storey glass palace is a triumph of contemporary design. Unique furniture pieces and head-turning abstract artworks adorn the entry space, a bespoke suspended rock chandelier by award-winning designer Nicole Fuller graces the stairwell, while the floors, walls, fireplaces and countertops are crafted from the finest marble, oak and semi-precious stones, including gorgeous white onyx.
The full-height gallery entry and hallway lead into the vast main living area, which like the property's other interiors, wows with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with light. Decorated by the prestigious Lynda Murray Interior Design team, the carefully curated furniture pieces are as you'd expect, suitably luxe and extravagantly expensive.
Sourced from upscale Italian furniture company Minotti via LA store MASS Beverly, they include the fabulous Lawrence L-shaped seating system and Lawrence Clan ottoman, two Jacques ottomans and a Jacques three-seater sofa. There are also chic mid-century-esque Aston armchairs and a Caulfield Gold coffee table, all of which are created by Italian design legend Rodolfo Dordoni.
Price-wise, the corner sofa costs in the region of $12,000 (£8.4k) and even the coffee table retails for a hefty $4,800 (£3.4k). Elsewhere in the main living area is a vintage-style Gallotti & Radice Audrey couch and two 0414 chairs upholstered in velvet ochre, not to mention exquisite Italian custom cabinetry by Poliform and Ernestomeda.
The mega-mansion boasts a total of three kitchens, including a stainless steel commercial kitchen, ideal for rustling up sumptuous banquets. There's also this bespoke culinary zone in the main living area, which is the handiwork of Milanese designer Luca Lanzetta and the last word in clean, minimalist perfection.
Elsewhere, the mirrored Italian marble bar designed and fitted by Luca Lanzetta makes for the perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail or two. The space impresses with custom cabinets, abstract artworks by important artists and ambiance-enhancing mood lighting. That said, the lucky buyer can enjoy drinks in an additional interior bar and an outdoor one as well.
This plush TV den has a relaxed vibe but is just as luxe as the other parts of the property. Like the main living space, it features a Minotti L-shaped sofa, opulent coffee and side tables, and copious marble and oak, plus more of that exquisitely made bespoke cabinetry.
Among the numerous high-end amenities in this most exceptional of Bel Air mega-mansions is the champagne tasting room stocked with vintage bubbly. Stored behind glass walls in a climate-controlled wine cellar, it can hold a staggering 2,000 bottles – more than enough for glittering party after glittering party.
The glass palace is kitted out with a wellness centre to boot, complete with a spa, sauna, steam room and hot tub, plus a dedicated treatment room – Dr Kanodia really has thought of everything. The wellness centre also houses a fully loaded gym designed by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak.
The mega-mansion's nine bedrooms certainly do not disappoint either. This double-aspect master – there are several – has the same glass walls as the enormous living area, which open at the touch of a button. Other standout features include a linear fireplace and penthouse-style terrace that showcases the breathtaking views over Los Angeles.
The 20 bathrooms are equally grand and feature everything from standalone tubs overlooking jaw-dropping vistas to sizeable walk-in showers. Elsewhere, there's also a 29-seat movie theatre designed by BAM Luxury that features plush purple velvet seating and a super-sized screen, as well as an elegant billiard and games room.
The architect of the luxurious mansion, Paul McClean, is famed for delivering seamless indoor-outdoor transitions between the interior and exterior spaces he designs, and Dr Kanodia's residence is no exception. The main living area leads out onto the wonderful terrace and its 90-foot, 24,000-gallon infinity-edge pool, which has a waterfall-like overfill that cascades down to the lower floor.
Dr Kanodia is a keen horticulturalist and didn't hold back when it came to the green exterior spaces, creating what have been called the Hanging Gardens of Bel Air. The plastic surgeon has filled the terraced gardens with rose apple, mulberry and fig trees, as well as Canary Island palms, olive groves, magnolias and copious vegetables and herbs.
The ultimate party terrace, the outdoor entertaining space has a stone-clad kitchen and yet more high-end furniture from Italy's Minotti. The star pieces include a version of the company's Florida seating system, a Halley outdoor armchair and a pair of Colette outdoor armchairs upholstered in a khaki-green weave.
This being Bel Air, a place to store one's supercars is an absolute must and there's a vast air-conditioned underground garage in addition to the swish entry motor court. Following the property's completion in 2018, Dr Kanodia put it on the market with an asking price of $180 million (£129m) but finding a buyer proved to be a tough ask.
The once-booming ultra-high-end real estate market had hit a major slump and was compounded particularly in Bel Air by the fact so many jaw-dropping new mansions had been constructed during its height in the early to mid-2010s. The exclusive enclave was now brimming with OTT properties crying out for big-money buyers.
Making matters even worse, a tax hike in California was putting off foreign mega-mansion hunters, which together with the glut of posh properties on offer, rendered Dr Kanodia's property pretty much impossible to sell at the $180 million (£129m) asking price. With nobody prepared to stump up the money, the pad was left languishing on the market.
Desperate to honour the loan and keep the deluxe property maintained to perfection, which most definitely does not come cheap, LA's king of cosmetic surgery has taken to performing as many surgeries and tweakments as he can, some of which cost $20,000 (£14.4k) apiece, to service his debts and keep the property in tip-top shape.
Dr Kanodia even attempted to rent it out for an astronomical $1.5 million (£1m) per month, making it the most expensive rental in America, if not the world, for a time. No doubt with a very heavy heart, the celebrity surgeon dropped the asking price of the estate, which is currently listed with The Beverly Hills Estates, to $150 million (£108m), then down to $120 million (£86m), and when that didn't do the trick, recently slashed it to a bargain $99 million (£71m).
Whether the property sells after this latest price reduction is anyone's guess – the nearby Billionaire mansion by Bruce Makowsky was initially listed for $250 million (£180m) but eventually sold for a massively discounted $94 million (£68m) – but the ever-optimistic Dr Kanodia remains hopeful, and in any case is planning to live in the property and perhaps use it as his place of work if a buyer isn't found.
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