Some homes tell the story of their owners. Others become part of their legacy.
The latter is certainly true of Château de Liberté, the longtime Beverly Hills residence of philanthropist Glorya Kaufman, whose extraordinary contributions transformed the cultural landscape of Los Angeles for more than four decades.
Now, less than a year after Kaufman’s passing at the age of 95, her beloved estate has come to market for $25 million, with proceeds from the sale set to benefit the Glorya Kaufman Foundation, ensuring her charitable work continues for years to come.
Listed with Rachelle Rosten and Kelly deLaat of Douglas Elliman, the estate occupies a secluded 37,455-square-foot parcel on prestigious Laurel Way, where a long gated driveway leads to a graceful single-story Tuscan villa overlooking sparkling city lights.
For many Angelenos, Kaufman’s name is synonymous with the arts.
Glorya Kaufman, philanthropist synonymous with dance in L.A., dies at 95 https://t.co/N8N16LcoLJ pic.twitter.com/Cp2CCZWLgQ
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 7, 2025
Her philanthropy reshaped institutions across Southern California.
She made a landmark $25 million gift to establish the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance — the largest donation in the university’s history at the time — and later gave another $20 million to The Music Center, launching the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance series that brought celebrated companies including Alvin Ailey and Juilliard to Los Angeles.
Her generosity also reached UCLA, MOCA, LACMA, the Geffen Playhouse, Inner-City Arts, the Venice Family Clinic, and numerous other organizations, while the Glorya Kaufman Foundation, established in 2008, became one of the city’s most influential philanthropic forces.
Her home reflected that same sense of purpose.
After the sudden death of her husband, Donald Bruce Kaufman (co-founder of Kaufman & Broad, now known as KB Home) in 1983, Glorya embarked on a new chapter.
She sold the family’s longtime ranch and commissioned this Beverly Hills residence, giving it a deeply personal name: Château de Liberté, or “Castle of Freedom.”
It was a fitting tribute to the independence and determination that defined the decades that followed, during which she became one of America’s foremost champions of dance, education, healthcare, and the arts.
Completed in 1989, the approximately 5,900-square-foot residence was designed for both elegant entertaining and comfortable daily living.
A dramatic formal living room with soaring ceilings, oversized skylights, a bar, and French doors opens directly onto lush gardens.
Meanwhile, Venetian plaster walls, limestone floors, elegant chandeliers, and seven fireplaces lend the home an unmistakably European character.
The chef’s kitchen is complemented by both formal and informal dining rooms, an intimate sitting room, and a richly paneled study, while the primary suite includes expansive custom closets and dual bathrooms designed as private retreats.
A detached guest house, resort-style pool and spa, covered loggia with fireplace, and beautifully landscaped pathways complete the estate’s serene atmosphere.
В отличие от many trophy properties that chase trends, Château de Liberté feels timeless.
Its proportions are graceful rather than overwhelming, and its architecture speaks to enduring craftsmanship instead of fleeting fashion.
It’s easy to imagine the home hosting intimate dinners, philanthropic gatherings, and conversations that helped shape many of the cultural institutions Kaufman so passionately supported.
“This is more than a real estate transaction,” says Kelly deLaat of Douglas Elliman. “It is the opportunity to become the next steward of a truly elegant home.
“Glorya Kaufman lived a life full of philanthropy, purpose, and extraordinary intention, and every detail of this classic residence reflects that.
“Properties of this provenance and caliber rarely come to market, and we anticipate exceptional buyer response.”
Her co-listing agent, Rachelle Rosten, believes the property’s appeal extends well beyond its архитектура.
“The buyers drawn to a home like this are not simply purchasing square footage,” она сказала. “They are acquiring a trophy address.
“Beverly Hills continues to command the attention of the world’s most sophisticated buyers. When they compare Beverly Hills to London, Monaco, or Manhattan, they quickly realize this is the rare world-class market where prestige and value still coexist, offering a true private estate experience with land, scale, and lifestyle that those markets simply cannot match.”
The listing also arrives at a particularly interesting moment for Beverly Hills.
As an independent city, it remains exempt from Los Angeles’ Measure ULA transfer tax, a distinction that has further strengthened its appeal among ultra-high-net-worth buyers.
At the same time, major liquidity events — including the recent SpaceX IPO — are expected to inject fresh capital into Southern California’s luxury housing market, with prestigious Beverly Hills estates likely to remain among its most sought-after assets.
For the eventual buyer, however, the greatest value may not be found in the address alone.
Château de Liberté offers the rare chance to become the next caretaker of a home whose walls have quietly witnessed decades of generosity, vision, and cultural impact.
And fittingly, its next chapter will help fund many more.
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