A luxurious mansion in Pacific Palisades, rumored to have featured prominently in the acclaimed series "Succession," has been ravaged by the infernos sweeping through Los Angeles. Allegedly owned by tech tycoon Austin Russell, this grandiose abode appears indistinguishable from the opulent estate featured in the premiere of the fourth season of the hit HBO drama, where the Roy siblings conspired amidst its opulence, plotting their next maneuver against their father.
The Daily Mail has released photographs depicting the once-magnificent house reduced to a heap of rubble and blackened beams. The publication further reveals that the intricate interior, showcased in a virtual tour, has been completely obliterated; even the panic rooms and the retinal scanner outside the master bedroom, part of the four-story structure, have succumbed to the flames' fury. Outside, the house's fire pit, though still intact, is now shrouded in soot, while the outdoor pool has transformed into a murky, blackened abyss.
Dubbed the San Onofre estate, this six-bedroom, 18-bathroom mansion boasted a Nobel-designed chef's kitchen, a 20-seat cinema, a retractable roof for celestial gazing, a temperature-controlled wine lounge, an automobile gallery, and a spa. According to numerous reports, developer Ardie Tavangarian constructed this residence in 2020 and sold it to Russell for a staggering $83 million in 2021.
Russell is the visionary behind automotive technology firm Luminar, which pioneers innovations for autonomous vehicles. This tragic news unfolds as the L.A. wildfires, including the Palisades fire, have claimed 11 lives and incinerated over 12,000 structures across approximately 56 square miles since Tuesday.
The rumored "Succession" setting marks the latest television and film locale to fall victim to these devastating fires. A Spanish Colonial revival mansion in Altadena, featured in "Hacks" and used as a filming location for Hulu's "Runaways," was destroyed in the Eaton Fire. Similarly, Palisades Charter High School, where classics like "Carrie" and 2003's "Freaky Friday" were shot, has been lost, along with the Will Rogers Ranch house and McNally House in Altadena, which played roles in "Entourage" and "Our Flag Means Death."
Fortunately, the Altadena house that served as the exterior of the Walsh family home in "Beverly Hills, 90210" has been spared from the fiery destruction.
