Ron Popeil’s Beverly Hills estate bought for $7.5m now asks $25 million

The property covers 2.34 acres and has about 14,595 square feet of interior space. (Photos: Realtor)

Ron Popeil’s longtime Beverly Hills family home has gone on the market for $25 million, nearly five years after the infomercial pioneer died in 2021, Realtor reported.Popeil and his wife, Robin Popeil, bought the property in 2002 for $7.5 million and lived there with their two daughters, Contessa and Valentina.The gated estate, known as the Popeil Estate, is located at 1672 Waynecrest Drive in Beverly Hills, California. The property covers 2.34 acres and has about 14,595 square feet of interior space. It has eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a large motor court and garage space.The house was built in 1995 for Peter Morton, the art collector and co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe. It was designed by Southern California architect Jack Warner as an Italian-style villa.

The property has now returned to the market for the first time in about two decades.For the Popeil family, the house was where Ron Popeil continued working on his inventions. The home's large commercial kitchen became a testing space for his kitchen products and later appeared in a television programme featuring the inventor.

Popeils' home for 25 years

The property is reached through a private gate and a long driveway at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Inside, a double-height foyer has a central skylight and vaulted wooden ceilings rising nearly 30 feet. Other parts of the house have ceilings starting at 14 feet.A large staircase wraps around the foyer and leads to the primary suite. The suite has two bathrooms, two closets, an office and a private terrace with views of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean.Robin Popeil told The New York Times that the family often spent time on the terrace reading to their daughters.

She also recalled how her husband would sometimes use a Pocket Fisherman, a fishing rod invented by his father, to cast into the pool below for the children.French doors from several main rooms open towards shaded terraces and gardens. The property includes a swimming pool and a broad lawn, which was once used as a playground and later had a chicken coop.

The most closely linked part of the house to Ron Popeil's work is the large eat-in kitchen.

Popeil’s testing space

The most closely linked part of the house to Ron Popeil's work is the large eat-in kitchen.

It has commercial-grade appliances, marble counters and exposed wooden beams.Valentina Popeil described the kitchen as the centre of the family's home because her father used it while developing products."The kitchen was for sure the heart of our home," she said. "It was a testing space for him. He was always working on different kitchen product prototypes," she added.The kitchen was also used for a 2017 segment of The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation, in which Popeil was interviewed inside the house.

His collection of olive oil bottles could be seen in the background. The collection was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's largest.Popeil became known for products such as the Veg-O-Matic, Showtime Rotisserie & BBQ and Mr. Microphone. He was also known for the sales phrases he used while presenting products on television, including "Set it and forget it!" and "Now, how much would you pay?"His style of selling products through television helped make him one of the best-known figures in the infomercial business.

He had started selling his father's products as a teenager on the streets of Chicago before building his own business and becoming associated with Ronco.One of the products he sold was the Inside-the-Shell Egg Scrambler. The gadget was among the inventions he particularly liked.

Screening room, gym and wine cellar

The Beverly Hills property has several other features including a screening room with a projection booth, a gym and a wine cellar that can hold more than 600 bottles.The main living areas connect to the gardens through French doors. The outdoor space includes terraced gardens, shaded areas, a swimming pool and a wide lawn. The property also has views stretching across Los Angeles towards the Pacific Ocean.Listing agent Linda May, who is marketing the property with Drew Fenton of Carolwood Estates, said the estate's size and privacy are unusual for its location."It's incredibly rare to find over two acres of absolute, gated privacy at the end of a cul-de-sac," she said.

"You feel completely secluded in nature, yet you're just minutes away from Sunset Boulevard and the heart of Beverly Hills."She also pointed to a flat area on the property that could be used for another purpose by the next owner. "Plus, there's a fantastic flat pad just waiting to be turned into a private pickleball court or a beautiful citrus grove," May said.The house is now being offered for $25 million. That is substantially higher than the $7.5 million the Popeils paid for it in 2002.

Ron Popeil was known for his inventions and informercials. (Photo: USA Today)

Family prepares to leave

For his daughters, the sale marks the end of a long family chapter. Contessa Popeil said the decision to sell has been difficult because of the memories associated with the house."Selling this house is incredibly bittersweet and a very emotional experience for all of us," she said. "It's just a truly special place for us. And we just hope the next owners are able to create the same depth of memories and joy," she added.