Brad Pitt doesn't just buy houses. He collects history. But even for a guy who obsesses over mid-century joints and stone-carved castles, the Brad Pitt Los Feliz house story is a weird one. Honestly, it’s less of a home and more of a 30-year obsession that eventually turned into a nearly 2-acre fortress.
People always ask why he finally sold it in 2023. Was it the ghosts? The divorce? The fact that he’d basically turned the place into a private theme park for his kids?
It’s probably all of the above.
The $1.7 Million Haunted Bargain
Back in 1994, Brad was just becoming Brad. He had that Interview with the Vampire energy and a massive paycheck. He spent $1.7 million to buy Briarcliff Manor from Cassandra Peterson—better known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.
Now, here’s the kicker: Peterson told him the place was straight-up haunted. She claimed to see ghosts floating in the pool and sitting by the fireplace. Most people would run. Brad? He loved it. He thought the "paranormal activity" made the architecture even cooler. He ended up living there for almost three decades, which is an eternity by Hollywood standards.
Expanding the Fortress
He didn't stop with the main house. Over the next twenty years, he started buying up every neighboring property that touched his fence. It was a slow-motion land grab.
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- 1996: He picks up two adjacent lots for under $500k each.
- The Jolie Years: After he got with Angelina, the compound grew even more to accommodate their six kids.
- The Final Tally: Five separate houses, a skate park (yes, a full-blown skate park), a massive swimming pool, a hidden koi pond, and a secret ballroom.
By the time he was done, he had nearly 2 acres of prime Los Feliz hillside tucked behind massive gates and thick hedges.
What Really Happened with the "Steel House" Swap
In early 2023, things got interesting. Brad sold the massive compound to oil heiress Aileen Getty for a staggering $33 million. That’s a pretty decent return on a $1.7 million investment, even after three decades of renovations.
But he didn't leave the neighborhood. In a move that felt like a high-stakes game of Monopoly, he actually bought Getty's smaller house nearby for $5.5 million. This place is known as the Steel House. It’s a mid-century masterpiece designed by Neil M. Johnson in 1960. Think glass walls, blue carpeting, and a very "bachelor pad" vibe.
It was a total pivot from the sprawling family estate to a 2,000-square-foot glass box.
The 2025 Burglary and the Sale to Austin Butler
You’d think the Steel House would be his "forever" retreat, but Los Angeles had other plans. In June 2025, while Brad was in Europe promoting his movie F1, burglars scaled the fence and smashed a window. They "ransacked" the place, according to police reports.
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Security has always been a thing for Brad, and this break-in seems to have been the final straw. He put the Steel House into escrow almost immediately.
Enter Austin Butler.
The Elvis star, who’s basically the new prince of Hollywood, snapped up the Steel House from Brad in September 2025 for $5.2 million. It’s kind of poetic—one generation of cinema royalty handing off a design icon to the next.
The Neighbor Who Lived to 105
There’s one detail about the Brad Pitt Los Feliz house that most people get wrong or just ignore. It’s the story of John.
When Brad was buying up the surrounding lots, he bought a house from an elderly man named John whose wife had passed away. Instead of kicking him out, Brad made a deal: John could stay in the house, rent-free, for the rest of his life.
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Brad probably thought it would be a couple of years. John lived to be 105.
It’s a rare look at the guy behind the tabloid headlines. For all the drama surrounding the estate, he basically looked after an old man for decades just because he could.
Real Estate Insights: What This Tells Us
If you're looking at Brad's moves as a guide for your own real estate (even on a smaller scale), there are a few takeaways here:
- Privacy is the ultimate luxury. Brad didn't just buy a house; he bought a perimeter. In L.A., you aren't paying for the square footage; you're paying for the "stop looking at me" factor.
- Architectural pedigree holds value. Whether it was the 1910 Craftsman or the 1960 Steel House, Brad always buys names and history. Those assets appreciate way faster than a generic "modern farmhouse" build.
- Downsizing is a lifestyle choice, not a financial one. Moving from a 33-million-dollar compound to a 5-million-dollar glass box wasn't about the money. It was about closing a chapter on a "childhood home" that no longer fit his life.
Next Steps for the Curious
If you're obsessed with the Los Feliz aesthetic, start by looking at the work of Greene and Greene or Neil M. Johnson. Their designs defined the vibe of these homes. You can also take a drive through the hills near Griffith Park—just don't expect to see much. Those hedges are there for a reason.
If you're following Brad's latest moves, his new home is a $12 million Spanish-style mansion in the Hollywood Hills, purchased from Dave Keuning of The Killers. It seems he’s finally moved on from the Los Feliz ghosts for good.