Ever wondered what Halsey’s “Without Me,” the Jonas Brothers’ “Sucker,” and Camila Cabello’s “Havana” all have in common? Probably not, but those hit songs all reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, they all scored massive royalties for their respective artists, and they were all co-written and co-produced by a Massachusetts native named Louis Bell.
At 39, Bell is now considered one of the go-to songwriters/record producers for today’s major artists, along with peers that include Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Benny Blanco. But unlike those names, Bell hasn’t been a top industry dog for well over a decade or two. In fact, his very first hit didn’t arrive until late 2016, when Justin Bieber topped the worldwide charts with “Let Me Love You,” a little ditty co-written and co-produced by Bell.
In the 4+ years since, an almost blinding streak of Bell-engineered hits have followed, including 18 Billboard top 10s and a whopping eight #1s. In 2019, Bell was named Variety’s producer of the year for his impact on the music industry. And earlier this year, Bell simultaneously signed a global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group (UPMG), and sold his entire music catalog to UPMG. While financial terms weren’t disclosed, music catalogs are in hot demand right now, with recent bidding wars pushing the sale prices of rivals’ catalogs well into the nine-figure stratosphere.
Newly flush with cash and in the mood to celebrate, the music powerhouse has now plunked down $12 million for a brand-new house in the mountains above Beverly Hills. James Harris of The Agency and Josh Flagg of Rodeo Realty jointly held the listing; Mark Rutstein and Charles Black of Compass repped Bell.
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Image Credit: Zillow Originally completed in 1949 but completely rebuilt from the studs up in 2020 by biotech CEO Bernd Brust, the lavish house spans about 6,700 square feet of luxury living space wrapped around a courtyard-style backyard with a swimming pool and extensive patios. Tucked away on a quiet side street in a neighborhood known as Beverly Hills Post Office, the house is obscured from the street behind tall gates and taller hedges.
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Image Credit: Zillow Guests admitted beyond the gates will be wowed by the home’s impressive entryway, where glass panels, sleek metal crossbars and glossy wood siding collude to give the place a museum-worthy appearance.
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Image Credit: Zillow Per the listing, “retro details flow throughout” the house. The airy main living area includes a vaulted ceiling, wide-plank hardwood floors, and a stylish wet bar.
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Image Credit: Zillow The kitchen goes for a moodier vibe with wooden cabinetry and black marble countertops. There are two sinks, two dishwashers, and commercial-grade Wolf and SubZero appliances.
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Image Credit: Zillow Adjoining the kitchen is a family room effectively bisected from the main living/dining area by a massive grey marble fireplace.
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Image Credit: Zillow Tucked away in its own wing, the master suite includes a spacious bedroom and all-marble bathroom, both of which open to a private outdoor patio with a firepit.
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Image Credit: Zillow Also part of the residential offering are a surprisingly spacious at-home gym and movie theater.
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Image Credit: Zillow Outside, the backyard is loaded with amenities — an outdoor kitchen, al fresco dining area, and spa inset into the pool. While the property does not have a city lights view, it’s just minutes away from Rodeo Drive, the Sunset Strip, and the Beverly Hills Hotel, yet still remaining admirably quiet and secluded.
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Image Credit: Zillow