Take a tour of the incredible ‘Scarface’ Mafia mansion

Step inside Tony Montana's infamous mansion

Step inside the opulent world of El Fureidis, a $40 million mansion steeped in Hollywood glamour. This palatial estate, once the backdrop for Al Pacino's iconic performance in Scarface, boasts a rich history that extends far beyond the silver screen. Set within 10 acres of sprawling gardens, the mansion is packed with beautifully maintained original features and has hosted luminaries like Albert Einstein and Charlie Chaplin.

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of this captivating estate?

All dollar amounts in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

El Fureidis: an iconic estate

The Mediterranean Revival-style estate, known as El Fureidis, dates back to 1906 and lies on an elevated 10-acre plot in the heart of Montecito, the California celebrity hotspot that Harry and Meghan, Oprah Winfrey, George Lucas and Brad Pitt have all called home.

The amazing home was last listed with Riskin Partners Estates Group for $39.9 million (£31.4m), before it was pulled from the market and offered up to rent instead – for a mere $69,300 (£54.6k) per month.

Striking exterior

The home's striking landscaped grounds only add to its grandeur. These images were captured in 1917 by photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston and show the property as it was before it gained notoriety.

A truly remarkable piece of local architecture, it has not only become celebrated for its design but also for its place in Hollywood history. In the early 1980s, film director Brian De Palma began searching for the perfect backdrop for his new gangster epic, Scarface...

Movie history

The movie told the story of fictional gangster Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino and based on real-life mobster Al Capone, so the house needed to exude wealth and sophistication.

Though the film was set in Miami, El Fureidis perfectly fit the bill and its exterior was used as the setting for some of the movie's most iconic scenes, including the film's famous denouement. Yet there's more to the estate than its use as the setting for one of the most popular movies of all time...

Little Paradise

The two-storey residence is undeniably eye-catching, thanks to its sleek stucco exterior, decorated with prominent columns and large symmetrical windows, and it has welcomed plenty of famous faces over the years, including Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy.

The residence was designed by notable American architect Bertram Goodhue, known for his work in the Gothic Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Goodhue's vision for El Fureidis, Spanish for 'Little Paradise' or 'Tropical Paradise', paired a classic Roman villa with Persian water gardens, so the house itself would seamlessly melt into its surroundings.

Movie magic

In this still of a famous scene from Scarface, we can see the historic home in the background. It's the perfect place to host a lavish wedding, although the grand affair did nothing to help Tony's marriage to Elvira, played by Michelle Pfeiffer – soon after their wedding, things start to go wrong.

High profile wedding

Tony and Elvira weren't the only couple to marry at El Fureidis. Charlie Chaplin and Oona O'Neill – the socialite daughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill – married on the impressive estate in June 1943. The controversial wedding caused shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond due to the couple's age gap – Chaplin was 54, while O'Neill just 18.

Luckily for the pair, their union was more successful than that of the fictional Scarface characters. Chaplin and O'Neill – pictured here in public for the first time after their wedding – had eight children together and remained married for 34 years, until Chaplin's death in 1977.

Made for a magnate

Standing proud at 9,375 square feet, the house was originally built for wealthy New Yorker James Waldron Gillespie who, according to Forbes, made his fortune in real estate.

Gillespie is said to have been drawn to Montecito because of its Mediterranean climate. The estate's leafy palms and tiled forecourt certainly make us think of the luxurious European palaces found dotted along the French Riviera.

Formal and intimate spaces

After Gillespie, the estate belonged to the renowned German author and Nobel prize-winner Thomas Mann. Although it's undergone numerous updates over the years, the home's original details remain very much intact.

This elegant living room boasts a gorgeous blue-panelled ceiling, which is said to represent the heavens and the neoclassical origins of the estate. Pretty roof windows and walls of French doors allow natural light to flood inside.

Seeking inspiration

While planning the property, Gillespie and Goodhue embarked on a year-long international trip, during which they found their inspiration. The trip is said to have included an epic 500-mile journey on horseback from the Caspian Sea to the Gulf of Persia.

Thanks to this odyssey, many of the rooms are decorated with neoclassical, European and even Middle Eastern elements — think tiled surfaces, statement ceilings, interior fountains and intricate mosaics.

Entirely unchanged

These stunning design details can be seen most spectacularly in the dining room. This image was captured in 1917 and shows the space in its original splendour.

As you can see, not a lot has changed in over 100 years due to each of the home's previous owners doing their utmost to protect and retain the property's period features.

Mesmerising details

The room's incredible barrelled ceiling, created by American artist Henry Wadsworth Moore, portrays Alexander the Great conquering Persepolis in 24-karat gold leaf. Even Moore's original signature remains intact.

