Real estate agent Mauricio Umansky says he encountered strange incidents while selling the Holmby Hills mansion where Michael Jackson died—and that he appealed to Jackson’s spirit before the house sold. That is Umansky’s account, reported by TMZ in 2023, not verified evidence that a ghost existed or influenced the sale. The property sold in 2012 for a reported $18.1 million.
What Umansky says happened at the mansion
TMZ reported on April 17, 2023, that Umansky recounted the story in his book, The Dealmaker: How to Succeed in Business & Life through Dedication, Determination & Disruption. In TMZ’s summary, the locked-up house was later found with a window open and music playing in the room where Jackson died. The account also describes a chandelier incident that unsettled a potential buyer. Umansky says he appealed to Jackson’s spirit, after which the home ultimately sold. TMZ’s report summarizes his story; it does not independently establish a paranormal cause or provide a verified transcript of his exact words.
Jackson rented the home; he did not own it
The house is in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times reported in March 2012 that Jackson leased the property for $100,000 a month and died there in 2009. Hubert and Roxanne Guez had bought the mansion in 2004 for $18.5 million, and Umansky represented it as the listing agent.
The Times described a 17,171-square-foot French château designed by Richard Landry and built in 2002. Its listed features included seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 11 fireplaces, a theater, wine cellar and tasting room, elevator, art studio, gym and spa, guesthouse, pool, and 1.25 acres of gated grounds.
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The listing prices and sale price are different figures
| Figure | Date and context |
|---|---|
| $38 million | As much as the owners sought in 2008, according to the Los Angeles Times. |
| $23.9 million | The asking price when the home was listed in March 2012, according to the Los Angeles Times. |
| $18.1 million | The reported sale price in 2012, reported by the Los Angeles Times on November 2 and also noted by TMZ. |
These are asking prices from different points in the listing history and the final reported transaction price. They do not show that a ghost caused the sale or determine why the house sold for less than an earlier asking price.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the house’s history can—and cannot—tell us about its price
In its November 2012 coverage, the Los Angeles Times quoted real estate consultant and appraiser Randall Bell: “Crime scenes have a perceived stigma.” Bell said such homes usually close at a market discount of 10% to 50% and can take longer to sell. That was a general estimate he gave in 2012—not an appraisal of this mansion, a measured discount on its sale, or proof that its history caused the price.
A separate Times report on a December 2011 furniture auction also cautioned that the auctioneer was not claiming the items for sale had been Jackson’s personal belongings. The house’s connection to Jackson should not be taken as evidence that auctioned furniture belonged to him.
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