Meet the non-celebrities who lost their homes in the LA fires: Professors, attorneys, tech bosses and more
One of Los Angeles’s chicest neighborhoods, Pacific Palisades has long been home to an eclectic crowd that includes not only A-list stars but also tech moguls, top lawyers and financial heavyweights.
But in the wake of the devastating Palisades Fire that has already destroyed 23,707 acres – an area larger than Manhattan – many of the neighborhood’s 80,000 residents now face the prospect of having no home to return to.
For many famous names, including Anna Faris, Leighton Meester, Ricki Lake and Heidi Montag, that nightmare has become reality.
But it’s not just A-listers whose mansions have been razed: the $125 million mansion of 29-year-old tech tyro Austin Russell, which starred in the TV megahit Succession, has disappeared along with more modest multimillion-dollar properties houses of hedge fund bosses, technology bosses and architects, among others.
All were destroyed in the massive fire, which also caused the deaths of at least eight people, destroyed 604 buildings and is still only 14 percent contained.
With much of the famous green area in ruins, DailyMail.com has made up for some of the losses.
THE HEDGE FUND BOSS’ BOLT HOLE
One of the more opulent properties to fall victim to the Palisades Fire, 641 Alma Real Drive was classic LA: a pink-hued Spanish-style house in one of Pacific Palisades’ greenest neighborhoods.
The five-bedroom house, estimated to be worth $10.3 million, is owned by hedge fund boss Jerry Cudzil, 49, and is now a mess of burnt brickwork.
Before last week’s terrifying bushfires, the property had lush gardens, complete with a large swimming pool and terrace with partial ocean views.
Inside, the house had a chef’s kitchen and a master suite, complete with its own sitting room and terrace.
This formerly opulent, pink-hued Spanish-style home in one of Pacific Palisades’ greenest neighborhoods has succumbed to the Palisades Fire and is now a jumble of brickwork attached to a burned-out sedan
Owned by hedge fund boss Jerry Cudzil, 49, it was a five-bedroom home estimated to be worth $10.3 million.
The property once had lush gardens, a large swimming pool and a terrace overlooking the ocean. But now the walls have collapsed, the foundation and walls have melted to an ugly, molten black color, and only an ornate metal door remains standing.
THE LEVEL OF LA LANDMARK
One of the most famous homes in Pacific Palisades, 820 Chautauqua Boulevard, was better known as the “Bridges House” in honor of the architect who designed it.
Although the house is officially on Chautauqua Boulevard, it was more visible from the other side on Sunset Boulevard, where it towered 100 feet above the road thanks to a trio of massive cast concrete pillars.
The house was designed by its owner, University of Southern California professor emeritus Robert Bridges, who moved in with his wife Janelle and their three children in 1991.
He had spent six years building the house, which he said in a 2014 interview with the New York Times was “incredibly risky.” He added: ‘We were constantly hanging around and performing feats of daring and stupidity.’
Despite the house’s precarious dangling appearance, Bridges described it as completely “rational” in the same interview. The USC professor explained, “It may seem precarious, but it’s not. From a technical point of view this is absolutely rational.’
This former futuristic home was one of the most famous homes in Pacific Palisades before it went up in flames. It was built by University of Southern California professor emeritus Robert Bridges, who moved into the building in 1991 with his wife Janelle and their three children.
The mansion was known as the ‘Bridges House’ in honor of the architect who designed it – University of Southern California Professor Emeritus Robert Bridges who moved into the property in 1991 with his wife Janelle and their three children
Although the house is officially on Chautauqua Boulevard, it was more visible from the other side on Sunset Boulevard, where it towered 100 feet above the road thanks to a trio of massive cast concrete pillars.
LYFT BOSS’S LAIR
A spectacular seven-bedroom mansion at 634 Alma Real Drive is now in ruins.
Home to Lyft’s Chief Financial Officer Elaine Paul, 57, her manufacturing company’s husband, Darren Seidel, 61, and their three children. The destroyed house was once a perfect home in California.
Outside, a white picket fence surrounded manicured lawns and ivy-covered exteriors, while inside the enormous house had seven bedrooms and a whopping 10 bathrooms.
The house was purchased in 2009 for $1.9 million and has skyrocketed in value since then. Its value is now estimated at $9.1 million.
The once spectacular seven-bedroom mansion had white picket fences surrounding manicured lawns and ivy-covered exteriors, while inside the enormous house had seven bedrooms and a whopping ten bathrooms.
The home was owned by Lyft’s Chief Financial Officer Elaine Paul, 57, and her production company boss husband Darren Seidel, 61. They lived there with their three children. A burned basketball hoop that was on the left high wall is visible
It was worth $9.1 million, up from the original $1.9 million the family bought it for
TECH TYCOON’S MANSION
The most expensive home in Pacific Palisades – the futuristic hilltop home of tech mogul Austin Russell – has been reduced to a smoldering husk.
Before the fire, the striking home had eighteen bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as a “Nobu-designed chef’s kitchen” and its own twenty-seat theater.
The basement housed a temperature-controlled wine cellar, while the roof was retractable ‘for stargazing’ and the lush gardens housed a state-of-the-art swimming pool.
Although owned by Luminar Technologies boss Russell, the house was available to rent when the fire broke out – for an eye-watering $450,000 a month.
The house was last seen in the HBO hit Succession, where it stole the show as the luxury apartment occupied by the Roy siblings.
The most expensive home in Pacific Palisades, the futuristic hilltop pad of tech mogul Austin Russell, has been reduced to a smoldering husk
Luminar Technologies boss Austin Russell owned the space pad mansion. It was where the HBO hit Succession was filmed in the fictional world of the Roy family as the luxurious pillow of the Roy siblings
Before the fire, the striking home had 18 bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as a “Nobu-designed chef’s kitchen” and its own 20-seat theater — the home could rent for as much as $450,000 per month
THE LAWYER’S COZY STAY
720 Ocampo Drive, a beautiful white wooden English-style cottage, was a three-bedroom home occupied by property owner Edward Wachtel since he purchased it in 1983 for $530,000.
The cottage, now reduced to rubble, was built in 1948 and was set in manicured gardens, enclosed by a white picket fence.
Before last week, Ocampo Street was lined with similar properties, most of which suffered a similar fate from the Palisades Fire.
A beautiful white wooden English-style cottage, 720 Ocampo Drive, was a three-bedroom home now reduced to rubble. It was built in 1948 and during its heyday was surrounded by white picket fences and manicured gardens
The house has been occupied by Edward Wachtel, a real estate attorney owner since he bought it for $530,000 in 1983.
BEVERLY HILLS 90210 STAR’S LOW KEY PAD
Valued at an estimated $4.1 million, 645 Alma Real Drive was a three-bedroom 1950s ranch-style home with “stunning mountain and canyon views.”
Until last week, the residence was home to actress Maggie Crosby, 53, her husband Andrew and their two children.
Crosby, who is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, has starred in multiple TV shows – most famously Beverly Hills 90210, Arli$$, Monk, Texas Walker Ranger and Anger Management.
The large bungalow, now a charred pile of rubble, previously contained three bedrooms and a study, a large walk-in closet and a ‘park-like garden’.
Valued at an estimated $4.1 million, 645 Alma Real Drive was a three-bedroom 1950s ranch-style home with “stunning mountain and canyon views.”
The residence was home to actress Maggie Crosby, 53, her husband Andrew and their two children – Crosby starred in Beverly Hills 90210 – it is now a charred mess