7 Shocking Facts About The Playboy Mansion’s Current Location And Billionaire Owner

The iconic Playboy Mansion, once the epicenter of Hollywood’s most lavish parties, is no longer the residence of its legendary founder, Hugh Hefner. As of December 2025, the estate remains a private residence, but its current status, ownership, and location are far more complex and intriguing than its infamous past. The mansion is undergoing a massive, multi-million dollar renovation that aims to erase decades of wear and tear, fundamentally altering the legacy of the property.

The mansion’s exact location is famous, yet its current role in the Los Angeles landscape has dramatically shifted since its $100 million sale. This article dives into the definitive address, the identity of the billionaire who purchased it, and the ambitious plans to restore the property to its original grandeur, making this one of the freshest updates on the infamous estate.

The Definitive Location and Current Ownership Profile

The legendary estate, often simply referred to as the Playboy Mansion West, is a Gothic/Tudor Revival architectural marvel nestled in one of the most exclusive enclaves in the world. Its current profile is defined by its new owner and the dramatic price tag it commanded.

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• Official Address: 10236 Charing Cross Road, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
• Neighborhood: Holmby Hills, an ultra-exclusive area that forms part of Los Angeles’s "Platinum Triangle," alongside Beverly Hills and Bel-Air.
• Original Construction Date: 1927.
• Former Owner (1971–2017): Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy magazine.
• Current Owner (Since 2016): Daren Metropoulos.
• Sale Price: $100 million (purchased in 2016).
• Architectural Style: Gothic Revival / Tudor Revival.
• Acreage: The property sits on a sprawling 5.3 acres.

Who is Daren Metropoulos? The Billionaire Behind the Purchase

The man who now owns the former hedonistic headquarters is not a Hollywood mogul, but a Greek-American businessman and principal at the investment firm Metropoulos & Co.. Daren Metropoulos is best known for his role in co-owning and revitalizing iconic American brands, most notably Hostess Brands, the company behind Twinkies.

Metropoulos purchased the mansion in 2016 from Playboy Enterprises for $100 million, a deal that included a unique stipulation: Hugh Hefner was permitted to remain in the residence until his death. Following Hefner’s passing in September 2017, Metropoulos took full control of the property.

The $100 Million Sale: Why the Price Was So High

The $100 million sale price was, at the time, the most expensive residential sale in Los Angeles County history. While the price sounds immense, the property’s true value lies not just in the 20,000-square-foot, 29-room mansion itself, but in its colossal land area and its proximity to an adjacent property.

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The mansion’s value was a combination of its historical significance, the sheer size of the 5.3-acre lot in the Platinum Triangle, and its potential for development. More importantly, Daren Metropoulos already owned the adjacent property, known as the former Kirkeby Estate, which he purchased in 2009. His ultimate plan was to combine the two historic estates, effectively restoring the original 7.3-acre parcel that existed in the 1920s.

The Massive Renovation That Is Changing the Mansion’s Legacy

Since taking over, Metropoulos has embarked on a massive, multi-year, multi-million dollar renovation project—estimated to cost upwards of $10 million—to restore the mansion to its former glory as a private residence. This is perhaps the freshest and most important update on the property.

The renovations are focused on preservation and modernization, moving away from the mansion’s image as a party house and restoring its architectural integrity. This ambitious undertaking involves a complete overhaul of the property’s infrastructure, including the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, which were notoriously outdated after decades of heavy use and minimal maintenance under Hefner’s tenure.

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Preserving the Historical Elements

While the party atmosphere is gone, the new owner is committed to preserving the mansion's most famous and quirky historical elements, ensuring its status as an important Los Angeles landmark remains intact.

• The Grotto: The infamous pool and grotto area, a central feature of the mansion’s legendary parties, is being preserved, though it is being thoroughly cleaned and updated.
• The Zoo License: The property’s unique and rare private zoo license, which allowed Hugh Hefner to keep various exotic animals like peacocks, monkeys, and flamingos on the grounds, is also being maintained. The grounds are home to an aviary and a pet cemetery.
• The Architecture: The distinctive Gothic/Tudor Revival style of the main house, designed by architect Arthur R. Kelly, is a primary focus of the restoration.

The long-term plan is to seamlessly integrate the Playboy Mansion with the adjacent Metropoulos property, creating one colossal, single-family estate. This move effectively ends the mansion's role as a public-facing corporate asset and cements its future as one of the largest and most historically significant private residences in Los Angeles.

The Playboy Mansion’s Legacy: From Party Palace to Private Estate

The mansion’s location at 10236 Charing Cross Road will forever be associated with Hugh Hefner and the Playboy brand. Hefner purchased the estate in 1971 for a mere $1.1 million, turning it into the West Coast headquarters for his empire and a cultural icon.

For over four decades, the property was synonymous with excess, hosting countless celebrity events, magazine photoshoots, and the legendary annual Midsummer Night's Dream party. The grounds included a tennis court, a vast game house, a screening room with a built-in pipe organ, and the famous grotto.

Today, the location of the Playboy Mansion represents a transition. It is a powerful symbol of a bygone era being meticulously restored for a new chapter. The address remains the same, but the spirit of the property—from a wild corporate playground to a stately, historic private residence—has changed forever under the stewardship of Daren Metropoulos. The ongoing renovations ensure that the structure itself will endure, preserving the architectural legacy while shedding the notoriety of its most famous resident.