By gordonhigh (2014-11-08)
Hasan Abdullah Mohamed Ismaik is the world's first Jordanian billionaire (according to Forbes). He lives here in on what is perhaps the most expensive street in Los Angeles. Ismaik is the former CEO of Dubai-based Arabtec, which is the largest construction company in the Persian Gulf. The firm is responsible for many of Dubai's most recognizable buildings, including the Burj Al Arab hotel and the Burj Khalifa, which is currently the world's tallest building.
The Holmby Hills estate is named "il Magione" and features over 30,000 square feet of living space with indoor and outdoor pools, a dental office, bowling alley, and a basement operating room.
The mansion was built and sold by Nile Niami, who is perhaps LA's most prolific and successful ultra-high-end property developer. The property was listed for $65 million, but Ismaik managed to get a deal, paying only $44M in May 2014.
Some of Ismaik's closest neighbors include Sir Ridley Scott, Hugh Hefner, P. Diddy, Jimmy Iovine, F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone, fashion designer Alexandra Von Furstenberg, beer heir Daren Metropoulos, White House decorator Michael Smith, and fellow billionaires Sean Parker, Eric Schmidt, and Joanne Chao.
Before il Magione was built, this property used to be entirely filled with gardens. They were part of a larger estate that included the mansion immediately to the north, which was formerly owned by Priority Records founder Bryan Turner. Turner sold the two parcels in separate transactions to different parties. That mansion is now owned by Justin Chang and his wife, "Legally Blonde" author Amanda Brown.
Some photos of the property can be found by clicking the first link below.