Nasty Gal Founder Sophia Amoruso Lists Chic 1950s LA Home for $9.2 Million
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a true piece of Hollywood history, Sophia Amoruso just listed one. The Nasty Gal founder has put her mid-century home in the Hollywood Hills on the market — and it’s not just another designer flip. This is a 1950s architectural gem, restored with purpose, sitting on nearly an acre of rare, flat LA land. The asking price? $9.2 million.
Now, I know listings like this pop up often in Los Angeles, but Amoruso’s home has something most don’t: a story. From its original owner — a Hollywood makeup legend — to the thoughtful renovation led by architect Barbara Bestor, this isn’t just about square footage or luxury finishes. It’s about legacy, taste, and how a house can reflect an entire personal journey.
Whether you follow Amoruso’s career, love mid-century design, or just keep tabs on LA’s wild real estate market, this listing hits all the right notes. But beyond the headlines, there’s a deeper story worth unpacking — and that’s what we’ll explore here.
Would you ever live in a home with this kind of Hollywood legacy? Let’s talk in the comments.
Fast Facts About the $9.2 Million Hollywood Hills Home
Let’s break this down. According to Mansion Global, Amoruso’s home is located in the Hollywood Hills, perched on a flat promontory — which is rare in LA. The entire property spans nearly an acre, something you and I both know adds serious value, especially in a city where land is everything.
Inside, the house offers 3,100 square feet of single-level living space. It includes three bedrooms, four bathrooms, an open-concept kitchen, and sweeping indoor-outdoor flow. You’ve got floor-to-ceiling glass, sliding doors, and light-filled rooms that spill into private patios. There’s even a saltwater pool, infrared sauna, two-car garage, and views stretching from downtown LA to the Pacific.
If you’re like me, the minute you hear “Hollywood Hills + mid-century + flat lot,” you’re already intrigued. This isn’t a flashy mansion with oversized chandeliers. It’s understated luxury — the kind that ages well.
Sophia Amoruso’s Journey from Nasty Gal to Now
You probably know Sophia Amoruso from the rise of Nasty Gal — or maybe from the Netflix show Girlboss. But here’s what matters in this context: she didn’t just stumble into this home with influencer money. She built an empire, lost it, and then rebuilt herself again — all before turning 40.
She started Nasty Gal on eBay back in 2006, selling vintage clothes from her bedroom. By 2012, the company was doing $100 million a year in sales. That same year, she bought this house for $2.775 million. She was on Forbes’ list of richest self-made women, and her book #GIRLBOSS became a bestseller.
But Nasty Gal filed for bankruptcy in 2016. Sophia could’ve disappeared. Instead, she pivoted. Now she runs Trust Fund, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage founders. The sale of this home isn’t just a real estate move — it’s a closing chapter in a city that shaped her.
If you’ve ever been through a massive career shift or life pivot, you know what it means to leave a home that’s part of your evolution. This isn’t just a transaction. It’s a release.
The Historic Legacy Behind This Mid-Century LA Home
This part blew me away. The house was originally built for Maurice Seiderman, a Hollywood makeup artist most famous for aging Orson Welles in Citizen Kane. His work spanned decades, from the 1930s through the ’60s — including films like Jane Eyre and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
And it gets deeper. Seiderman hired Clyde Grimes to design the house. You may not know his name, but you should. Grimes wasn’t just an architect — he was also one of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Later, he became the first Black Deputy State Architect of California under Governor Jerry Brown.
So when you walk through this home, you’re not just stepping into some trendy listing. You’re walking into a legacy built by two men who carved their place in American history. And honestly, how many homes on Zillow can say that?
Inside the Restoration: Design Meets Authenticity
When Sophia bought the house, it hadn’t been touched since the 1950s. Most people would’ve torn it down or stripped it for resale. But she didn’t. She brought in Barbara Bestor and Commune Design, two heavyweights in LA architecture and interiors, to reimagine it — without losing its soul.
The result? A clean, minimal, modern refresh that still feels timeless. The kitchen was expanded to create an open-plan layout. The flooring is tiled, but not cold. There’s a mirrored fireplace mantel that somehow doesn’t feel dated. The cabinetry is light wood, soft and neutral — a nod to its roots.
You and I have both seen mid-century homes ruined by sterile renovations. This isn’t one of them. This is what it looks like when someone actually respects the original architecture but still lives in the real world.
If you’re into homes with rich personal stories, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s Manhattan apartment also made headlines recently — selling for more than its asking price.
The Ultimate LA Lifestyle: Views, Privacy & Outdoor Living
This is the section that makes you exhale. Because let’s be honest — anyone buying in the Hollywood Hills isn’t just paying for bedrooms and flooring. They’re paying for lifestyle, and this home delivers.
