As one of the wealthiest medical doctors in the world, per Forbes and Bloomberg, Dr. Gary Michelson can afford just about any house he pleases. For nearly 20 years, though, the L.A.-based billionaire orthopedic surgeon has been content bunking up in a French-influenced mansion within Brentwood’s sleepy Mandeville Canyon neighborhood, where the horses play and Gwyneth Paltrow runs her Goop lifestyle empire. But it’s finally time for a new estate.
Michelson, 73, and his Russian-born wife Alya, 38, are upgrading in a big way, plunking down $23.9 million for a newly completed mansion that’s essentially part resort, part home. The place was built on speculation by prolific luxury developer ANR Signature Collection, who have sold past projects to the likes of Cameron Diaz, Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott, the Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart and cryptocurrency tycoon Jesse Powell. And it’s conveniently located in Brentwood, only a mile up the road from the Michelsons’ current home.
This particular project may be ANR’s biggest and boldest to date, and the boutique resort vibe is assuredly by design. The property was crafted in collaboration with Masastudio, the same folks responsible for styling Utah’s famed Amangiri resort. In addition to the soaring, gallery-esque walls — ideal for a modern art collection — and the fleet of glassy Fleetwood doors, elevator, pilates studio and three-bedroom guesthouse, there are uniquely extravagant amenities like multiple “prep kitchens,” a “security office,” a main garage and separate “staff garage,” plus a top-of-the-line Savant audiovisual/security system, per the listing.
A Philadelphia native, Michelson spent decades as a practicing spinal surgeon, during which time he patented nearly 1,000 technologies targeted at aiding spinal procedures. He sold many of those patents to medical device giant Medtronic in 2005, after a protracted legal battle resulted in a watershed $1.35 billion deal that immediately made him one of Forbes’ 400 wealthiest Americans. Michelson has since retired as a surgeon to become one of Southern California’s most prominent philanthropists, giving $100 million to establish an eponymous medical research foundation and $50 million to USC, among many other substantial grants.
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Image Credit: Zillow Boxy and warmly contemporary, the house spans just over 12,000 square feet, a number that includes the attached three-bed guesthouse. There are five bedrooms in the main part of the structure, all of them with ensuite full bathrooms.
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Image Credit: Zillow Per the listing, the house has “harmony with nature and golden light” thanks to the soaring walls of glass and airy, open-plan interior spaces. A double-sided fireplace set into a monolithic concrete-block wall separates the dining area from a formal living area.
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Image Credit: Zillow A separate den area has built-in bookshelves, another fireplace and overlooks the lush backyard.
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Image Credit: Zillow It’s also open to the main kitchen, which includes quartz countertops, an eat-in island and designer appliances.
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Image Credit: Zillow There are also at least two of the aforementioned indoor “prep” kitchens, plus a convenient outdoor kitchen for al fresco entertaining.
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Image Credit: Zillow Designed to be a zen-like retreat, the owner’s bedroom boasts a fireplace-warmed sitting room.
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Image Credit: Zillow There’s also an all-stone bathroom flooded with natural light and views of century-old oak and sycamore trees.
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Image Credit: Zillow Glamorously lined with gray-blue velvet walls, the screening room is entirely soundproof. An electronic and floor-to-ceiling curtain can cover the windows at the touch of a button.
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Image Credit: Zillow The gym/pilates studio is lit by more recessed LED lights.
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Image Credit: Zillow Out back, the nearly one-acre lot sports a private cabana with a full kitchen and dining area.
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Image Credit: Zillow Cantera stone patios surround the zero-edge pool and its inset spa. Set on a private road just off the main avenue and behind gates, the estate is admirably private and relatively secluded. Ancient trees shade the backyard’s lush lawn.
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Image Credit: Zillow For now, the Michelsons still own their other Brentwood home, a roughly 7,000-square-foot residence acquired way back in 2003 for about $4.8 million. That smaller property is not yet on the market, but it certainly seems logical that the family will be looking to unload it in the near future.
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Image Credit: Zillow