Menendez Brothers House: $1.5M BH Estate, Then & Now

The story of the Menendez brothers’ house is one of the most chilling intersections of wealth, family, and tragedy in American crime history. On the night of August 20, 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez were shot and killed inside their luxurious Beverly Hills mansion a crime committed by their own sons, Lyle and Erik. 

From a modest upbringing to a palatial estate in one of the most exclusive zip codes on earth, the Menendez family home became a permanent fixture in the national consciousness. Its address, its rooms, and its manicured facade have been dissected in courtrooms, documentaries, and Netflix dramas ever since. 

Explore more iconic and historically significant celebrity properties at MansionFreak, where the stories behind the walls are just as compelling as the walls themselves.

Menendez Brothers House, 722 Elm Drive: Details

Menendez Brothers House Beverly Hills Location

The Menendez brothers house beverly hills sits at one of the most recognized — and most notorious — addresses in Southern California real estate.

• Exact Address: 722 North Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
• Neighborhood: Located in the prestigious flats of Beverly Hills, a neighborhood of wide, tree-lined streets flanked by some of the most expensive residential real estate in the United States. The property sits a short distance from Rodeo Drive and the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Jose Menendez purchased the property in 1988 for $1.5 million, drawn by its grandeur and its proximity to the entertainment industry circles he moved in as a high-powered music executive at LIVE Entertainment. The home’s formal European architecture and private motor court projected exactly the kind of success he wanted the world to see. It was a residence designed to make a statement and it did, though not in the way its owner intended.

Menendez Brothers House Elm Drive: History and Architecture

The 722 Elm Drive property was built in 1927 and reflects the formal Mediterranean Revival style that was fashionable in Beverly Hills during that era. The home spans approximately 9,063 square feet across two stories, with a symmetrical facade, tall arched windows, and a motor court enclosed by iron gates.

When Jose Menendez acquired the property, he undertook significant renovations to update the interiors while preserving the home’s classic exterior character. The result was a residence that blended old Hollywood grandeur with 1980s interior luxury — a combination that perfectly suited the family’s profile at the time.

For visitors and architecture enthusiasts, the exterior of 722 Elm Drive remains largely consistent with its appearance in 1989. The mature trees lining the front of the property have grown taller, but the bones of the building are unchanged. 

It is precisely this architectural continuity that makes the address such a magnetic destination for true crime tourists and urban historians alike. You can find similar deep dives into storied celebrity homes at MansionFreak, where architecture and history collide.

Menendez Brothers House Tour: Inside the Estate

Exterior Design and Grounds

The exterior of the Menendez brothers house presents an immaculate face to the quiet street of North Elm Drive. A gated motor court shields the entrance from passersby, and formal landscaping — manicured hedges, mature trees, and clipped lawn — frames the two-story facade. The swimming pool sits to the rear of the property, alongside a tennis court that spoke to the family’s active, affluent lifestyle.

Grand Entry and Main Living Areas

Inside, the home opens into a formal entry hall with high ceilings and classic detailing. The living spaces were decorated in the refined, somewhat austere style favored by Jose Menendez — expensive furnishings, traditional European influences, and a general atmosphere of controlled luxury rather than comfort. 

The formal sitting room, where Jose and Kitty were watching television on the night of August 20, 1989, became the central room of one of the most covered murder trials in American history.

The Family Room and Den

The den and family room areas of the home reflected Kitty Menendez’s more personal touches — softer furnishings, family photographs, and the kind of lived-in details that existed somewhat in tension with the home’s otherwise formal atmosphere. Erik and Lyle each had their own bedrooms, befitting the family’s wealth and Jose’s belief in providing his sons with every advantage money could buy.

Bedrooms and Upper Level

The six bedrooms of 722 Elm Drive occupied the upper floor, with the master suite commanding the rear of the house overlooking the pool and gardens. The boys’ rooms were spacious and well-appointed, stocked with sports equipment and the trappings of privileged teenage life in Beverly Hills during the late 1980s.

