Bay Area Billionaire Swiftly Finds a Buyer for Historic ‘Temple of Wings’ Home

Half a world and thousands of years away from ancient Greece and Rome, this Greco-Roman-style villa in Berkeley, California, complete with Corinthian columns and classical architecture, has found a buyer after less than two weeks on the market.

The unusual property is being sold by billionaire Gordon Getty—the 90-year-old son of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. It hit the market at the end of August for $5 million, and was pending sale as of Thursday, listing records show.

MORE: Bezos Earth Fund Establishes Sustainable Protein Center in Singapore

The identity of the buyer and the final sale price could not be determined and won’t be in public records until the deal closes.

Designed in 1911 by the architect Bernard Maybeck—and remodeled after it was partially destroyed by fire in 1923—the home is known as the Temple of Wings, and was acquired by Getty and his late wife, Ann, in 1994 for $950,000, records with PropertyShark show.

A designated Berkeley landmark, the house is a “one-of-a-kind architectural masterpiece,” according to the listing with Adrienne Krumins and Anian Tunney of the Grubb Co. and Joel Goodrich of Coldwell Banker Realty. Krumins and Tunney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, and Goodrich wasn’t immediately available.

MORE: Wealthy Expats in Europe Are Chasing More Than Tax Benefits—Security and Privacy Rank Even Higher

The Gettys did a major restoration during their tenure, which included installing interior stairways and restoring much of the stone and woodwork. The home served as an oasis for the couple, particularly for Ann—who died at the age of 79 in 2020—according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news of the home hitting the market.

The three-bedroom house spans roughly 4,000 square feet and is split into two wings, which boast features including an open-plan living, dining and entertaining space, a contemporary kitchen, stately fireplaces, a primary bedroom with three balconies, and lush grounds.

This story originally appeared in Mansion Global.