A Bel-Air estate once owned by late-night television icon Johnny Carson has been listed for $40 million, adding another chapter to the entertainer’s extensive real estate legacy nearly two decades after his death.
Inside the Mansion
The midcentury modern home, where Carson lived throughout the 1970s and 1980s, has officially hit the market, Architectural Digest reported. Carson, who spent much of his retirement at a Malibu compound, retained ownership of several high-end properties until his death in 2005.
Located in the East Gate enclave of Bel-Air, the property was originally designed in 1949 for film producer and director Mervyn LeRoy, whose credits include early productions of “The Wizard of Oz” and “Gone with the Wind.” The main residence spans about 9,000 square feet and sits on a 1.5-acre parcel.
The estate includes a two-story annex that served as Carson’s personal office, along with a private security booth, a tiered fountain, an oval-shaped swimming pool, a sun deck and a cabana. A tennis enthusiast, Carson later added a lighted tennis court and pavilion.
Inside, a grand foyer opens to a large living room with a wet bar, a formal dining area and a family room overlooking landscaped grounds. The chef’s kitchen features a central island, breakfast nook and custom built-ins. The primary suite includes two bathrooms and walk-in closets, while additional amenities include a basement area, wine cellar, kitchenette and powder room.
Carson purchased the home with his third wife, former model Joanna Carson, in the early 1970s, around the time “The Tonight Show” relocated from New York to Burbank in 1972. At the time of his death in 2005, iconic “Tonight Show” host Carson had an estimated net worth of approximately $300 million. According to Joanna Carson’s nephew and estate trustee, Robert Ulrich, she retained ownership of the house following the couple’s 1985 divorce and split her time between California and New York until her death last year at age 88.
