The entire Trousdale Estates neighborhood of Beverly Hills is abuzz about the area’s newest resident, music sensation Aubrey “Drake” Graham. Drake, who has spent the last decade residing in the Hidden Hills gated community an hour northwest of downtown Los Angeles, appears to be renting in the 90210 for the time being. Could a permanent relocation be imminent? The Weeknd has just done it, so why shouldn’t Drake?
The Canadian native is well-known for his passion for palatial residences. His Toronto residence is reportedly 50,000 square feet in size, and his Hidden Hills estate consists of three adjoining homes. The equally luxurious Beverly Hills rental property was constructed on spec by the international architecture firm SAOTA and completed this year. There is a 20-foot stone waterfall that cascades down from an exterior moat, through the dining room, and into a semi-subterranean courtyard, where the water flows around a 15-foot-tall olive tree imported from Italy and planted by a 15-person crew using a crane.
All of this drama comes at a high cost. The home was marketed as a “natural” home because the finishes and design integrate natural elements, such as the olive tree centerpiece and the waterfall. The house has a name — “Elementi” — but it has been removed from the market, and it is unknown how much Drake is paying for his stay.
The half-acre property is situated on a prominent Trousdale elevation and was last sold for $15 million in 2014, according to public records. Luxford Investment Group, a high-end development firm led by real estate agent Michael Chen, constructed the current house on spec on behalf of the home’s proprietor, an LLC with ties to billionaire Chinese film producer and art collector Wang Zhongjun.
Drake appears to be pleased with his new digs, as evidenced by his Instagram photos and “stories” captured at the modern palace. In addition to a double-height marble atrium entryway, a sinuously curved spiral staircase, a movie theater, bespoke Minotti furniture, and an all-custom kitchen with pricey Gaggenau appliances and a marble island, the 18,000-square-foot residence also includes a separate “catering” kitchen with Viking appliances.
The private owner’s suite appears to be suspended over the hillside below and features dual restrooms clad in exotic species of marble, a store-sized closet/dressing area, and a 400-square-foot private terrace with a jacuzzi.