Although it seems likely the property was acquired for a lucky family member or two, records reveal Leonardo DiCaprio has paid “Modern Family” actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita $7.1 million for a rather stunning house on what is arguably the best street in all of Los Feliz. That’s a bit more than the property’s $6.995 million asking price and way more than the $4.6 million Ferguson paid for the place back in 2013, indicating there was either stiff competition for the property, or maybe DiCaprio just really loved the home.
Built in 1928 and previously described by critics as “fabulously quirky,” the late 1920s Spanish Colonial structure weighs in with four bedrooms and four bathrooms in nearly 5,000 square feet of living space. Those square feet have hosted some famous folks — in 1998, the house was acquired for $1.3 million by Gwen Stefani, who lived there with Gavin Rossdale during No Doubt’s “Rock Steady” era and the arguable height of her solo career. Stefani also made a boatload of rockstar-worthy upgrades to the place, including the installation of the backyard swimming pool, before selling the house, in 2007 for $4.8 million, to Hollywood producer Mark Brazill (“That ’70s Show,” “3rd Rock from the Sun”).
Brazill only held onto the place for two years before dumping it at a nearly million-dollar loss to snack food entrepreneur Lara Merriken, owner of the Lärabar energy bar company — you’ve probably seen them in supermarkets, gas stations, and Whole Foods locations around the country. It was Merriken who sold the place in 2013 to Ferguson and Mikita, and the couple subsequently hired “Will & Grace” set decorator Peter Gurski to redesign the home’s interiors. The result — which deftly mixes original architectural details, a dollop of kitsch, and a healthy helping of Old Hollywood glam — was photographed for Architectural Digest in 2018.
Astute real estate aficionados may recall that this is not DiCaprio’s only recent Los Feliz home purchase; back in 2018, he paid Moby $4.9 million for a 1920s Tudor-style home that is primarily occupied by his father, George DiCaprio. It’s not yet publicly known who will be living in this latest Los Feliz acquisition, but Leo’s main residence remains a three-house compound — with three swimming pools and a sports court — in the coveted Bird Streets neighborhood of town, directly overlooking the Sunset Strip. The Oscar winner also owns a $23 million vacant lot atop Malibu’s Paradise Cove, a star-studded getaway in Palm Springs, and several luxury condos in Manhattan.
Jennifer Akbari of Compass held the listing; Brett Lawyer of Hilton & Hyland repped DiCaprio.