A Beverly Hills estate long marked by a notorious criminal history has been listed for sale at $45 million. The property, located on Cielo Drive, sits on the site where actress Sharon Tate and four others were murdered in 1969 by members of the Charles Manson “family.” Despite extensive renovations and expansions, the home’s tragic past continues to define its legacy.
Jeff Franklin, the television producer known for creating “Full House,” acquired the property in January 2000 for $6.4 million. Over the years, he has sought to sell or rent the estate but has faced challenges, including a previous rental asking price of $247,500 per month that did not attract tenants. Franklin now resides in Miami and has placed the 3.6-acre hillside estate on the market with a listing agent team from the Resident Group.
The current mansion, dramatically upgraded from the original 1941 farmhouse structure, spans approximately 21,000 square feet. It features nine bedrooms, 12 full bathrooms, and four half baths. The grand foyer opens to ceilings soaring 40 feet high, with a winding staircase beneath a dome ceiling and fountain. The master suite occupies its own wing, complete with spacious dressing rooms, private terraces, multiple fireplaces, and spa-style bathrooms with an infrared sauna. Additional amenities include a beauty salon, arcade room with video games, and a photo booth.
The extensive grounds have been transformed into a resort-style environment. Highlights include a 225-foot lagoon-style infinity pool with three cascading waterfalls, a private river with a current for floating, and a 35-foot water slide that ends in a grotto filled with giant koi fish. These leisure features contrast starkly with the property’s dark historical significance, as Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and four others were killed there by Manson’s followers in August 1969.
At the time of the murders, Hollywood talent manager Rudolph Altobelli was renting the home to Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski. The couple had lived there for fewer than six months, paying the equivalent of about $11,000 monthly in today’s dollars.
The home has also been tied to other figures in entertainment. Musician Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails once rented the original house and built a recording studio on-site. The goth shock rocker Marilyn Manson—who adopted his stage name by combining those of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson—recorded there and appeared in a Nine Inch Nails music video filmed at the property.
Before its association with tragedy, the mansion hosted several Hollywood legends. Actress Lillian Gish rented it in the early days, while film star Henry Fonda used it as a retreat from fame. Baron Philippe de Rothschild and actor Cary Grant, who honeymooned there after marrying actress Diane Cannon, were also among its notable tenants.
The current listing aims to attract buyers interested in the exclusivity and luxury of the estate, which blends historical Hollywood allure with modern extravagance, despite the indelible mark left by past events.