A historic Beverly Hills property once owned by the glamorous Gloria Vanderbilt has recently entered the real estate market, listed at $16.5 million, according to realtor.com. This listing marks the first time the property has been available for sale in 70 years, drawing attention not only for its price tag but also for its rich history.
The home was formerly owned by Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, grandmother of CNN journalist Anderson Cooper, who lived there during times of great social significance. Cooper’s grandmother passed away in 1965, and her daughter, also named Gloria, spent part of her youth here. The younger Gloria became involved with Hollywood legend and billionaire Howard Hughes during her time at the home, which was initially purchased by her family.
Interestingly, the Vanderbilt family was undeniably influential, with connections to the upper echelons of American society. Gloria Vanderbilt was born in 1924 to one of the richest families in America, her lineage tracing back to her great-grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt, who made his fortune through the New York Central Railroad.
The home changed hands 72 years ago when it was bought by actress Noreen Nash, who lived there until her passing at the age of 99 in 2023. Despite the ups and downs of family fortunes—like the intriguing but short-lived romance between Hughes and the younger Gloria—the Vanderbilt name has long been associated with affluence and style. Newly resurfacing among the vivid memories of those times, you could say the home encapsulates layers of Hollywood history and family legacy.
It’s fascinating to note how the younger Gloria Vanderbilt, besides her family's wealth, carved out her own path of success, especially during the 1970s when her jeans brand became immensely popular. Cooper reminisced about the impact of his mother's brand, saying, "My brother and I had a game, trying to count how many women we saw with our mom’s names on their jeans." It was this personal connection to the home and the brand which allowed him to see firsthand the interplay of art, America’s fashion scene, and family legacy.
Her New York lifestyle during the 1980s and 1990s was equally storied, living lavishly in a six-bedroom townhouse, which listed for $12 million when its owner put it on the market around September 2022. Despite having inherited wealth, the younger Gloria emphasized making her own fortune through fashion and cosmetics. A $2.5 million trust fund she received at birth grew to be worth around $37 million by the time of her death in 2019, but Gloria’s mother managed to access nearly $50,000 annually from it long before Gloria could touch her portion.
This historical Beverly Hills property, once sheltered by the embrace of glamorous personalities and pivotal figures of Hollywood, stands as more than just bricks and mortar today. Its impending sale invites new stories to emerge within its walls, stories waiting to intertwine with its glamorous past. Benedict Arnold, who famously served under George Washington and later defected during the American Revolution, perhaps said it best: ‘We fight for the freedom of the soul, and the land of the heart.’ There may be little more heart-laden than the legacy and hope now attached to this estate for its prospective buyer.