LOS ANGELES _ Abel Tesfaye, the singer-songwriter better known as the Weeknd, has bought one of the remaining penthouses at the Beverly West, a boutique condominium tower in Westwood, in one of the highest condo sales ever recorded in the Los Angeles area.
The "Can't Feel My Face" and "The Hills" singer paid $21 million _ or about $2,555 a square foot _ for the residence, which occupies the entire 18th floor. Select designer-curated furnishings were negotiated separately.
The sale ties real estate developer Richard Lewis' June purchase of another Beverly West penthouse for the most expensive condo sale in L.A. County this year. The two sales are the most paid for a condo in the Los Angeles area since 2010, when Candy Spelling purchased a two-floor penthouse at the Century building in Century City for about $35 million.
Hilton & Hyland's Bill Simpson, who is a listing agent for Beverly West, said people are starting to recognize and appreciate the perks, privacy and location afforded by high-rise living.
Tesfaye's penthouse was one of four that hit the market in August and carried a price tag north of $23 million. Occupying the top floors of the 22-story high-rise, each penthouse was designed to fit a certain personality and features a unique design with curated materials and distinct color palettes.
The penthouse Tesfaye purchased is called the "Mogul" and boasts a dark, masculine palette of deep navy blue complemented by walnut wood paneling. The 8,215-square-foot residence also has a designer kitchen, imported wide-plank oak floors, high-end fixtures and direct elevator access.
Walls of floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views in nearly every direction.
Eric Jencks, the building project manager for Beverly West, said Tesfaye fits a similar profile similar to that of others who have bought in the building: individuals who don't want to be in a homogeneous living space, but also don't want to lose the privacy offered by an estate or single-family home.
"The Beverly West has no common areas besides the amenities floor," Jencks said. "Every owner goes up on their short elevator ride to their own airspace."
The Beverly West building, developed by United Arab Emirates real estate company Emaar Properties, has 35 units and features a 24-hour concierge, a gym and a saltwater swimming pool. On the rooftop is a helipad.
Tesfaye, 29, catapulted to stardom in the early 2010s after uploading his music on YouTube. He has won three Grammy Awards, including one for his third studio album, "Starboy."
