LIFE

Inside the Giga-Mansions of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Calvin Klein, Avicii, and More

by Alexandra Pechman

The architect Paul McClean, who has cornered the billionaires’ housing market in Los Angeles, takes us on a tour of the giga-mansion boom in the Bird Streets high above Hollywood, which has become “ground zero” for the move-in ready spec homes he has been building for Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Calvin Klein, Avicii, and other .1 percenters. Here, a glimpse into the new lifestyles of the ultrarich and superfamous.

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This new McClean house in the Bird Streets, at 1822 Marcheeta, is for sale for $19,950,000.

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At 1822 Marcheeta, over-the-top wine storage, skylights, and massive fireplaces are all McClean hallmarks.

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The Bird Streets mansion purchased by Calvin Klein for $25 million in 2015.

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Another view of the Bird Streets house purchased by Calvin Klein.

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A Blue Jay Way mansion which McClean estimated as going for as much as $30 million.

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The staircase into the basement of the not-yet-listed home on Blue Jay Way.

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A view of McClean’s first Bird Streets mansion, which sold for $10 million in 2009.

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His first Bird Streets home, on Blue Jay Way, was purchased by Aviici in 2014.

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A Beverly Hills mansion on Carla Ridge that sold for $20 million in 2015.

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The Carla Ridge mansion in Beverly Hills was developed by Nile Niami, and has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a two-story water feature, and an olive tree courtyard.

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The Bel-Air home that was purchased by Jay-Z and Beyoncé boasts bulletproof windows and a helipad.

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Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s 30,000-square-foot compound also features a minimal design and multiple pools.

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A Beverly Hills home features the terracing and glass walls common to McClean’s projects.

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Another view of the same Beverly Hills house.

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Arclinea, a Beverly Hills development project designed by McClean.

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Another view of Arclinea.

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Originally listed for $100 million, this Trousdale mansion is now $85 million.

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Originally listed for $100 million, “Opus,” a Trousdale mansion developed by Niami and designed by McClean, is now $85 million.

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The “Opus” property features a basement-level pool, billiards room, champagne room, wine room, and a movie theater.

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A Bel Air mansion by McClean that sold for just shy of $30 million in 2012.

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The house is 30,000 square feet, with six bedrooms and ten baths.

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This Laguna Beach McClean house sold for about $4.4 million in 2015.

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McClean got his start in Laguna Beach, designing homes much like this 3,500-square-foot house.