Tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is currently foreclosing on a Los Angeles home he previously assisted filmmaker Jordan Walker-Pearlman in purchasing. In 2020, Musk agreed to sell one of his Los Angeles properties to Walker-Pearlman and his wife, Elizabeth Hunter, for $7 million. This house held sentimental value for Walker-Pearlman, as it was his childhood home and once belonged to his late uncle, renowned actor Gene Wilder. Musk generously provided the majority of the funds for the purchase, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
However, four years later, an entity associated with Musk has initiated foreclosure proceedings, citing the couple’s failure to keep up with their $6.7 million loan payments. The lender has the authority to force a sale of the property 90 days after filing the foreclosure paperwork. Despite this, the couple has listed the house for $12.95 million through Drew Meyers of Westside Estate Agency.
Walker-Pearlman, however, downplays the situation, stating, “There’s no tragedy here. Elon gave us a magical opportunity. I have no complaints.” He emphasizes that the couple is cooperating fully with Musk and maintains that the billionaire is not being “adversarial or mean.” He acknowledges that the extended writers’ and actors’ strikes in Los Angeles last year contributed to their financial struggles and inability to make timely payments. Walker-Pearlman further reveals that Musk’s representatives have assured him that there are no plans to proceed with a forced sale. He explains, “She did not want to continue morally owing Elon anymore. We already owe him such a spiritual debt.”
Tesla has not yet responded to Benzinga’s request for comment regarding the situation. This foreclosure action comes amidst a string of high-profile real estate decisions made by Musk. In 2020, Musk garnered significant media attention by announcing his intention to sell all his possessions, including his homes, declaring he would “own no house.” He followed through on his declaration by selling seven of his properties for a total of nearly $130 million.
However, in May of the following year, it was revealed that Musk had secretly purchased a mansion shortly after publicly stating his intention to divest himself of all real estate. In October, Musk considered buying a house to provide stability for his family but found the options too expensive. He then shifted his focus to building a unique home in Austin, Texas, describing it as “something that fell out of space.” Notably, his new residence is located in the seventh priciest housing market in the United States. There has been speculation surrounding his living arrangements, with some suggesting he might be residing in a manufactured home due to their affordability compared to traditional homes.
