Holmby Hills

Purchased from 400 acres of the Wolfskill Ranch by wealthy Englishman Arthur Letts, Holmby Hills was developed by the Janss Investment Company and marketed as "the Ultimate in Residential Estate Development." After the shock of the 1929 stock market crash, the wealthy capitalized on cheap materials and labor by building grand homes on large properties.

 

Holmby Hills is one of the few neighborhoods to one-up Beverly Hills and Bel Air in prices and exclusivity. Recognized by its world-class properties and unique street lamps, this area is one where homes worth tens of millions are surprisingly commonplace. Nestled between Westwood, Bel Air, and Beverly Hills, it combines with the latter two to form the “Platinum Triangle” of Los Angeles.

 

In a nod to its developer Arthur Letts, English-style streetlamps were designed specifically for the neighborhood. Lush landscaping and enormous multi-acre lots have attracted the rich and famous to this area for decades. Perhaps best known is the Tudor-style home of Letts that Hugh Hefner bought in 1971. Holmby residents are served by Warner Elementary School, one of the highest-rated schools in Los Angeles.