Brad Pitt’s Supernatural Real Estate Deal: Why the Actor Bought a ‘Haunted’ LA Mansion

Most home buyers are deterred by a history of unexplained noises or spectral sightings, but Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt has never been one to follow the conventional path. Back in 1994, the F1 star set his sights on a stunning Los Angeles property that came with a chilling reputation—and rather than running in the other direction, he found the prospect of paranormal activity to be a major selling point.

The mansion was sold to Pitt by Cassandra Peterson, the actress and performer iconic for her role as “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.” Long before Pitt moved in, Peterson and her then-husband, musician Mark Pierson, lived in the sprawling 29-room estate, where they claimed to be plagued by persistent supernatural occurrences.

A History of Unexplained Encounters

In a past interview with PEOPLE, Peterson candidly detailed the strange phenomena she experienced at the property. She described seeing apparitions frequently: “I’ve seen people walking around upstairs, real people just walking. One time, someone was sitting downstairs in front of the fireplace, and another time, someone walked into my bedroom and back out.”

The haunting escalated to the point that Peterson even reported seeing a figure “floating around at the bottom of the pool.” Despite the absurdity of the claims, Peterson insisted she was neither hallucinating nor under the influence. The activity became so unsettling that the couple eventually brought in a priest to perform an exorcism to cleanse the home.

Why Brad Pitt Didn’t Run

When Peterson sat down with Pitt to finalize the sale, she felt a moral obligation to disclose the mansion’s spooky history. To her surprise, the actor was not scared; in fact, he was fascinated.

“We were warning him that a lot of weird things had been going on in the house since we moved in,” Peterson recalled. “And he was very excited about that. He thought that was really cool.”

Pitt, known for his deep passion for architecture and design, was captivated by the estate’s exquisite features, such as its solid mahogany wall panels and rare copper ceilings. While others might have been frightened away by the prospect of invisible roommates, Pitt recognized the historical and architectural significance of the home. He viewed the property as a masterpiece, even if it came with a few “supernatural squatters.”

Decades Later: A Multi-Million Dollar Sale

Pitt purchased the residence in 1994 for $1.7 million. Over the next three decades, he poured his time and resources into the estate, overseeing extensive renovations and expanding the property’s footprint across its 1.9-acre lot.

After nearly 30 years of ownership, the actor finally parted ways with the home in 2023. The property, which had become a landmark in its own right, was sold in an off-market deal for $39 million.

The sale marked the end of an era for the actor, who transformed the site into a personal sanctuary. For those wondering about the fate of the ghosts, their status remains unknown—but it is clear that for Brad Pitt, owning this haunted house was an experience as unique as his film career.