Insights

In early 2024, Elon Musk reclaimed ownership of a notable property in Bel-Air, the former home of Gene Wilder, which he had initially sold to Wilder's nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, in 2020. Walker-Pearlman and his wife Elizabeth Hunter had received a loan of $6.7 million from Musk to purchase the home. However, financial challenges stemming from the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes in 2023 led Walker-Pearlman to default on the loan payments, prompting Musk to initiate foreclosure proceedings. In July 2024, these proceedings commenced and a public auction was set for December of the same year amidst efforts by Walker-Pearlman to sell the property himself, which ultimately did not yield any buyers. Despite reducing the home’s listing price from $12.95 million to $9.5 million, the couple was unable to secure a sale, leading to Musk's foreclosure situation. The property was eventually purchased through a limited liability company owned by Musk for $7.5 million in January 2025, as confirmed by Realtor.com. Walker-Pearlman had lived in the home previously as a child and returned to the property with Hunter after Wilder’s death in 2016. During their residence, they undertook renovations to restore many aspects of its original design. Even though the foreclosure was a challenging experience, Walker-Pearlman expressed no resentment towards Musk, displaying a sense of understanding about the situation and recognizing the opportunity it provided him to create a film. The daily realities of living within a home laden with childhood memories added a unique emotional layer to their time there.