Elon Musk Reclaims Gene Wilder's Former Home in $7M Foreclosure Drama

Elon Musk has quietly taken back one of Los Angeles' most legendary homes, Gene Wilder’s former estate, after foreclosing on the actor's nephew over a multi-million-dollar loan.

Realtor.com reported that Musk originally bought the three-bedroom Brentwood home in 2013 for $6.75 million, but in 2020, he offloaded it as part of a pledge to sell "almost all" of his physical possessions. 

He sold the property to Wilder's nephew, filmmaker Jordan Walker-Pearlman, and his wife, Elizabeth Hunter, for $7 million. 

At the time, Musk was praised for his generosity. Not only did he accept a below-market price, but he also loaned the couple $6.7 million to make the purchase possible.

However, public records show that the arrangement began to unravel in 2024 when Walker-Pearlman and Hunter fell behind on payments. Musk filed a notice of default that summer, initiating a foreclosure process that culminated in the property returning to the LLC he originally used to purchase it.

In an auction notice filed in November 2024, the couple was warned that the unpaid balance of $7.5 million could trigger a public sale. 

Although it's unclear if other bidders showed up, the property was officially deeded back to Musk’s LLC in January 2025 and pulled off the market the following month.

Notably, Musk had insisted when he first sold the home that whoever took ownership could not tear it down or "lose any of its soul." That clause remained in effect through the auction, preserving the structure's legacy.

While Musk hasn't shared what he plans to do with the house—he once claimed to live in a $50,000 rental near SpaceX HQ—his real estate footprint tells a different story. 

He's quietly built a compound in Austin’s West Lake Hills, where neighbors have accused him of causing disruptions and violating zoning laws. Meanwhile, reports suggest he owns multiple properties in the area to house his growing family.

With this latest move, Musk isn't just reclaiming a home. He's adding another chapter to the increasingly tangled saga of his public minimalism and private empire-building.