Kenya Barris, the creator of “Black-ish,” is looking to make a measured gain on one of Beverly Hills’ standout modern estates. The writer-producer has put his sleek Benedict Canyon mansion on the market for $20.8 million, just over three years after buying the property from DJ and producer Zedd for $18.4 million.
Should the home trade close to its asking price, Barris would see an increase of about $2.4 million over what he paid, before factoring in brokerage commissions, taxes, upkeep, carrying costs, and any upgrades made during his ownership. For followers of high-end Los Angeles real estate, the property may ring a bell: this Beverly Hills mansion has been on the radar for years.
Zedd’s $16 Million Beverly Hills Mansion
Zedd acquired the residence in 2018 for $16 million, after rising to global fame with hits including “Clarity” and “Stay.” Tucked behind gates at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Benedict Canyon, just below Mulholland Drive, the home was built in 2016 and offers approximately 11,000 square feet of living space across two levels. It sits on a sprawling 3.2-acre hillside parcel, unusually large for this pocket of Beverly Hills.
The Grammy-winning producer first attempted to sell the estate in 2021, when he listed it for $26.5 million. The market did not meet that lofty number, and after the property failed to secure a buyer, it returned in 2022 with a reduced asking price of $23 million.
Barris ultimately stepped in and purchased the home in early 2023 for $18.4 million. While Zedd fell well short of his initial $26.5 million target, the sale still gave him a $2.4 million bump over his original purchase price from five years earlier.
Inside The Mansion
With five bedrooms and nine bathrooms, the residence has the polished, production-ready feel of a home built for a music mogul, studio executive, or Hollywood dealmaker. Visitors approach along a dramatic walkway that stretches over a reflecting pool and leads to an oversized pivoting wood front door. Inside, the entry opens to an atrium centered on a water feature and a mature olive tree. A short descent reveals a vast open-plan great room lined with floor-to-ceiling glass, framing wide views over the canyons, mountains, and out toward the ocean.
The kitchen is built for serious entertaining, complete with two integrated Korean barbecue charcoal grills. A separate prep kitchen serves a formal dining room finished with brick walls and a warm wood-paneled ceiling. Elsewhere, the home includes a soundproof screening room with a 4K laser projector, a billiards room, a rooftop deck, and a series of indoor-outdoor spaces designed for large gatherings or relaxed canyon living.
The primary suite occupies an entire floor and features a fireplace, private balcony, dual walk-in closets, and a spa-style bathroom with a steam shower. On the lower level, four additional bedrooms open directly to the grounds, where an infinity-edge pool and spa overlook the canyon. The outdoor amenities continue with a kitchen and dining area, fire pit, broad lawn, and expansive views. A detached one-bedroom guesthouse and a four-car garage round out the Beverly Hills compound.
Kenya Barris’s Real Estate Portfolio
Barris isn’t exactly scrambling for a place to live if the Beverly Hills home sells. He still owns at least two other major Los Angeles-area properties. In 2017, he paid approximately $2.9 million for a home in Encino, and in 2021, he paid $7.25 million for a large residence in Toluca Lake.
So even after putting the $20.8 million Benedict Canyon estate on the market, Barris still has roughly $10 million worth of Los Angeles real estate based simply on the original purchase prices of those two properties. For someone who created “Black-ish,” helped develop “America’s Next Top Model,” signed a production deal with Netflix that was once valued at more than $100 million, and has written or produced films including “Girls Trip,” “Coming 2 America,” “You People,” and “White Men Can’t Jump,” it’s a fairly fitting portfolio.
Meanwhile, Zedd Upgraded
Zedd didn’t exactly downsize after selling this place to Barris. In 2021, while he still owned the Beverly Hills mansion, he paid $15.2 million for Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner’s Encino estate. Then, in 2023, he spent another $18.4 million on a massive Nordic-inspired Encino compound nicknamed “Odin.” That house spans roughly 18,000 square feet and includes amenities such as a bowling alley, movie theater, wellness center, guesthouse, and Junior Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Zedd subsequently listed his previous Encino mansion for $19 million, eventually selling it to Meghan Trainor for $17.1 million.
So this Beverly Hills mansion has already served as one stop in an increasingly expensive game of celebrity real estate musical chairs. Zedd paid $16 million, Kenya Barris paid Zedd $18.4 million, and now Barris wants just under $21 million.
We’ll see who moves in next.