You’re bordered by Griffith Park, so there’s that feeling of space — rare in LA. The views stretch from downtown to the Pacific, and the house is designed to frame them. Floor-to-ceiling windows pull light in all day. Sliding glass doors open out to patios that feel like private escapes.
There’s a saltwater pool, an al fresco dining area with a retractable awning, and enough greenery to forget you’re even in a city. It’s not overdone. It’s not trying too hard. It’s just peaceful, clean, and quietly luxurious.
If you’ve ever looked around your apartment and thought, “I need more sky,” this is the kind of place you imagine escaping to.
In fact, a few real estate WhatsApp groups have already picked up on this listing — the kind where people quietly track unique LA homes that blend privacy and soul. It’s that type of buzzworthy architecture that stays in conversations long after the sale.
From Fixer to Dream Estate: The $2.7M to $9.2M Transformation
Let’s talk numbers. Sophia bought the house back in 2012 for $2.775 million. A few months later, she grabbed the adjacent lot for $1.15 million, giving her nearly a full acre — something you and I both know is almost unheard of in the Hollywood Hills.
But here’s where it gets interesting: she didn’t just sit on it. She poured in time, design, and taste — not just cash — to shape this into something rare. A fully restored mid-century property with historical weight, design credibility, and nearly panoramic views.
So yeah, the current $9.2 million asking price might seem steep on paper. But when you look at the lot, the design team, the neighborhood, and the story? It tracks. Especially in a market where new builds with zero soul are going for even more.
This wasn’t a flip. This was a long play. And it shows.
What Sets This Listing Apart in LA’s Competitive Market?
If you’ve browsed high-end LA real estate, you’ve seen how saturated it can get. Modern boxes, cold finishes, and rooftop decks with no context. But this house? It doesn’t follow the trend — it sets its own tone.
First, it’s on a flat promontory — extremely rare in the Hills. That means more usable land, more privacy, and more flexibility. You’re not dealing with steep driveways or cliff-side decks. You’re living on actual ground.
Second, it’s got a clear identity. Mid-century homes in LA are everywhere, but very few stay true to their era while being updated for how you actually live. This one does.
Third, it has soul. You can feel it in the textures, the layout, the calmness. This home doesn’t scream — it speaks. And in a city that’s often loud and showy, that’s a rare luxury.
Interestingly, Tom Petty’s Malibu estate recently returned to market too — proving that music legends and design-rich properties still draw strong attention.
Why Sophia Amoruso Might Be Moving On?
There’s a more personal layer to this sale — and if you’ve ever built something during a defining moment in your life, you’ll get it.
Sophia has been open about how much LA meant to her. In her Substack post, she wrote: “The city that gave me legs.” She’s also mentioned on Instagram that she left LA nearly four years ago. So while this house was once her sanctuary, it hasn’t been her day-to-day for a while now.
Selling it now feels like closing a chapter — one filled with success, loss, reinvention, and rebuilding. And if you’ve ever outgrown a home — not because you stopped loving it, but because you became someone new — you’ll understand exactly why she’s letting it go.
It’s not just a real estate move. It’s a release.
It’s a similar energy to Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo’s Montecito listing, which blends design-forward living with quiet scale.
Who Might Buy This Home? A Look at the Likely Buyer
So let’s play a game — who do you think this home was made for?
If you ask me, the ideal buyer isn’t someone chasing clout. It’s someone creative. Someone who wants peace without leaving the city. Maybe a founder, maybe a filmmaker. Someone who gets the value of clean lines, natural light, and quiet privacy.
They’ll want design that doesn’t date. Views that don’t get old. And a story behind their walls that’s worth telling at dinner parties. This home isn’t flashy. It’s intentional. And that’s what makes it powerful.
If you’ve ever imagined living somewhere that feels like a reflection of where you are in life — this is that kind of place.
Final Thoughts
Some homes are just about location. Others are about luxury. But once in a while, you come across a place that feels like a time capsule — where history, design, and personal growth all collide.
Sophia Amoruso’s Hollywood Hills home isn’t just a listing. It’s a reflection of a life lived boldly, built during a time of immense transformation — both for her and the world around her.
If you had the chance to own a home with this kind of soul, would you take it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Love stories like these? Dive deeper into more iconic homes and celebrity properties in our Real Estate & Homeownership collection.
Disclaimer: Property details, pricing, and transaction history are accurate as per the public real estate records at the time of writing. Any personal insights or opinions expressed are for editorial purposes only. Final sale prices, timelines, and ownership may vary.
