Famous mansion from Scarface hits the market
The mansion that played the prominent role of Tony Montana's home in the 1983 classic Scarface is on the market for $55 million ($USD 39.995 million).
Named El Fureidis – which means 'tropical paradise' – the estate is the home Tony bought in the movie after he offed Frank Lopez and became the cocaine kingpin of Miami. It's also where Tony, played by Al Pacino, ultimately meets his violent end.
Designed by renowned turn-of-the-century architect Bertram Goodhue, the gorgeous 10-acre grounds feature layered gardens, specimen trees, fountains and pools to give grandeur and romance.
Goodhue's design, which pairs a classic Roman villa with Persian water gardens, has hosted world-renowned celebrities and thought leaders, with the likes of Einstein, Churchill and JFK having spent time at the elegant estate.
The seven-bedroom, 6.5-plus bathroom stunner was last bought in 2015, for a third of its then-asking price.
After languishing on the market for a year, the elaborate estate's $USD 35 million hopes were dashed, and the price was dropped to $USD 12.26 million.
At the time the buyer, investment banker Pradeep Yohanne Gupta, stated the home's cinematic association was merely "a data point," according to WSJ.
The home underwent a multimillion dollar renovation since the iconic Oliver Stone film, although none of the interiors from the film were shot here. The refurb modernised the living spaces and kitchen, while retaining many of the original fixtures.
Remaining luxurious details include a main 'conversation room' in "a Byzantine-style alcove crowned with an 18-foot-high central dome that is decorated with a floral hand painted, gold and blue design in 24k gold-leaf modelled after the church of St. John Lateran in Rome," according to the former listing.
The formal dining room features a barrel ceiling "painted in 24k gold leaf and depicting a scene of Alexander the Great conquering Persepolis by Henry Wadsworth Moore," with the artist's original signature on the artwork.
There are also views of the Pacific Ocean and even the Channel Islands from the estate.
The area is known for its A-list residents. Santa Barbara County is home to the likes of Oprah, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, to name a few.
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