'Dark Knight' producer Thomas Tull seeks $85 million for epic compound in Thousand Oaks

Jan. 20, 2018 6 AM PT

Thomas Tull — founder and former chief executive of Legendary Entertainment — and wife Alba Tull have listed their 33-plus-acre compound in Thousand Oaks for sale at $85 million.

At that price, the private and gated estate in the North Ranch area is rubbing elbows with the high-priced mansions that are often associated with L.A.’s Westside. But of the nine L.A.-area homes publicly listed at $80 million or more, only one sits on more than 20 acres.

Tull began assembling the hilltop compound seven years ago, acquiring three parcels on the same cul-de-sac in separate transactions, according to listing agent Jordan Cohen of RE/MAX Olson & Associates. He then privatized the street and embarked on a three-year-long reimagining of the newly formed property.

A fourth parcel was added to accommodate a boutique organic working farm, separate ranch house and glass greenhouse. The estate has seven structures and a stocked lake.

“Having a wealth of land to create an estate on this scale was unique, said Brian Biglin of Biglin Architectural Group, who designed the property. “Throughout Beverly Hills and Bel-Air, you see these estates, but they don’t have land to them,” Biglin said. “That’s a very unique point with this property, because you do have a true estate, and you also have the accessory structures.”

The estate centers on a sprawling chateau inspired by 18th century French romantic architecture. A winding cobblestone driveway leads past formal gardens and stone bridges to reach the home. The idyllic display, which features four cascading pools and natural stone, was designed to evoke the famous Giverny gardens of impressionist painter Claude Monet, Biglin said.

Clad in stone, the three-story primary residence is awash in rich details such as custom millwork, domed ceilings and wood paneling. There is 32,000 square feet of living space in the main house, including a 5,000-square-foot master retreat, two executive offices, chef’s and commercial prep kitchens and a great room.

Black walnut paneling finished in French wax fills the library, and a wine vault has a tasting room and temperature-controlled walls with storage for 2,500 bottles. A 1,869-square-foot collectible museum is complete with a biometric gas system that removes oxygen from the room in the event of a fire. The sports lounge/viewing room is Pittsburgh Steelers-themed; Tull is a minority owner in the football franchise.

The Dolby Laboratories-certified theater was built inside a second room for soundproofing and optimal acoustics. There are 18 reclining seats centered in front of a 20-foot-wide screen.

A pool house sits beside the main swimming pool and holds a range of spa facilities including a Himalayan salt therapy room. A second, infinity-edge swimming pool sits off the 11,000-square-foot guesthouse, which connects by breezeway to a two-story photo studio/auto museum. The guesthouse also has its own guesthouse.

There are 12 bedrooms, 32 bathrooms and more than 50,000 square feet of indoor living space across the compound.

Hand-selected trees, formal gardens, a sports court, dog kennels and a Barbara Butler-designed children’s playground fill the grounds. Two private municipal-quality wells provide water to the property.

The organic farm, used to produce food for Tull and his family, includes 18 in-ground farm beds and roughly 150 fruit trees. The lake has a stone millhouse with a working water wheel.

Tull, as a producer, has scores of credits including such box-office hits as “The Dark Knight,” “Godzilla,” “Jurassic World” and “Kong: Skull Island.” He resigned as chairman and chief executive of Legendary Entertainment last year after the production company was acquired by China’s Dalian Wanda Group in a deal worth $3.5 billion.

The 47-year-old billionaire is selling the estate because he is moving his family and holding company, Tulco, to the Pittsburgh area.

He has designs on a new spot

Paul Marciano, co-founder of the Guess clothing brand, has bought a condominium in West Hollywood for $1.36 million. He made the purchase through a corporate entity, records show.

Found within a remodeled 14-story building, the two-bedroom, three-bathroom unit features such details as raised ceilings finished in raw concrete, brushed-wood floors and exposed concrete beams. Fleetwood doors, which lead to a private balcony, take in unobstructed city views.

A custom granite wall surrounds the fireplace and television in the living room. Italian marble lines the breakfast bar in the kitchen, which is equipped with stainless-steel appliances. The common area and master bedroom feature designer grass-cloth wallpaper.

At 1,679 square feet, it is the largest condo in the building. Two covered parking spaces were included with the unit.

Chris Jacobs of Keller Williams Realty-Beverly Hills represented both the buyer and seller, according to the Multiple Listing Service.

Marciano co-founded the denim powerhouse Guess Jeans with his brothers in 1981. He stepped down from his position as chief executive of the fashion firm three years ago. Last year he sold his estate in Beverly Hills for $18.25 million in a deal completed off-market.

Prepping for a Valley launch

Retired NBA player and basketball analyst Kenny “The Jet” Smith and his wife, model-actress Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith, have listed their home in Encino for sale at $3.595 million.

The couple appear to be banking on a flourishing luxury market in the Encino area, which saw 120 single-family home sales of $2 million or more last year. Five years ago they had asked $2.795 million for the French country estate of more than half an acre.

Built in 1963 and since remodeled, the two-story house features vaulted and beamed ceilings, light wood floors and skylights for a bright and airy feel. The 6,106 square feet of interior includes an open-plan living room, a family room, a remodeled kitchen and a breakfast area. A movie theater has its own wet bar, bathroom and balcony.

Including a detached guesthouse, which has a separate entrance, there are six bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

A stone-rimmed swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen, a playground, lawns and mature trees fill out the grounds.

Smith, 52, played for six teams in 10 NBA seasons, winning back-to-back championships with Houston in 1994 and 1995. The Emmy-winning studio analyst has been a fixture on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” for more than a decade.

Craig Knizek and James Hirsch of the Agency hold the listing.

New year, new price

Seems comedian-actor Russell Peters could be getting serious about selling. He has reduced the asking price on a Malibu estate to $8.8 million. Peters had listed the acre-plus property in 2016 at $11.95 million.

Remodeled and expanded since it was built in 1999, the two-story home features a sexy marble-topped bar in the family room, a contemporary kitchen with an oversized island, a gym and a 10-seat home theater.

Including the guesthouse and master suite, which opens to a wrap-around patio, there are nine bedrooms and 10 bathrooms within 10,000 square feet of living space.

Walls of glass slide open to a swimming pool, patio space and a fire pit.

The motor court and portico area can accommodate up to 15 vehicles. Views take in the coastline.

Peters, 47, has produced a number of comedy specials including “Outsourced” and, more recently, “Notorious.” He was in last year’s TV miniseries “The Indian Detective.”

The Canadian stand-up comedian voiced the character Rocky the Rhino in “The Jungle Book.” Among his film credits are “Source Code” (2011) and “Chef” (2014). He bought the property in 2014 for $4.725 million, public records show.

Gary Gold of Hilton & Hyland, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, is the listing agent.

[email protected]

Twitter: @LATHotProperty

MORE FROM HOT PROPERTY

Anna Faris looks to deal her secluded Midcentury retreat in Hollywood Hills

Hit-maker Richard Perry sells the Beverly Hills home he shared with Jane Fonda

Former SEGA President Hayao Nakayama passes the controller for Century City condo