However, the home has been updated to include custom Swarovski chandeliers and light fixtures, Belgian linen drapery, magnificent silk carpets and custom furniture that replicate originals found in Buckingham Palace, London.

Modern spaces

One of the home's more modern rooms is its chef's kitchen, with sleek marble counters, countless storage spaces, stainless steel appliances and an adjoining breakfast nook that overlooks the garden. The space was renovated in 2014, shortly before the house was placed on the market that year.

The pièce de résistance

Yet the property's pièce de résistance has to be this incredible Byzantine-style conversation room. With both Roman and Middle Eastern influences, the space was modelled after the church of St. John Lateran in Rome and is akin to a luxurious Moroccan courtyard, thanks to its central fountain, 18-foot domed ceiling and hand-painted walls that shimmer in shades of blue, terracotta and gold.

Awe-inspiring features

Up close, you can really take in the splendour of the room's design details. Gilded and hand-finished, the dome and walls of the room are truly awe-inspiring.

In other rooms, romantic Mediterranean-style carvings, statues and murals can be found. Highly traditional, some appear to date back as far as Roman times. There's even an original tiled mural in the entrance, depicting Gillespie, Goodhue, and their friends at one of the many parties held at El Fureidis.

Untouched spaces

This image from the early 1900s shows the room during Gillespie's day. We can almost hear the trickling of the water fountain and the soft buzz of conversation. Could this be the ultimate place for a spot of meditation?

Room for entertaining

Other notable spaces on the main level include this elegant sitting room. With its stylish lighting, beamed ceiling and French doors that open to an exterior patio, it would be the perfect place to read a book or host an intimate cocktail party.

Space for work and play

There's also a huge office, equipped with hardwood floors and a large European-style fireplace. Swing open those French doors and you could be sat at your desk while enjoying a gentle breeze — the ultimate spot for working from home!

Calming courtyard

Many of the ground-floor rooms open to this secluded courtyard, which sits at the heart of the house. Lined with palm trees, it's ideal for whiling away those balmy Californian evenings, or this tranquil spot would also be perfect for a relaxed party.

Masterful master suite

Back inside, the home's second floor benefits from four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The master suite overlooks the water gardens outside and it comes complete with dual closets and a seriously lavish bathroom...

Property appreciation

The current owner is thought to be Houston-based businessman Pradeep Yohanne Gupta, who's the CEO of private investment bank IQ Holdings.

According to Mansion Global, Gupta purchased the property in 2015 for just under $12.3 million (£9.7m), which means he would have made one seriously big profit if he had managed to sell the home for the full $39.9 million (£31.4m) he'd hoped for. How's that for property appreciation?

Major overhaul

Gupta was incredibly lucky when he snapped up the house. According to Business Insider, it had languished on the market for a year, with an asking price of $35 million (£27.6m). In May 2015, the price was cut in half, to $17.8 million (£14m).

Originally built of steel-reinforced concrete, the home has since undergone an extensive and sensitive historic restoration, resulting in the incredible home we see today.

Botanical brilliance

The estate's grounds cover more than 10 acres and include a remarkable range of specimen trees, effusing grandeur and a romantic sense of time and place. Amazingly, the home's layered gardens predate the residence by over a decade.

While planning and designing the home, Gillespie sourced unique botanical specimens and filled the grounds with over 100 different types of trees, several of which still stand today. These include Chilean wine palms, magnificent king palms, citrus and walnut orchards and Montecito’s largest Moreton Bay fig tree.

Tropical paradise

Of course, the home's four rectangular reflecting pools are the undisputed stars of the grounds.

Other notable features include the nine bas-reliefs that decorate the outdoor space. These were created by Lee Lawrie, one of America's most influential sculptors, best known for the sculpture of Atlas at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Timeless beauty

As well as plenty of greenery, the billionaire backyard is also home to idyllic walking paths, formal gardens, pools and terraces. Sculptural pieces depict scenes from Arthurian legends and add a sense of grandeur to the already remarkable gardens.

Bang for your buck

The grounds surrounding the grand home also contain a stand-alone carriage house. Spanning 2,172 square feet, the three-bedroom property offers its own living room, kitchen, office and two bathrooms, making it an ideal holiday home or in-laws suite.

Beauty and scale

This wide shot really highlights the beauty and scale of the estate — and its amazing lush landscape seems to enclose the property.

The house is located less than two miles away from the ocean and is surrounded by the Santa Ynez Mountains, allowing for far-reaching views all the way to the Channel Islands.

Putting a price on history

The house is also less than two hours away from central Los Angeles, making it the ideal remote retreat for a celebrity or business mogul in search of total seclusion. Who knows when it will come back on to the market – and for how much – but you can't put a price on cinematic history, can you?