Last summer, a brand-spankin’-new Hidden Hills monster mansion sold for a fat $12,100,000. Records are a bit perplexing on this one — they show the property was acquired by an untraceable Zurich, Switzerland-based entity that was originally incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, a notorious offshore tax haven. All of that seems decidedly exotic for a super-suburban Valley area like Hidden Hills, so Yolanda was naturally curious about who the new owner could be.
Luckily for us, Yolanda has a (relatively) new friend who we’ll call Mary Contrary. Our Ms. Contrary happens to be a Hidden Hills resident and a very generous lady. And yes, kiddies, we were able to phone in a favor. So we can tell y’all that the new owners — who have long since moved in — are a very low-profile couple named Eran & Lucie Moas.
Although there’s precious little info about either of them on the interwebs, Yolanda was able to piece together some background details on this (obviously very rich) couple. Mr. Moas is an Israeli citizen who mainly resides in Africa, while Mrs. Moas hails from Cameroon — a French-speaking Central African country nestled due south of Nigeria, north of Gabon, and just west of the Congo.
Clik here to view.
Yolanda has no idea where Mr. & Mrs. Moas get $12 million for a sprawling Hidden Hills estate, but the Mr. was described in a 2004 article as an “Israeli communications technician”. We also dug up evidence that he was a co-owner of a business called “Skin Cancer Scanning LTD”. And he is also, apparently, a major donor/supporter of great ape conservation efforts in Cameroon.
Anyway, the real reason we wanted to write about this place is because it pretty accurately represents what today’s ultra-rich luxury homebuyer is looking for in a suburban residence, we think. It’s new construction with a contemporary floor plan, is totally done-done-done from floor to roof, and is equipped with just about every gizmo and gadget available.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
The main house is undeniably giant, weighing in at a whopping 12,660-square-feet spread out over over two levels. Although described as a “Contemporary Farmhouse” in marketing materials, Yolanda would call it a loose interpretation of an East Coast Traditional mansion with a contemporary West Coast twist. Too long?
A dangerously delicate-looking glass front door swings silently open to an enormous two-story foyer with a particularly striking hardwood floor. Yolanda is not sure what specimen of tree these planks come from, but the developer must’ve decimated an entire grove to build this here house. Just look at it all — the wood has even been applied to certain walls both indoors and out for that oh-so-trendy barnyard vibe! Why, we never.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
As one might expect, that kitchen can accommodate a hungry herd of hippos and features two tank-sized center islands: one with a built-in sink and dishwasher, the other with bar stool seating, and both with pricey marble countertops. The formal dining room can easily seat 12 and has an a wall devoted entirely to the all-glass wine cellar/rack.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Elsewhere there’s a gigantic theater with captain’s chairs up front and two couches behind. The downstairs office has a pitched ceiling and moody black (or is it dark blue?) paint on the walls and trim.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Upstairs, the master suite has more of those same hardwood floors, a big fireplace for all those freezing Valley nights (we joke!) and another wall of glass that gives way to a balcony overlooking the backyard. The party-sized glass shower can accommodate several friendly individuals, and the walk-in closet has plenty of space for a clotheshorse owner.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
The house has a total of 8 bedrooms and 9 baths, most (or all) of which sport those hardwood floors and marble/glass showers.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Online marketing materials make no secret that this place was built to entertain — there are seven separate covered patios spanning 1,800-square-feet scattered around the house — one of them with a fireplace, TV, and built-in BBQ center. Next to the pool/spa area is an 800-square-foot guest/pool house with living quarters and a kitchen.
Surprisingly, the upward-sloping backyard has no privacy beyond a low-tech white fence, but then again this is a countrified neighborhood without the need for Beverly Hills city-style fortifications. And while there aren’t really many famous folks in this particular Hidden Hills pocket, directly next door to Mr. & Mrs. Moas’s new pad is an even larger 18,000+ square foot whopper of a mega-mansion that is owned by hedge funder Michael Kao and his entertainingly-named wife Holi Kao.
Records show that this is not the first LA residence owned by Mr. and Mrs. Moas. Way back in 2010, they (he, rather) paid $1,575,000 for a Hollywood Hills house situated high above the Sunset Strip. In 2014, that house was sold off for $2,725,000.
Yolanda has found evidence that the Moases also own a luxury apartment in the majorly-expensive One57 building on New York City’s Billionaires’ Row. But due to the sea of mysterious corporate entities that own at that tower, we haven’t been able to pinpoint exactly which unit it is. And not for lack of trying! Que sera, sera…
Listing agents: Marc & Rory Shevin, Berkshire Hathaway HomeService