The Pool and Grounds

Much of the photographic documentation of the Menendez brothers house focuses on the pool area, which was photographed extensively during the original investigation and subsequent trial. The backyard remains private, but the estate’s general layout — pool, tennis court, service areas, and formal gardens — is well documented in court exhibits and documentary footage.

Who Lives in the Menendez Brothers House Now?

As of 2025, the property at 722 North Elm Drive is privately owned and occupied. The current owners are not public figures and have not publicized their connection to the address. This is a relatively common pattern with high-profile crime scene properties in Beverly Hills — buyers are typically aware of the home’s history and purchase with full knowledge of it, often at a price that reflects what the real estate industry calls “stigmatized property” considerations.

The home has been substantially renovated and updated since 1989, and by most accounts, it presents today as a fully contemporary luxury residence with little visible connection to its most infamous chapter. If you are interested in homes with dramatic ownership histories and significant architectural pedigrees, the Gene Hackman House profile at MansionFreak offers another fascinating case study in how celebrity residences carry the weight of their histories.

Can You Visit the Menendez Brothers House?

The property at 722 North Elm Drive is privately owned with no public access or tours. The exterior is visible from the public sidewalk along North Elm Drive, though mature trees and the motor court gate partially obscure the facade. 

Visitors should keep it brief and respectful. For another property where real estate meets public fascination, read the full profile of Vahan Gureghian’s House at MansionFreak.

Is the Menendez Brothers House Haunted?

The question of whether the Menendez brothers house is haunted is one that has followed the property for decades, particularly given the violent nature of the crime committed within its walls.

There is no verified paranormal activity at 722 North Elm Drive, and no credible investigative team has documented any supernatural phenomena at the site. The haunted designation is largely a product of true crime mythology and the human tendency to associate places of violent tragedy with lingering presences.

That said, the cultural weight of the address is undeniable. For many who have followed the Menendez case, the home carries a psychological heaviness that is difficult to shake — a feeling that is perhaps more about the gravity of what happened there than anything supernatural. Whether that constitutes haunting is a matter of personal interpretation.

Menendez Brothers House for Sale: Past Listings and Current Market Value

The property at 722 North Elm Drive is not currently listed for sale as of 2025. Given the renewed public interest in the Menendez case and the consistent demand for luxury real estate in Beverly Hills’ flats, any future listing would attract significant attention.

Here is a brief price history of the property and the broader Menendez real estate picture:

• 722 North Elm Drive, Beverly Hills: Purchased by Jose Menendez for $1.5 million in 1988; estimated current market value upward of $10–15 million based on comparable Beverly Hills flats properties
• Calabasas family home (prior residence): The Menendez family lived in Calabasas before moving to Beverly Hills
• Princeton, NJ property: Jose maintained connections to the East Coast through business and prior residences

The long saga of speculation about the home’s sale price, its stigma discount, and its market trajectory is a perennial topic in Beverly Hills real estate circles — a reflection of how deeply the events of August 1989 remain embedded in public consciousness.

The Menendez Brothers: Background and Legacy

Jose Menendez was a Cuban-born music executive who rose to prominence as the CEO of LIVE Entertainment, overseeing labels and artists at the height of the late-1980s entertainment industry boom. Kitty Menendez was a former beauty queen and dedicated mother who struggled with personal difficulties in the years before her death.

Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 following two highly publicized trials. Both were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In 2024 and into 2025, their case attracted renewed legal and public scrutiny, with advocates arguing that evidence of long-term abuse was insufficiently considered during the original proceedings. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón recommended resentencing in October 2024, a development that kept the case prominently in the news cycle.

Conclusion

The Menendez brothers’ house story is ultimately about the collision between the appearance of the American dream and the darkness that can exist behind its most polished facades. 

The property at 722 North Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, remains one of the most recognized addresses in true crime history, a Mediterranean Revival mansion that witnessed one of the most shocking crimes of the late twentieth century. The walls still stand. The gate still closes. And the story, more than three decades later, refuses to fade.

Frequently Asked Questions