EXCL: Richard Simmons’ Estate Relists as $5.8 Million ‘Development Opportunity’

The 90-year-old estate where famed fitness guru Richard Simmons lived for four decades before his death is returning to the market with a new asking price—and a “highly strategic” sales strategy that sees the property touted as a “development opportunity” and a chance to “create a world-class” dwelling.

Simmons, who shot to fame in the 1970s after launching a career as a fitness expert and weight loss guru, died in July 2024, days after he celebrated his 76th birthday.

Less than a year later, the Hollywood Hills property that he had called home since the 1980s was put on the market, with an asking price of $7 million, although that was steadily lowered over the course of five months, before the home was delisted altogether in February of this year.

Now, the property is making a bold return to the market, listing for the much lower price of $5.79 million with Rachelle Rosten and Kelly deLaat of The Rachelle Rosten and Kelly deLaat Team at Douglas Elliman.

Having originally been touted as a chance to own Simmons’ former home, the dwelling is now being marketed as a one-of-a-kind development opportunity for a buyer who is seeking to create their own personal paradise perched above the iconic Sunset Strip.

“Originally celebrated for its connection to former owner Richard Simmons and the private sanctuary he created, the property is now being reintroduced as a compelling canvas for transformation,” Rosten explains to Realtor.com®.

“Set high above the Sunset Strip with sweeping panoramic views, this iconic estate presents a rare opportunity to reimagine and build something truly remarkable in one of Los Angeles’ most coveted enclaves.”

Described in its new listing as an “ideal canvas for a world-class estate,” the property is located in what deLaat and Rosten view as the perfect spot for a much larger and more modern mansion—one that can either be expanded out from the existing structure or created from scratch.

The existing home, which features four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, currently occupies only a small portion of the 0.56-acre parcel on which it sits, allowing ample opportunity for additional structures or for a much larger primary residence to be built.

“The gated, private parcel offers dramatic panoramic city views and sweeping vistas, with multiple usable tiers featuring generous flat pads, terraced gardens, and a dedicated pool level,” the description notes.

“This flexible topography creates an ideal canvas for new construction, guest structures, expansion, or a reimagined modern compound while capitalizing on the exceptional privacy and positioning.”

Addressing the pivot in the home’s marketing strategy, Rosten—who, along with deLaat has a great deal of experience in trust sales like this one—explains that the decision to offer the property up as a development opportunity came after a “careful reassessment of [its] full potential,” one that is not meant to eradicate Simmons’ legacy, but rather breathe new life into it.

“While the existing residence carries undeniable charm, character, and a joyful spirit that mirrors Simmons’ distinctive personality, the true value lies in the land itself,” she shares.

“With its generous scale, prime setting, and extraordinary vistas, the site invites a new vision where new construction can fully realize and elevate everything this exceptional property has to offer.”

Part of that evaluation involved coming up with a new asking price that accurately reflects the value that Rosten and deLaat see in the property—and its potential as the home of a much more extravagant abode.

deLaat explains that she and Rosten took into account that work that will need to be done in order to bring the home into the modern era, even factoring in “today’s elevated construction and material costs” in order to reach what they believe is a fair ask.

“Our valuation reflects a thorough analysis of comparable properties with similar views, many of which would require substantial renovation or complete redevelopment,” deLaat says.

“We also accounted for today’s elevated construction and material costs, along with the time and complexity involved in securing permits and approvals.

Without question the greatest draw of the property is its location, which sits on an elevated hilltop perch overlooking the Sunset Strip, mere minutes from some of Los Angeles’ most popular restaurants and venues.

“Perched just above Sunset Plaza and the world-famous Sunset Strip, it offers the unique advantage of privacy and elevation while still being within close proximity to premier shopping, dining, and nightlife,” Rosten says. “This blend of scale, views, and walkability is what truly sets the parcel apart.”

Yet despite its proximity to the hustle and bustle of the Strip, the property still maintains a feeling of privacy and security that is hard to find in such a prominent spot.

However, Rosten notes that the property’s celebrity history also gives it an added cachet—and helps to draw in a much wider crowd that might ordinarily be interested in this kind of listing, particularly because Simmons put such a personal stamp on the home while living there, filling it with unique decorative elements.

“The property’s celebrity provenance and distinctive design details will naturally generate significant interest,” she explains.

“Elements such as the staircase cherubs, vibrant patterned wallpaper, curved French patio doors, and the deeply personal, expressive touches throughout make the home both memorable and visually striking.”

When it comes to identifying the ideal buyer, Rosten and deLaat explain that they are not focusing on one specific pool of prospective parties—instead preferring to cast the “widest possible net” and draw in both those who are interested in the home’s storied history and those who view the parcel as just that: the perfect spot for a new development.

In other words, while they are not discounting the home’s enduring connection to its famous former owner, they are also not relying on that history as their sole means of finding a buyer.

“Our strategy for identifying the right buyer is to cast the widest possible net,” Rosten says. “While some may be drawn to preserving the existing home, the opportunity to redevelop the site into a premier trophy property with sweeping views is equally compelling.”

The new listing comes nearly two years after Simmons died at the property—having spent the last decade living a very reclusive lifestyle that saw him rarely leaving his residence.

Yet, he maintained a close connection with his fans through Facebook updates in which he would offer glimpses of his life—while also sharing inspirational messages.

The reason behind his disappearance became the source of intense media scrutiny, with a TMZ documentary, titled “What Really Happened to Richard Simmons,” claiming that his decision to step away from public life was the result of a longtime ailment that he had suffered since birth.

“Something that happened to him at birth is directly connected to his disappearance—a birth defect that significantly affected one of his legs,” TMZ editor Fabian Garcia claimed in the documentary, according to the New York Post.

“He was born without a full set of bones in his foot, and it causes physical and emotional problems.”

In 2024, before his death, Simmons addressed the speculation about his disappearance in a social media post, urging his fans to pay no attention to the rumors.

“Don’t believe everything you read. I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful,” he wrote.

According to property records, Simmons purchased the home in the 1980s, and it is understood to have served as his main residence until he died.

However, the dwelling, which was built in 1937, was transferred to a trust of which Lenny is the trustee, after Simmons’ death.