The Celebrity Retreat Mulholland Highway Estate Hits the Market

Looking for a lavish mansion with a celebrity history and stunning views of Lake Hollywood and the iconic Hollywood Sign? Your dream home may be within reach, as the famous Mulholland Highway estate formerly owned by Madonna is now on the market for a cool $21 million.

Known as Castillo del Lago, this eccentric Hollywood Hills property was originally designed by renowned architect John DeLario for oil tycoon Patrick Longan nearly a century ago. However, it has since undergone multiple renovations and expansions over the years. In the mid-1990s, the mansion was famously occupied by Madonna, and later, by commercial director Joe Pytka. Rumors suggest that it was also used as a gambling den operated by Bugsy Siegel in the 1930s and featured in the filming of “Beverly Hills Cop” in the 1980s. The estate was last sold for $7 million to Russian-American fashion designer Leon Max in 2010.

The Spanish-style estate, tucked away on a 3-acre hilltop secured by a gated driveway, features 9 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms spread across over 10,500 square feet of living space. The interior is adorned with wood-beam ceilings, terracotta floors, custom wrought-iron details, arched doorways, and colorful tilework. The mansion boasts an office, a screening room, a wine cellar, a gym that opens to a spacious terrace, and kitchen-equipped staff quarters.

Upon entering, a double-height foyer leads to a spiral staircase tower that connects the multiple levels of the home, which can also be accessed via a vintage wood-paneled elevator. The living room features a soaring ceiling adorned with stenciled wood beams and French doors leading to a spacious terrace overlooking the lake. The formal dining room sports a dramatic honeycomb ceiling. Other highlights include a cozy library with a fireplace and built-in bookshelves, and a “classic period-style” kitchen with a center island, high-end appliances, additional prep areas, and adjoining breakfast room. The master wing has separate sitting areas and access to the signature tower with lounge seating, as well as dual baths.

The picturesque grounds feature a backyard laced with towering palms and rose gardens, a lap pool surrounded by a grassy lawn, a courtyard holding a fountain and fireplace, and a wisteria-covered al fresco dining terrace. The estate also features an attached two-car garage flanked by a large motorcourt. 

The listing is held by Linda May and Brett Lawyer of Carolwood Estates.