Kanye West, now known as Ye, unannounced his presence at a $295 million Malibu estate, reportedly occupying it for four days and setting up a temporary "office" by the pool. The incident, detailed in Jonathan Van Meter's new book "Citizen Kim," occurred at a 42,000-square-foot compound designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando.
According to the book, West arrived at the property, which was a "whisper listed" at $295 million, and gained entry by ringing the buzzer. When the owner hesitated, West invoked Elvis Presley, stating, "If Elvis Presley came to your door and rang your buzzer, would you let him in? This is that." He then proceeded to stay for four days, conducting meetings by the pool to experience the "vibe of working in an Ando."
The estate, built over 15 years by art collectors Maria and Bill Bell, was one of Ando's few residential designs in the United States. In September 2021, more than six months after Kim Kardashian filed for divorce, West purchased a different Tadao Ando-designed home on Malibu Road for $57.25 million. This smaller, 4,000-square-foot property was known as "the Little Ando," while the Bell estate was referred to as "the Big Ando."
West's own Ando-designed home, "the Little Ando," was later gutted by contractor Tony Saxon, who West hired to transform it into a "luxury, minimalist bomb shelter" or "bat cave." The interiors were stripped of electricity and plumbing, and finishes like marble bathrooms, windows, a hot tub, and a fireplace were removed, leaving the structure exposed. Saxon later sued West for $1.7 million, and a jury awarded him $140,000 in March.
West listed his gutted Malibu home for $53 million in December 2023. In 2024, it sold for $21 million to Steven “Bo” Belmont’s real-estate firm. Belmont's company listed the property again in 2025 for $39 million, but it faced foreclosure later that year.
Meanwhile, the larger "Big Ando" estate, which West had visited, was purchased by Jay-Z and Beyoncé in 2023 for $200 million, setting a then-California sales record.
West's former Malibu home remains in limbo, with at least two auction dates postponed in 2026. Artist Ryan Keeley has reportedly been using the dilapidated property as an oceanfront art studio. Belmont stated that his focus is on achieving the best outcome for his investors.