Johnny Carson may have spent his retirement at a Malibu compound, but the iconic television host held on to a slew of lavish properties up until his 2005 death. Now, another one of his former LA estates is on the market—with a multi-million dollar price tag. The midcentury modern home where Carson lived throughout the 1970s and 1980s has officially hit the market for $40 million, AD has learned.
Johnny Carson's Bel-Air estate, located in the affluent enclave of East Gate, was designed in 1949 for film producer and director Mervyn LeRoy, whose work included the original 1930s productions of The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind. The 9,000-square-foot main house sits on a one-and-a-half-acre parcel, along with a two-story annex that functioned as Carson’s personal office. A private security booth, a tiered fountain, an oval-shaped swimming pool, a sun deck, and a cabana are situated on the property. The late-night television star, a tennis aficionado, added a lighted tennis court and accompanying pavilion.
A grand foyer in Johnny Carson's Bel Air estate leads to a large living room with a wet bar, a formal dining area, and a massive family room that boasts views of the surrounding vistas and lush gardens. The chef’s kitchen is outfitted with a central island, a cozy breakfast nook, and custom-built-ins. A towering rotunda leads to the primary bedroom, which comes with two bathrooms and walk-in closets. Other luxury amenities include a basement area, a wine cellar, a kitchenette, and a dedicated powder room.
Carson, known for his 30-year stint at NBC’s The Tonight Show, bought the property with his third wife, former model Joanna Carson, around the time of their marriage in the early 1970s. The purchase of the house coincided with the 1972 relocation of The Tonight Show from New York City to Burbank, California. Joanna’s nephew and trustee of the estate, Robert Ulrich, told the Wall Street Journal that his aunt held onto the house after the couple’s 1985 divorce, and split her time between California and New York until her death at 88 last year.
The then-Tonight Show host reportedly convinced Joanna to move out West; since then, Ulrich says his aunt became a “socialite” who lived next door to Nancy Reagan and was “close with the Sinatras,” according to the WSJ. Following the pair’s split, Joanna retained the home and later oversaw renovations in the 2000s. If you have $40 million to invest in a piece of Hollywood history, you can feel good about choosing this one; according to Ulrich, proceeds from the home sale will be divided between three charities: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the David Geffen Foundation, and SHARE.
David Kramer and Andrew Buss of Compass hold the listing.
