Actor Gene Wilder’s former residence is being foreclosed upon by billionaire Tesla inventor Elon Musk, who previously lent the nephew of the “Willa Wonka” star millions of dollars to help him purchase the renowned Los Angeles mansion.
After it became known that Musk, 53, had agreed to loan filmmaker Jordan Walker-Pearlman $6.7 million to help finance the purchase of the home, in addition to selling it to Wilder’s family for $7 million, the 53-year-old was praised for his magnanimity.
But now that Walker-Pearlman and his wife Elizabeth Hunter are overdue on their loan payments, which prompted Musk to file a notice of default, that idyllic situation has become somewhat of a nightmare.
According to the Wall Street Journal, which first revealed the details of the legal maze, Musk can compel a sale of the property ninety days after the notification is issued, marking the beginning of the foreclosure process.
Hunter and Walker-Pearlman simultaneously listed the property for $12, 950,000, calling it “a piece of Hollywood history” on Realtor.com®.
“Nestled in the exclusive Bel Air neighborhood, this timeless property, designed by celebrated architect Robert Byrd, offers unparalleled views of the Bel Air Country Club and exudes a distinct character that merges classic design with modern potential,” the listing goes on.
Certainly, the home has had its fair share of celebrity entanglements.
It was the longtime residence of Wilder, who lived there with his third wife, “Saturday Night Live” star Gilda Radner, until her death in 1989.
The Journal reports that a trust linked to Musk bought the home for $6.75 million in 2013.
In 2020, the billionaire made the surprising decision to sell “almost all of his physical possessions,” including Wilder’s former home.
In a series of tweets posted on the website that he now owns and has rebranded as X, Musk shared that he planned to “own no house,” before noting that his one “stipulation” in the mass fire sale was that, “Gene Wilder’s old house … cannot be rown down or lose any [of] its soul.”
In 2022, Walker-Pearlman spoke warmly of Musk’s kindness in agreeing to loan him the money, explaining that he had long dreamed of purchasing the property after spending a great deal of time there as a child.
“He could have sold it for so much more,” he told the Journal. “His sensitivity to me can’t be overstated.”
Despite Musk now taking legal action against Walker-Pearlman and his wife, the filmmaker appears to have no ill will toward the billionaire businessman.
“There’s no tragedy here,” he said, noting that the 2023 Hollywood strikes took a grave toll on their ability to keep up with payments on their loan.
“Elon gave us a magical opportunity. I have no complaints,” he said. “This is likely the closing of a very unicorn and beautiful chapter of our lives. I’m not disgruntled at all.”
Now, another homebuyer will have the chance to take on this “unicorn” property, which boasts 2,756 square feet of living space that is set on a 0.78-acre lot.
As well as four bedrooms, the living space includes a media room, dining room, library, breakfast nook, and sauna.
Outside, there is a quaint garden and a classic kidney bean–shaped pool where guests can enjoy the lavish surroundings of the home’s Bel-Air neighborhood.