There are homes. And then there is Candy Land -- all 56,500 square feet of it.
Candy Spelling, widow of legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling, has put her 4.7-acre residence in Holmby Hills up for sale. Priced at $150 million, it's currently the most expensive residential listing in the U.S.
Whether Spelling will have to take a haircut on that asking price in today's market remains to be seen. If so, she'll be prepared: The home has its own barbershop. Plus a whole lot more.
Officially known as "The Manor," the property -- which looks like a French chateau and is slightly larger than the White House -- is the largest home in Los Angeles County. Spelling, the mother of actress Tori Spelling, describes it as the "greatest entertainment house ever" with a "kitchen where you can cook for two or 800." The parking lot, dubbed the "motor court," can accommodate 100 vehicles, with 16 carports to boot.
It's all become a little too much for Spelling, 63, who is downsizing to a 16,500-square-foot condo in Century City. But she said the Holmby Hills spread was filled with fond memories.
"All the stars came through," Spelling said of her 18 years in residence. "Prince Rainier, Prince Charles, Jackie Kennedy -- every star from every one of Aaron's shows."
Built in 1991, the three-story house has many rooms customized for specific purposes. There's Aaron Spelling's automated projection room (one of Candy Spelling's favorites), a bowling alley, a flower-cutting room, a wine cellar/tasting room, even a silver storage room with humidity control. Outside there is a swimming pool with pool house, tennis court, a koi pond, gardens and a citrus orchard.
To house the staff, a service wing has five maids' bedrooms and two butlers' suites, one of which has a kitchenette. The house is believed to have more than 100 rooms. Spelling said she isn't sure, because she's never counted them.
But can it command $150 million in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression?
"It's impossible to price because there's only one," said Realtor Kurt Rappaport, co-founder of Westside Estate Agency, Beverly Hills, who is not the listing agent on the property. "If they get the right person at the right moment they have a shot."
"We're in a different environment, but there are still plenty of very wealthy people in the world," he said. "Once a decade one of the trophy properties in Los Angeles becomes available. Certainly it's a lot of money, but it's not like there's another one around the corner for sale."
