Growing up on a steady diet of Turner Classic Movies, I thought Cary Grant was the definition of suave. Whether he was dodging bad guys in North by Northwest or bantering with Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby, Grant always seemed to command the screen with effortless charm. So when I learned his former Beverly Hills estate had just hit the market — completely reimagined, but still resting on the bones of old Hollywood — it felt like one of those rare moments when silver-screen nostalgia collides with real-world real estate.
Now listed for $77.5 million, the nearly 3-acre property is in the heart of Beverly Hills. While the original residence served as Grant’s primary home from 1946 until his death in 1986, the estate has since undergone a full architectural transformation, replacing mid-century bones with sleek, contemporary lines and panoramic views.
A star’s private sanctuary
Cary Grant purchased the original home shortly after World War II for just $46,000 — a modest sum by today’s standards, but a bold move even for a movie star in the 1940s. He shared the home with several partners over the years, including actress Betsy Drake and later Barbara Harris, now Jaynes, who became his fifth and final wife.
The estate, located at 9966 Beverly Grove Drive, offered Grant a quiet respite from Hollywood’s fast pace. Tucked behind gates and wrapped in hedges, the house was unassuming from the street but expansive within — a reflection of Grant himself: controlled, private and quietly commanding.
In his daughter, Jennifer Grant’s book The Good Stuff she writes “The first time I remember seeing my father, and the last time I actually did see him, was at 9966. One of my father’s priorities was providing me with a sense of permanence and stability.”
The house Grant chose for his family wasn’t a sprawling estate, but a graceful, farm-style home set atop a hill. He believed that one’s surroundings reflected the state of one’s mind — or perhaps helped shape it. A clean, orderly space, he often said, made room for clarity of thought. That principle left a lasting impression on his daughter. Even during the stress of college exams, she couldn’t begin studying until her apartment was spotless — a habit, she says, that traces directly back to 9966.
Grant had little interest in ostentatious displays. The home was beautiful, but never grandiose. “What did we need with a mansion?” she reflects. The family’s gatherings were intimate by design. Meals were shared around a sleek, modern oval table that seated no more than fourteen — just enough for everyone to be seen, heard and truly present. “Dad was so proud. I understand why. Our home had love, warmth and personal care. It was overflowing,” she wrote.
A new chapter, a new design
After Grant’s death, Jaynes, who inherited the property, remained closely tied to it. In 2001, she married David Jaynes, a former football star turned real estate investor. Together, they made a pivotal decision: to completely demolish the original structure and rebuild from the ground up. Grant, Jaynes recalls, had once remarked, “I should have knocked the whole thing down.”
Completed in 2022, the new home spans approximately 15,700 square feet and features six bedrooms, 13 bathrooms and uninterrupted views stretching from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean. The couple worked closely with architect William Hefner and interior designer Trip Haenisch to craft a space that feels both grounded and ethereal — where white oak floors, creamy limestone and walls of glass create a tranquil, gallery-like atmosphere.
Designed for privacy, built for entertaining
Despite its museum-worthy aesthetic, the home is far from cold. It was designed to live in, as Grant would have wanted. A large great room opens onto a sweeping terrace, while a chef’s kitchen with dual islands flows effortlessly into the dining and lounge spaces. The primary suite features dual bathrooms and closets, with a private terrace that feels like a retreat all its own.
Below, a wellness level includes a gym, screening room, spa and temperature-controlled wine cellar. Outdoors, the estate boasts a 52-foot pool, a full-size tennis court and meticulously landscaped gardens that include over 100 trees and 500 shrubs — many in a soft white and cream palette chosen for their understated elegance.
Where history meets market heat
The home is listed with Aaron Kirman of Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California, along with Hilton & Hyland’s Denise Moreno and Gordon MacGeachy. Though ultra-luxury real estate has softened in some markets, Kirman says this kind of legacy property — with pedigree, land and design — is still in high demand. Comparable Beverly Hills listings this year have topped $90 million, signaling continued appetite for trophy estates. For Jaynes, now in her mid-70s, the decision to sell is simply about life stage. “It’s time to downsize,” she told The Wall Street Journal.
While nothing original from Grant’s home remains in the physical footprint, his presence lingers in the land — and perhaps, in the home’s blend of refinement and restraint. In a town known for over-the-top excess, this estate does something rarer: it whispers rather than shouts, much like Grant himself. For fans of classic Hollywood or contemporary architecture — or ideally, both — this listing is a plot 80 years in the making, with one final plot twist ready for a new leading role.
