Billionaire BTS Overlord Paid $26 Million for Trevor Noah’s Bel Air Mansion

Turns out the mysterious buyer who last year spooned out north of $26 million for Trevor Noah’s Bel Air mansion was one of the world’s most successful media moguls, albeit one most Americans would fail to recognize. He’s Bang Si-Hyuk, the lifelong musician who is now one of South Korea’s richest men.

Ultra-contemporary and sure to wow guests, the Bel Air manor was designed by noted architect Mark Rios as his own personal home shared with husband Guy Ringler, and the couple’s creation was featured in a 2017 issue of Architectural Digest. In late 2020, Rios and Ringler sold the house for $27.5 million to Noah, who stayed there barely a year before offloading the place to Bang at a $1.1 million loss.

Perched atop a steep ridge on roughly an acre of hillside land, the house is hidden from view behind towering hedges and a gated motorcourt with space for 10 vehicles. There’s also a separate gated entrance for staff and vendors servicing the estate, which packs six bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms into more than 11,000 square feet of living space.

Inside, the mostly minimalist rooms feature floor-to-ceiling walls of glass that magnify the property’s ocean and mountain views. Indeed, the place is akin to a seriously bespoke five-star hotel — there’s a library, gym, lounge and separate wine room with a “secret” door leading to a hidden elevator. The wide-plank hardwood floors were imported from Germany, the strikingly chic gourmet kitchen offers an eat-in island, and upstairs lies a master retreat with dual marble bathrooms and dressing rooms.

Out back, the hillside spread offers a grassy lawn and a full outdoor kitchen and bar servicing a fireside conversation pit. For larger gatherings, the open-air pavilion has space for dine-in guests, while revelers will enjoy the infinity pool and a separate Japanese-style spa with a sauna, plus massage and changing rooms. And for more intimate moments, a select few VIPs might score an invite to the mansion’s rooftop terrace, which reportedly doubles as an outdoor screening room under the stars.

Bang, 50, began his career as a lyricist and composer. In 2005, he founded Big Hit Entertainment, which later foisted K-pop boy band sensation BTS onto the world and made him something of a hit-making legend. Big Hit’s 2020 IPO made Bang a billionaire, and that year Variety named him one of their 500 most influential business leaders in the global media industry.

In 2021, Big Hit — now known as HYBE — struck a $1 billion deal to acquire Scooter Braun-headed Ithaca Holdings. And in recent years, Bang has spent an increasing amount of time in the U.S., reportedly to aid his company’s expansion efforts stateside. Per Forbes, his net worth stands at $2.4 billion.