House on Market

Tech mogul Eric Schmidt, who owns Montecito’s sprawling Solana estate, the former home of Bill and Sandi Nicholson, has put his Bay Area compound on the market.

The three-acre property, created by combining three contiguous parcels in the tony township of Atherton, home to America’s priciest zip code for seven consecutive years, is asking $24.5 million.

Schmidt, 69, and his philanthropist wife Wendy, 68, purchased the property, known as the Walsh estate, in 1990. They then added two more parcels of land and extensively remodeled the original main house, which was first constructed in 1968.

The main house features more than 5,300 square feet on two levels. There is also a detached three car garage with a recreation room below.

Parceling It Out

An impressive Mediterranean-style estate is wholly back on the market following steps to sell it off piecemeal.

The sprawling Carpinteria property, dubbed The Sanctuary on Loon Point, was custom built for financier Bruce Kovner on 22 secluded acres, comprising two homes with an initial price of $160 million.

One of the homes was listed last spring for $55 million but included five acres only.

It has now returned on a larger scale offering 12 acres across three parcels and seeks a buyer willing to pay the current $75 million asking price.

Kovner, 79, spent 14 years assembling the impressive compound, acquiring neighboring plots to complete his grand vision.

There are five bedrooms and nine bathrooms on 10,902 square feet.

Kovner is worth $7.7 billion, according to Forbes.

Flynn-ing in for Another Round

Montecito actor Jeff Bridges, 73, is poised to reprise his role in Tron: Ares, making his third appearance in Disney’s sci-fi series.

The Oscar-winner has been candid about his cancer and revealed his new role on the Film Comment podcast.

“I’m heading off to play a part in the third installment of the Tron story,” Jeff explained, after starring in the
1982 original.

The new film will feature Jared Leto as the title character Ares with Joachim Rønning directing from a script by Jesse Wigutow and Jack Thorne.

Invictus Games Turns Ten

Prince Harry, 39, is returning to London to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

The Riven Rock resident, who founded the annual military event for veterans, is scheduled to attend a service of thanksgiving and give a reading with actor Damian Lewis at St. Paul’s Cathedral, according to the BBC. Meghan Markle will not be attending.

It isn’t known if the Duke of Sussex will be spending any of his time with his father, King Charles, or his brother The Prince of Wales, on his first visit back to the U.K. since flying to see the monarch after his cancer diagnosis in February.

After London, Harry and Meghan will jet off to Nigeria as guests of the government, where they will meet with military personnel and take part in a number of cultural activities.

Meghan is 43% Nigerian.

Money Matters

Former Monty Python cast member John Cleese, 84, has delighted global audiences for more than 60 years, but his financial fortunes have been a box office flop.

Cleese, a former Montecito resident, is reportedly worth about $11 million, but he admits that if it weren’t for a succession of costly divorces, his fortune could have been even better.

It is believed Cleese has spent in excess of $35 million on break-ups from ex-wives.

“I never understand money and I don’t find it interesting, which is a real disadvantage in the world we live in,” he told a U.K. TV show.

“I advise anybody who is a bit vague about it to become less vague because it has cost me a lot. I never knew how many millions I had. I remember in America somebody asked me where my investments were and I said, ‘I have no idea at all.’”

Last summer Cleese admitted he was still paying off his $20 million-plus divorce from his third wife Alyce Faye-Eichelberger, a psychotherapist and author, 15 years after they split. 

He now lives on the Caribbean island of Nevis with his fourth wife, Jennifer Wade, with whom he tied the knot in Mustique in the Grenadines in 2021.

Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged

Devout Christian Chynna Phillips has opened up about her past – admitting she previously “experimented” with her sexuality, was a “teenage klepto,” did drugs and “danced topless” on tables.

The former musician, 56, converted to Christianity in 2022 and has been dedicated to the religion since then, posting weekly faith-based videos to her YouTube channel.

In her most recent clip, she spoke about the previous “sins” that she committed before turning to Jesus.

“People always say to me ‘Chynna you’re so non-judgmental.’ The reason I don’t judge is because I’ve done everything, she admits.

“Am I proud of it? No, I’m not proud of it. And I reckon you’re not proud of (your sins) either.”

Doing Good Business

Eight standout organizations and individuals will be honored during the 2024 South Coast Business & Technology Awards ceremony on June 11 at the Hilton.

The annual awards recognize innovation, leadership, and success in the area’s business and technology sectors. Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.

This year’s honorees include Zohar Ziv (Pioneer Award), Noozhawk (Excellence in Service), Jackie Carrera of the Santa Barbara Foundation (Executive of the Year), Tecolote Research (Company the Year), Andrew Firestone and Jess Parker of StonePark Capital (Entrepreneurs of the Year), and Pearly and Rabbit (Rising Stars).

Sightings

Kevin Costner and daughter Grace, 13, shopping at K. Frank… Ellen DeGeneres in her Ferrari Roma on CVR… Former tennis ace Jimmy Connors noshing at Lucky’s.

Pip! Pip!