Johnny Carson’s former Malibu home is on the market for $110 million, listed by venture capitalist Riaz Valani and Augusta Tigrett, according to the Wall Street Journal. The cliffside Point Dume estate sits on about four acres and offers roughly 327 feet of ocean frontage, among the largest parcels in the neighborhood. Carson purchased the property in the 1980s, roughly a decade before his retirement from late-night television, and died in 2005. The sale marks a rare opportunity to acquire a landmark of celebrity-era coastal California living.
The triangle-shaped main residence, built around 1980 by modernist architect Edward R. Niles, centers on a dramatic indoor arboretum capped by a 30-foot glass ceiling that feeds a network of planter beds and mature trees. The entry level also includes a triangular dining room, a large kitchen and a glass-walled office, with a copper fireplace forming a conversation pit nearby. The three-story home contains two bedrooms, with the primary bedroom occupying its own floor, providing a secluded upstairs domain as well as expansive coastline views. A decked-out entry reads as a pavilion of glass and wood that blends with the garden-like grounds.
The 4-acre property extends well beyond the main house. Its grounds feature spa-like outdoor pools, a waterfall koi pond and multiple aquatic amenities, plus a security office with a kitchenette tucked into the grounds. The estate’s most talked-about feature is a tennis pavilion measuring about 2,751 square feet; the pavilion includes two bedrooms, a court-side deck for dining and a spa-style locker room. The venue is widely noted as a gift from NBC to Carson when he was a tennis enthusiast, a detail repeatedly highlighted by listing agents.
The tennis pavilion and expansive outdoor spaces sit adjacent to the main bluff, a characteristic that property records indicate would be harder to replicate today due to stricter permitting and development constraints along Malibu’s coastline. The property’s layout emphasizes a connection to the ocean while preserving a private, cliffside ambiance that has long drawn high-end buyers.
Ownership history and current listing strategy are central to the sale. Valani and Tigrett bought Carson’s former home in 2019 for $40 million, acquiring the four parcels as an investment and for entertaining. The pair have said they are selling to focus on other ventures in Northern California, a move the Journal described as part of a broader real estate strategy rather than a retreat from luxury market demand. The property’s previous owner, Sidney Kimmel, bought it in 2007 for $46 million and attempted a sale above $80 million in 2017 before ultimately accepting the $40 million offer from Valani and Tigrett.
The listing underscores Malibu’s enduring appeal for trophy properties. While the asking price reflects today’s market dynamics, the estate’s combination of an indoor arboretum, a historic guest list, and a cliffside vantage point above Little Dume Beach reinforces why Point Dume remains a magnet for buyers seeking a unique blend of celebrity lore and coastal privacy. The 1980s main home sits notably closer to the bluff than many newer Malibu parcels would permit, a nod to a less regulated era of coastal development that remains a talking point among buyers and agents.
The Sky-View property, with its indoor arboretum and NBC-era tennis pavilion, continues to draw attention from luxury buyers who want a dramatic, story-rich residence with modernist design, privacy and a direct line to the Pacific. As the market for ultra-high-end coastal estates remains robust, Carson’s Malibu home stands as a benchmark for the era when celebrity residences set a standard for architectural drama and waterfront positioning.