Step inside the Barbie Penthouse — where the REAL Barbie and Ken grew up

The lavish apartment was once home to Mattel founders and Barbie doll creators Ruth and Elliot Handler and their two children, Barbara and Kenneth (after which the iconic toys were named).

Georgie Mihaila
5 Min Read
Photo credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman

A couple of years back, a one-of-a-kind penthouse with a playful backstory was briefly offered for sale, giving us a peek inside the famous residence.

The iconic Barbie Penthouse, once owned by Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler and later heavily customized to match its moniker was listed for sale asking $9,999,888. It has since been taken off the market, with no buyer swooping in to purchase the sprawling apartment set in the exclusive Century Towers in Los Angeles.

But given the Barbie frenzy of the past couple of months, that’s seen the iconic doll take over the world thanks to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, we wouldn’t be all that surprised to see it pop back up on the market.

Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman and NightGliderSA / Shutterstock

Current owner Nicole Sassaman, a well-known real-estate flipper, designer, and television host, bought the condo directly from Barbara (Barbie) Segal, who inherited it from her parents, Mattel owners Ruth and Elliot Handler.

The Handlers, who created one of the most popular toys of all time, named the now-famous dolls after their two children, who both grew up in the apartment: Barbara / Barbie and Kenneth / Ken.

In fact, following the movie’s release, many have speculated that Barbara Segal herself had a cameo in Gerwig’s production (as the beautiful old lady on the bench), but that has since been proven to be false.

Paying tribute to the condo’s famous owners, Sassaman turned it into her own dollhouse — and even published a book entitled Barbie Penthouse, detailing her extensive remodel of the luxurious residence.

The lavish apartment is located in the Century Towers, a luxury condo building on the Avenue of Stars in Los Angeles that bears the signature of legendary architect I.M. Pei.

Related: How Barbie’s Dream House would look like in other countries, according to AI

Spanning 3,200 square feet, the Barbie Penthouse has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and a home office with a loft bed that can serve as an extra guest bedroom when needed.

Sassaman, a highly skilled interior designer, paid special attention to the master suite, which boasts the most curated finishes and has a large walk-in closet, ample space for a sitting area, office, private balcony a luxurious en suite spa bath.

bedroom of the barbie penthouse in los angeles.
Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman
Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman
Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman

The kitchen, as the listing pointed out at the time, is one of the most photographed kitchens in print, boasting a custom La Cornue range/oven, top-of-the-line appliances, and hidden cabinets — all of which opens up to a dining and living area, perfectly appointed for entertaining.

The kitchen was terribly expensive. Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t have spent that, but it’s the hub of the house. We spend our time in the kitchens, so it deserved to get that,” Sassaman told the New York Post.

Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman
Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman
Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman

With 12-foot ceilings and massive windows, the Barbie Penthouse makes the most of its location, offering picture-perfect views of Los Angeles.

There’s also an expansive balcony whose telescoping stainless doors open up to a nice outdoor living space, blurring the lines between indoor/outdoor living.

The building itself offers an impressive suite of amenities, from tennis courts to an Olympic-sized swimming pool, valet parking, doormen, and gated security.

Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman
Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman
Inside the Barbie Penthouse. Image credit: Nils Timm/Douglas Elliman

Editor’s note: We first covered this unique property in August 2021, which marked the first time the Barbie Penthouse was ever publicly listed for sale — as Sassaman purchased it in an off-market deal directly from Barbara Segal, the daughter of Ruth and Elliot Handler. This article has been updated to reflect the current status of the penthouse.

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With a decade-long career as a digital content creator, Georgie started out as a real estate journalist for Multi-Housing News & CPExecutive. She later transitioned into digital marketing, working with leading real estate websites like PropertyShark, RENTCafé and Point2Homes. After a brief but impactful stint in the start-up world, where she led the marketing divisions of fintech company NestReady and media publisher Goalcast, Georgie returned to her first passion, real estate, and founded FancyPantsHomes.com