Carson's Bel Air Palace Seeks $40M Buyer, With All Proceeds to Charity

The gated 1.5-acre Bel Air compound at 400 St. Cloud Road, listed by Compass agents David Kramer and Andrew Buss, sits in Old Bel Air, an exclusive East Gate enclave of pre-World War II estates. The six-bedroom, 11-bathroom mansion originally was built for Mervyn LeRoy, the legendary producer of The Wizard of Oz. When Carson relocated his Tonight Show production from New York to Burbank in the early 1970s, he purchased the property as a convenient residential anchor in Los Angeles. Carson lived at the estate with his third wife, Joanna, until their 1985 separation. The couple eventually divorced, with Joanna retaining ownership of the home. She remained there until her death in 2015, according to property records and real estate sources. Following her passing, the family has now brought the property to market. The mansion reflects Carson's lifestyle and interests, particularly his passion for tennis. The championship-grade lighted tennis court features a pavilion with a covered seating area, powder room, and kitchenette—an amenity the Tonight Show host personally ensured would be an ace. The sprawling grounds also include an oval-shaped swimming pool with adjacent cabana, spa facilities, a tiered fountain, and a large motor court suitable for entertaining. Inside the 9,052-square-foot main residence, the floor plan includes a grand foyer opening to a great room with wet bar, formal dining areas, and a basement wine cellar with substantial storage space. A detached two-story guest villa—which once served as Carson's office—now houses a fitness room on the lower level. Two spacious garages and gated security infrastructure complete the private compound. The sale carries charitable significance: proceeds will be divided among Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the David Geffen Foundation, and Share, according to luxury real estate reports. This transaction follows the 2025 listing of Carson's Malibu clifftop mansion for $110 million, underscoring the continued market appetite for iconic entertainment industry properties. The Bel Air estate represents a rare opportunity to acquire a piece of late-night television history during a period when luxury real estate transactions remain closely watched by collectors and institutional buyers.