The former Los Angeles home of three-time world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, a 1915 Italian Renaissance mansion in the gated Fremont Place community, sold for $8.5 million (£6.7 million) in July 2024. The sale ended a long period on the market for the historic property. The house was first listed for almost $17 million ($16.995 million) in late 2022 before going through several price cuts and eventually being offered at auction.
Historic estate in gated Fremont Place
Located at 55 Fremont Place near Hancock Park, the 11,545-square-foot estate sits on about 1.6 acres. Architect John C. Austin, who also designed Los Angeles City Hall and the Griffith Observatory, designed the home, which was built in 1915. Ali lived in the mansion during the late 1970s and 1980s with his third wife, Veronica, and their daughters, Laila and Hana. During his time there, the house welcomed many well-known guests, including world leaders, entertainers and sports stars. The estate has nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms in the main house. A separate guest house adds another bedroom and full bathroom. The grounds also include a heated swimming pool, spa, landscaped lawns, stone paths and a large outdoor patio for entertaining.
Historic architecture and interior features
Developer Michael R. Kaplan and his wife, Tari, bought the property in 2001 for about $2.5 million. They spent several years restoring the home, updating its modern systems while keeping many of its original architectural details. The preserved features include original Tiffany stained-glass windows, French Empire crystal chandeliers and carved wooden wall panels. The house also has marble and hardwood floors, several fireplaces, hand-carved mouldings and large bay windows. According to real estate listing records published by Zillow and Redfin, the mansion includes a glass-domed sunroom, a formal dining room with historic light fixtures, a main bedroom with two dressing rooms, a media room and a full cellar.
Market history and final auction sale
After the renovations were completed, the owners first listed the property for $16 million in August 2021. The listing was later withdrawn and returned to the market in November 2022 with a higher asking price of $16.995 million. According to The Real Deal, a Los Angeles real estate news publication, the price was lowered to $15 million in early 2023. When no buyer agreed to that price, the owners decided to put the property up for auction with no minimum price in May 2024 through Concierge Auctions. Property records maintained by Zillow show that the sale officially closed on July 18, 2024, for $8.5 million. That was about 50 per cent below the property’s 2022 asking price.
Legacy of the Fremont Place community
Fremont Place is one of Los Angeles’ oldest private gated communities. It was established in 1911 in the Mid-Wilshire area near Hancock Park. The neighborhood has 73 single-family homes, many designed by well-known 20th-century architects. Over the years, the community has been home to Hollywood stars, business leaders and civic officials. Redfin property records show that homes in the area continue to command high prices, with 55 Fremont Place among the community’s largest properties. The July 2024 sale transferred ownership of the historic mansion for the first time in 23 years, bringing a new chapter to one of Hancock Park’s best-known historic homes.
