Electronic musician and DJ Moby, aka Richard Melville Hall, has sold his Hollywood Hills mansion for a solid $12.4 million. Rumors are pointing to illustrious graffiti artist and man-of-mystery Banksy as the buyer.
The property is known as Wolf’s Lair, because it was originally constructed in 1927 for an influential developer named L. Milton Wolf. The veritable castle is located over Beachwood Canyon and known for its jaw-dropping views of downtown L.A. and the iconic Hollywood Hills sign. Over the decades, house guests have included the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Marlon Brando.
If the rumors are true, Banksy will be enjoying and maybe even rattle-canning the 6,500 square feet of living space, which includes 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a guest house, a pool house, numerous turrets, and a secret tunnel. Still present on the eccentric property are a turreted gate house, where the original owner kept his pet monkey, and a prohibition-era tiki bar hidden underneath the gate house.
The cryptic artist’s 25-year career has been shrouded in mystery, his name and face still completely unknown to the public. Therefore, the gossip that identifies him as the buyer may never be substantiated. But many are now convinced Banksy wrote the hefty check, based on some activity that took place on Instagram earlier this week.
An artist posted an interior shot of Wolf’s Lair, along with the caption, “It’s rumored that MOBY quietly sold his Los Angeles house to Banksy! @richardmelvillehall #banksy #moby #losangeles #LA #streetart.” Then, Moby himself liked the photo, possibly confirming the theory. I wonder how much stenciling you could do in a house that spans a full 3.3-acre ridgeline.
According to multiple reports, Moby purchased the home for $3.925 million in March of 2010. The previous owner was Jay Faires, the founder of Mammoth Records, who shared the residence with his ex-wife, television presenter Debbie Matenopoulos. Moby spent around $2 million on an extensive series of renovations, restorations, and customizations.
In May of 2014, Moby also sold his Lower East Side penthouse in New York City for $2.07 million. Just one year before, in June of 2013, he sold another historic Hollywood Hills home for an undisclosed fortune. Along with a string of other impressive properties, Moby briefly owned an unusual quadruplex penthouse on Central Park West, which he bought in 2005 for $4.5 million.