Austin Butler has bought Brad Pitt's Los Angeles residence for $5.2 million, three months after burglars targeted the home Pitt previously owned. The sale transfers The Steel House, a minimalist midcentury modern, 2,000-square-foot L-shaped property in Los Feliz, to the Elvis star. TMZ first reported the deal, which represents a sharp shift in ownership for a house that has drawn attention for its stark design and exposed setting.
Known as The Steel House, the property sits on a hillside with city views and is defined by floor-to-ceiling glass, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a built-in sauna and a swimming pool, all arranged in a streamlined footprint. Pitt had owned the house briefly after purchasing it from Aileen Getty, the Getty family heiress, in April 2023. The home’s listing materials note a prior connection to Dave Keuning, the guitarist from The Killers. Inside, the residence showcases terrazzo flooring, cantilevered eaves and exposed beam ceilings; the three bedrooms feature cobalt carpeting while the kitchen and primary suite use soft blue cabinetry. Outdoor amenities include a pool, a redwood hot tub and a standalone sauna.
Neighbors and locals had long expressed concerns about the home’s lack of fencing and its visibility from the street, arguing that the open design could invite unauthorized entry. In late June, while Pitt was in Tokyo, intruders breached the property through front windows and ransacked the house for nearly 10 minutes before fleeing with an undisclosed haul. The incident sparked a security reassessment among residents and highlighted the vulnerability some see in the hillside Los Feliz layout, where round‑the‑clock protection was not in place unless Pitt was in residence.
In the wake of the burglary, Pitt ramped up security and subsequently traded up to a fortified $12 million Spanish‑style estate in the Hollywood Hills, a purchase described by people familiar with the matter as a move to prioritize privacy and top-tier security. The new property includes a high-end system and layout designed for enhanced safety, reflecting Pitt’s aim to secure a residence with robust safeguards.
The Steel House was listed by Jonathan Mogharrabi and Marci Kays of Carolwood Estates, with Pitt having owned it for a relatively short period in the broader arc of his Los Angeles real estate holdings. The sale to Butler underscores ongoing demand for distinctive midcentury properties in Los Angeles, particularly those that offer striking architectural language and dramatic city views, even as owners rethink security and privacy in the wake of high-profile break-ins.
Separately, authorities arrested four suspects in August in connection with a separate attempted burglary in the area. Investigators reportedly connected the cases to Pitt’s burglary through forensic evidence, underscoring ongoing security concerns in the neighborhood as high-profile residents reassess risk and safeguard measures.
The Butler purchase adds a new chapter to the celebrity real estate narrative in Los Angeles, where iconic homes and distinctive designs continue to attract high bidder interest even amid heightened security scrutiny. As Pitt transitions to a security-forward residence and Butler adds a midcentury-modern anchor to his portfolio, the Los Feliz property market remains a focal point for fans and buyers alike, drawn by the area’s cinematic pedigree and architectural lineage.
In a separate note, Brad Pitt’s appearance at public events remains a counterpoint to the private security conversations surrounding his residences, including the Los Feliz property and the Hollywood Hills estate. The dynamic reflects broader conversations in Culture & Entertainment about how celebrities balance public interest, property value, and personal security in one of the nation’s most scrutinized real estate markets.
