L.A. billionaire Ron Burkle is the buyer of Bob Hope’s Palm Springs retreat, sources say

Los Angeles billionaire investor Ronald Burkle is the buyer of the Bob and Dolores Hope estate that recently sold in Palm Springs for $13 million, according to real estate sources not authorized to comment on the deal.

Made of concrete, glass and steel, the sprawling estate was designed by John Lautner for the Hopes in 1979. With 23,366 square feet of interior space, it is the largest private residence designed by the celebrated modernist architect.

Sitting on 6.2 acres, the futuristic house is visually dramatic with its curving copper roof that extends the living space outdoors. Murals on the main floor and the pool area were done by Malibu Getty muralist Garth Benton.

There are 10 bedrooms and 13 full or partial bathrooms within the home and fireplaces in the great room and master bedroom. Curving walls of windows bring in views of the surrounding mountains and the Coachella Valley floor.

Outdoors, landscaped grounds include a swimming pool, a tennis court, a pavilion and a pond.

Originally offered at $50 million, the Hope estate had been listed for $24.999 million at the time of the sale.

Patrick Jordan and Stewart Smith of Bennion & Deville Homes were the listing agents. Ron de Salvo of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage represented the buyer.

Burkle, who built his fortune buying and selling supermarket chains, has familiarity with the area and the architect. Records show he previously owned the Elrod House, the Lautner design made famous in the James Bond film “Diamonds Are Forever,” more than a decade ago.

In Los Angeles, Burkle’s holdings include the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Ennis House in Los Feliz, which he purchased in 2011 for about $4.5 million. Last month he sold a penthouse at the Eastern Columbia Building in downtown L.A. for $2.5 million.

He has an estimated net worth of $1.55 billion, according to Forbes.

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