 My father was a positive thinker. He believed that if you thought positive positive things would result With his purchases of landmark hotels in Beverly Hills My father responded to that invitation in Spanish and was the only one who basically did that He was a very religious individual. The one-time mega mansion of Hilton hotel icon Conrad Hilton One in the market in 2019 for a whopping 225 million dollars Making it the most expensive home in the area The extravagant Bel Air estate sits on eight acres of land while inside it spans 40,000 square feet of space Features include 18-foot ceilings, 60 rooms, an architectural pool house with screening room and formal bar A lighted tennis court, a separate basketball court, a guest house, koi puns, and much much more But before we discover everything about the former Conrad Hilton estate We'll dive into the life and success of the hospitality legend himself The pioneering force behind the iconic Hilton hotels Conrad Nicholson Hilton born on December 25th 1887 in San Antonio, New Mexico rose from humble beginnings That would end up shaping his pursuit of success Growing up in a small family with Norwegian roots, young Conrad valued hard work, integrity, and the importance of genuine connections In fact, he was shaped by some major influences which included his parents, his sisters, and the Catholic Church Conrad's mom always told him that when life hit him with challenges, whether it was losing his favorite pony Or going through a rough patch during the Great Depression, head to church and pray it out As a young boy, Hilton first worked at his father's general store in Socorro County, New Mexico Which was converted into a ten-room hotel After trying his luck as a banker briefly, Conrad had the intention of buying a bank in Texas during the oil boom However, in 1919, Conrad ended up snagging his first hotel instead of a bank The Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas The spa was so popular that rooms were changing hands like hotkicks So they even converted the dining room into more rooms to meet this demand Conrad went on to buy and build hotels all throughout Texas Like the high-rise Dallas Hilton, which opened in 1925 and kicked off his Hilton hotel legacy Then he created the Abilene Hilton, the Waco Hilton, and El Paso Hilton During the Great Depression, Hilton was nearly forced into bankruptcy and lost several of his hotels He was strong, he kept his head up, remaining the manager of some of the hotel chain And eventually got control back of all his hotels Conrad Hilton wasn't just a hotelier, he was an innovator In 1947, he purchased the Stevens Hotel in Chicago, one of the largest hotels in the world at the time Which showed his vision His belief that travel could foster peace led to the famous phrase World peace through international trade and travel Hilton hotels became synonymous with luxury sophistication and amazing service In the 1950s, he ventured into other realms, acquiring hotels, airlines, and even the carte blanche credit card company Behind closed doors, Conrad Hilton's lifestyle mirrored the glamour of the hotels he built A jet setter before the term was even a thing, he frequented elite social circles rubbing shoulders with celebs and other successful people Hilton's romantic journey was as dynamic as his business ventures He tied the knot not once, not twice, but three times His first marriage was to marry Adelaide Barron in 1925, which resulted in the birth of their only son, Conrad Nicholson Hilton Jr However, this union faced challenges and eventually ended in divorce in 1934 Hilton jumped back into the game, marrying again shortly after This time, he married the stunning actress Zaza Gabor, adding a touch of Hollywood to his life Yet, even this star-studded romance faced its share of turbulence, resulting in divorce in 1947 Next, Hilton embarked on his third marriage with actress and socialite Patricia McClintock This union brought forth three children, Richard Hilton, Barron Hilton, and Eric Hilton The relationship lasted until Hilton's passing in 1979 His success poured in, Hilton's lifestyle reflected the grandeur of his achievements His main residence, the historic home-behills estate in LA, was a mansion fit for a mogul Surrounded by sprawling gardens and luxury amenities, this estate epitomized the opulence Hilton was used to In Conrad's later years, he settled into his final home, the Ballard Mansion in Los Angeles Which was a serene retreat for the aging icon Overlooking the city, he left a huge mark upon Now, let's talk about this one-of-a-kind mansion, which has a fascinating history Dating back to the 1930s, it was originally constructed for the widow of a glass bottle manufacturer, Hilda Weber In 1934, she purchased what would become Casa and Cantata for $100,000 Which was a jaw-dropping sum during the Great Depression Casa and Cantata, meaning the House of Enchantment as it was known, was envisioned and brought to life By architect James Delana, a master of Georgian architecture infused with influences from art deco and modern styles In 1935, Hilda also hired Benjamin Purdy as landscape architect A year later, his crew started grading the property, planting full-grown trees and preparing the gardens Which would stretch for hundreds of feet behind the mansion Hilda further hired people to design and manufacture custom furnishings, carpets and more Which was another exuberant cost In 1937, construction began on the sprawling 40,000-square-foot mansion and its outbuildings By the end of 1938, Casa and Cantata was complete Sadly, like many who come into money quickly, Hilda was always careless about her funds And her day-to-day living expenses were enormous With a household staff of 21 and 21 more individuals to tend to the grounds In 1948, she reluctantly put Casa and Cantata up for sale The original asking price was $1.5 million, less than the estate and its furniture had cost 10 years earlier But no takers Finally, in 1950 along came Conrad Hilton, who purchased the epic estate with its furniture, art and silver For the low, low cost of $225,000 For Conrad Hilton, Casa and Cantata lived up to its name And he lived there in grand style until his death in 1979 In those four decades, Hilton made almost no changes to the mansion Its furnishing and art or even the grounds The mansion was a stunning time capsule of grand, high-style 1940s taste After Hilton's passing, the family sold the estate for $12.4 million Priced for any single family home in the U.S. at the time In 2000, Casa and Cantata was sold to its current owner for $94 million Setting another record for the most expensive home in the country More recently, the estate was listed for a whopping $250 million But was then lowered to $195 million after sitting on the market As of 2023, it was still for sale at this price The sprawling, seven-bedroom mega mansion, the Conrad Hilton long-called home is now tied To the honor of being the nation's priciest home listing Shared with a designer oceanfront Malibu home and a three-story penthouse in midtown Manhattan Nestled above the Bellaire Country Club in LA, this palace that housed the Hilton Hotel Magnate Is light-filled and sprawling The main residence boasts an entry hall with 18-foot high ceilings And a sweeping staircase, which then leads to the multiple living and dining rooms There's also a walnut-paneled library, an art deco bar, and detailed period moldings In total, the mansion has 60 rooms throughout While the master suite on its own offers up 3,500 square feet of space Two sitting rooms and two ensuite baths Among the array of luxury features, Casa Ancantara offers a professional screening room or reception hall As well as breathtaking views of the mountains and ocean from nearly everywhere Spread across the estate are additional amenities Like a full-guest house, an architectural pool house with formal bar, manager's quarters, a lighted tennis court A separately constructed basketball court, and of course an impressive swimming pool The landscaping across the property's 8 acres is equally upscale As there are rose gardens, multiple greenhouses, and even koi ponds If the current asking price is to be met, Conrad Hilton's one-time Bellaire estate Is poised to set a new record, as the highest priced home ever sold in California Surpassing the recently sold spelling manner in Homeby Hills for $119.75 million The allure of this mansion lies not just in its price tag, but in its rich history And the amazing efforts to preserve its timeless elegance While that's gonna conclude this look into the life and home of the legendary Conrad Hilton We got a chance to learn more about his record-breaking Bellaire estate And how he came to be the man behind the Hilton hotel chain Before we go, answer me this If you could stay at any Hilton hotel or property around the globe, which would it be and why? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below And don't forget to like and subscribe I'm Carole the Vampire Slayer, follow me on Instagram to chat And if you want to see more of what I've been up to in my free time Check out my new DIY account, FixItWithCara I would love to connect with you guys over there I'll see you in another video Bye!