Some houses attract celebrities like a magnet. But very few boast a history of famous past owners that can compare to the roster of this secluded, 3.2-acre Malibu compound.
The house’s list of past owners reads like a Hollywood’s “who’s who”: Grease star and four-time Grammy Award winner Olivia Newton-John lived here in the 1980s and early 1990s. Legendary actress and two-time Academy Award-winner Sally Field owned it for about half a decade too. American filmmaker and studio executive James Gunn is also among the compound’s famous past residents.
The house’s most recent owners — Beqoming founders and authors Benjamin and Azyra Bequer — turned the 1956-built home into a Scandinavian-inspired retreat, where they planned to hold in-person community events and healing, restorative experiences.
But soon after the property’s two-year transformation was complete, the couple founded Kavanâ, a planned retreat and learning center in southern Mexico, with a similar purpose, leading them to list the revamped Malibu home for sale.
It’s now on the market for $25,000,000, with Adam Brawer at Compass and Aaron Kirman and Matt Adamo at Christie’s International Real Estate in charge of marketing efforts. Here’s what you need to know about this luxurious yet calming retreat.
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The compound at a glance
Celebrity history aside, the property is impressive by all accounts. Set on a large lot at the top of the breathtaking Big Rock Malibu cliffside, and surrounded by greenery with the ocean within view from the hiking trails that surround it, the Malibu compound has:
- 7,000 square feet of living space
- 7 bedrooms
- 6.5 bathrooms
- sits on a 3.2-acre lot
- recently revamped designer interiors
Unique features that set it apart
Celebrity houses often have standout amenities and features that you’re unlikely to find in other homes. And this property is no exception, boasting unique additions like:
- A sprawling lawn: That can host up to 300 people for outdoor gatherings
- Converted barn: Perfect for meetings or a home office
- Tennis court: To hold matches with a view
- Horse stables: Ideal for equestrian enthusiasts
- Spanish fountain & fire pit: Adds to the charm and ambiance
- Ocean-view hiking trails: Miles of trails surrounded by state parkland
- Standalone Airstream: Refurbished with a full kitchen and wraparound deck
Additional structures on the grounds of the property
The property also features a guest house, accessed by a second-story bridge, ensuring visitors enjoy the same level of luxury and comfort.
Additionally, there’s an intimate farmhouse that provides an inspiring office or home gym environment overlooking a grassy knoll and magnificent eucalyptus trees.
The current owners completely transformed the compound
The property recently underwent a dramatic transformation. Purchased by Benjamin and Azyra Bequer in 2019 for $6,875,000, the compound was completely taken down to the studs and reimagined.
The couple, who envisioned the estate as a restorative getaway, hired Ryan White of Ryan White Designs and Neda Veljovic-Winter to modernize the space while preserving its original character.
Modern treehouse vibes
The two-year redesign aimed to enhance the natural, treehouse-like feel of the property. Using natural tones and organic materials, the designers celebrated the surroundings, allowing for more light and creating a seamless connection to nature.
The result is a Scandinavian-inspired, glass-encompassed treehouse that blends harmoniously with its 3.22-acre setting.
Bright, welcoming interiors in earthy tones
Inside, you’ll find sophisticated, understated luxury with handcrafted features. Think Belgian plaster, premium oaks, opulent stone, antiqued brass, and reeded glass finishes.
The main floor boasts a fully integrated indoor/outdoor design, allowing residents and their guests to fully enjoy the lush location.
The primary bedroom is a highlight of the property
One of the most impressive rooms of the house, the primary bedroom suite wows with its generous proportions, high vaulted ceilings, dual balconies, and large windows that invite the verdant outdoors inside. It also features a jaw-dropping ensuite bathroom.
See also: Lady Gaga’s house in Malibu, which she calls her ‘Gypsy Palace’
The bathroom has a “shower chamber”
In keeping with the resort-like vibe, the bathroom in the primary offers an elevated indoor/outdoor shower experience, featuring a shower chamber with an outdoor Juliet balcony.
It’s as private as it gets
Undoubtedly one of the property’s biggest draws for its many famous past residents is its levels of privacy and seclusion. Gated and sited on over 3 acres of enchanting grounds at the top of the Big Rock Malibu cliffside, this estate offers a secluded hideaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, while being just a 20-minute drive to Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades.
Rightfully touted as a verdant oasis
With its groves of great oaks, massive eucalyptus, and 100+-year-old olive trees, the compound is rightfully promoted as a “verdant oasis”. Taking advantage of this lush setting, outdoor amenities include a zero-edge pool and spa area that provide the ultimate relaxation oasis.
The house has a long history of celebrity owners
The compound was long-owned by actress and singer Olivia Newton-John who, despite having been born in the UK and later raised in Australia (where she moved with her parents at the age of five), called Malibu home for four decades.
Newton-John owned the McAnany Way property back in the 1980s and up until the mid-1990s, with Oscar Award-winner Sally Field later buying it about a decade after the Grease star sold it. Field held on to it for about 6 years, before selling it in 2011 for $5,509,000.
Hit filmmaker and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn later paid $6.2 million for the property in 2016, fresh off the heels of a killer box-office opening of his then-new Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (which he wrote and directed). Public records show that he later sold it to the Bequers in 2019 for $6,875,000.
Newton-John would have probably loved the revamped estate
“She hosted spiritual retreats at her home,” Ema Beard Schulz, a friend of the late actress and fellow Malibu resident shared shortly after Olivia passed away in 2022. “She wanted to learn more about humanity. She was into spiritual practice, living her better life.”
This makes us think that the Xanadu actress would have likely loved the end result of the property’s transformation — and would have appreciated Benjamin and Azyra Bequer’s holistic vision for the compound.
Listing details
- Price: $25,000,000
- Listed with: Adam Brawer, Compass + Aaron Kirman and Matt Adamo at Christie’s International Real Estate
- Listing link: 3655 McAnany Way
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