Marilyn Monroe's last home to be demolished after owners get green-light to tear down $8.3M property
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The iconic Brentwood Hacienda-style home in Los Angeles, famously known as Marilyn Monroe's last residence, where the Hollywood legend's life came to a tragic end, is facing the prospect of demolition.
The owners of the historic $8.35 million bungalow have officially filed a plan to tear down the estate, as confirmed by records from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.
Although the city has given preliminary approval for investigators to review the demolition plan, formal permits are still pending.
The Spanish-style home at 12305 5th Helena Drive, which Monroe purchased in February 1962 for a mere $77,500 (equivalent to approximately $790,000 today, adjusting for inflation), holds a unique and poignant place in Hollywood history.
Marilyn Monroe's death
On August 5, 1962, just six months after acquiring the property, Marilyn Monroe's lifeless body was discovered in her bedroom. The beloved actress, only 36 years old at the time, tragically died of a barbiturate overdose.
She was found nude, lying face down on her bed, with a telephone receiver in her hand. An empty bottle found among various medications beside her bed contained 50 Nembutal capsules, prescribed just days prior to her untimely demise, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The recent owners of this 2,900-square-foot home initially sought permission to demolish not only the residence but also the attached pool house and other structures on July 31, 2023. The request was subsequently submitted on August 7 and received a "plan check" approval by an inspector on September 5.
This property's history includes being publicly listed for sale in 2017 when it changed hands for $7.25 million. Sometime in the last six years, it was purchased for an undisclosed amount, now valued at $8.35 million.
Reasons behind demolition unclear
Curiously, the reasons behind the new owner's decision to demolish this iconic home remain unclear. The Department of Building and Safety has officially signed off on the initial "plan check" as the first stage of the demolition process.
Built in 1929, this residence boasts four bedrooms, and three bathrooms, and is located at the end of a tranquil cul-de-sac in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood. It offers a combination of privacy, tranquility, and convenient proximity to San Vicente restaurants and shops, as described in a former Zillow listing.
Characterized by beamed ceilings, terra cotta tile floors, casement windows, and a spacious grassy yard, pool, and citrus orchard, the property exudes Hollywood glamour. An intriguing Latin inscription on the front door reads 'Cursum Perficio', which translates to 'My Journey Ends Here.'
One application submitted to the Department of Building and Safety in July indicated the owner's intent to remove the existing pool shell and fill it, potentially marking a significant change to the property's layout.
Over the years, the kitchen and bathrooms have undergone major renovations since Marilyn Monroe's tragic death in 1962 as the property passed through various owners' hands.
Immediately following her overdose, there was a flurry of half a dozen offers, eventually leading to the Nunez family of Southern California purchasing the home in 1963, along with many of its original contents.
Auction of Marilyn Monroe's personal effects
An auction in 1997 saw Monroe's personal effects go under the hammer. Notably, the property's value surged in 2012, when it was sold for a remarkable $5.1 million, just two years after changing hands for $3.8 million. During the last public sale in 2017, the property fetched $7.25 million, exceeding the original asking price by $350,000.
Described as an "oasis", those who knew Marilyn Monroe often mentioned her pride in the property. In a 1962 interview with Life magazine, Monroe shared her feelings about her home, saying, "Anybody who likes my house, I'm sure I'll get along with."
Richard Merryman, an associate editor, wrote about Monroe's deep connection to the property after her death, emphasizing how she "exulted in it" and had carefully selected items to decorate it, some of which never arrived before her tragic end.
"She exulted in it. On a special trip to Mexico, she had carefully searched in roadside stands and shops and even factories to find just the right things to put in it. The large items had not arrived - nor was she ever to see them installed," Merryman stated, as quoted by the Daily Mail.