Drake’s Making Moves

International music super-star Drake is selling his Yolo Estate in L.A.’s famously celeb-packed Hidden Hills enclave for $22.2 million

Aubrey Graham, now known to the world as mononymous hip-hop phenom Drake, has parlayed his talents, musical interests, abilities and ambitions into being a music industry icon and business mogul who was named Billboard Music Award’s artist of the decade last year, and regularly ranks among the planet’s top earning rappers.

His many successes, and the riches they’ve created, allow the 35-year-old four-time Grammy winner, who boasts more than 100 million Instagram followers, to live a bespoke life of immense luxury. He custom built a 50,000-square-foot chateau-style mega mansion in Toronto’s ritzy Bridle Path neighbourhood; he hired late Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh to revamp his $185 million Boeing 767 jet; he recently sealed the deal for English pop star Robbie Williams’ Beverly Hills estate, with an $85 million asking price. (Tax records to not yet reflect a transfer of ownership, but the L.A. Times reported the big deal is expected to close north of $70 million.)

Now, with a palatial estate in the 90210 that’s worth more than many millionaires will earn in a lifetime, the “God’s Plan” artist has put the three properties that comprise his 6.7-acre, multi-residence Yolo Estate in L.A.’s famously celeb-packed Hidden Hills enclave up for sale.

The largest of the three homes, bought in 2012 for $7.7 million, is asking $14.8 million; a renovated ranch house, acquired in 2015 for $2.85 million, is listed at $2.9 million; a modest 1950s ranch house, bought in 2018 for $4.5 million, is listed at $4.5 million. The three contiguous properties can also be purchased together for $22.2 million, according to listings held by Rayni Williams and Branden Williams of The Beverly Hills Estates.

Drake purchased Yolo Estate’s main residence from businessman Larry Pollack, owner of the Saddle Ranch Chop House restaurant chain.

The 12,500-square-foot home features coffered and beamed ceilings, half a dozen fireplaces, seven bedrooms, and nine bathrooms. Unsurprisingly, there’s a sumptuously appointed state-of-the-art recording studio. Other highlights include a gigantic wine cellar and tasting room, and a 25-seat movie theatre.

Designed for large-scale entertaining, in Pollack’s day, the estate was well-known for its OTT parties- the lagoon-like swimming pool includes numerous cascading waterfalls, an 80-foot-long waterslide, and a spa grotto with swim-up bar and lounge area.

Numerous televisions displayed on the cave-like walls of the grotto, where a corkscrew staircase leads to an upper-level sunbathing terrace.

The estate also includes a tennis-basketball court, a sand volleyball court, a horse stabling block and riding arena, and access to the equestrian-oriented enclaves miles of horse trails. A holdover from Pollack’s days is the mechanical bull.

In 2015, Drake dropped $2.85 million to buy a neighbouring 1.6-acre property that’s now listed at $2.9 million. Promo materials show there are five bedrooms and six bathrooms between the 3,700-square-foot main house, 800-square-foot guesthouse and pool house.

With plenty of room to add equestrian facilities, the grassy backyard offers an oval-shaped heated swimming pool, a built-in barbecue, and a pizza oven.

Whatever Drake’s plans were for his Hidden Hills estate, the three properties were never fully combined into a single compound.

Real estate agents reportedly showed the property to over 30 guests, including Britney Spears and her fiancé Sam Asghari. Caitlyn Jenner also visited the house, but Spears is said to be interested in snapping up all three properties.