Michael Jackson rented a 16,400-square-foot Las Vegas mansion in 2007/2008 for six months while looking for a place to call his permanent home. That estate, located at 2785 S. Monte Cristo, was later taken over by Eastern Savings Bank when the owners defaulted on the lender’s loan.
On Jan. 30, after being on the market for a mere four days, a California couple reportedly plunked down $3.1 million for the mansion.
According to Real Estate agent Zar Zanganeh in a statement issued regarding this 10 bedroom, 15,461-square foot house: “It’s serendipity that we sold the home that we had also rented to Michael Jackson.
The estate became famous and generated tremendous interest because of the MJ connection; in fact, the buyer is a big Michael Jackson fan.”
That buyer’s name has not been released, but what has been released is the fact that Michael Jackson had bigger plans for living in Las Vegas in the form of a house at 7000 Tomiyasu Lane.
On the block in October, 2009 for $16.5 million as noted in a Zillow.com listing, the Las Vegas Sun reported that real estate czar Zar Zanganeh claims Michael Jackson was ripe to buy the 10-acre, 15,000 square-foot Mediterranean/contemporary Las Vegas manse as soon as MJ returned from his London tour, ‘This Is it’.
Zanganeh claims to have shown Michael and his three children the Sin City complex many times.
Zanganeh, a Realtor with Fine Vegas Estates, said, “He got so excited, the minute we drove through the gates here he got that feeling of Neverland. As soon as he stepped out of the car, he said, ‘Zar, I love this place. I’m calling it Wonderland.’”
Built by casino king Gary Primm, the enormous edifice is kidnapper proofed (obviously, a big draw for Michael Jackson), custom-designed with three secure gates. Other safety precautions include secret tunnels, bulletproof doors, and a panic room.
As for the fun stuff at this so-called real Wonderland: A tennis/basketball court, a 20-seat theater, a cave room den, an orchestra loft, a car showroom, a fitness room and, of course, a dance floor.
Vegas Backstage Access (VBA) 