The instantly recognisable Georgian Colonial mansion used for the exterior shots of Will Smith's home in the classic 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has been listed for sale, marking the first time it has been on the market in nearly half a century.
A Slice of Television History Comes to Market
According to an insider speaking to People magazine, the distinguished white property, actually located in Brentwood, California, is being offered for sale for the first time since 1978. Back then, it sold for $732,000. Reports from TMZ indicate the home is now listed at just under $30 million (approximately £24 million).
Built in 1937, the five-bedroom, five-bathroom home spans more than 6,000 square feet and is noted for its four massive columns and symmetrical aesthetics. While the interior scenes for the NBC show, which ran from 1990 to 1996 for 148 episodes, were filmed on a soundstage, the house's facade became an iconic symbol of the series. The show was a pivotal launchpad for Will Smith's transition from rapper to Hollywood A-list actor, also starring Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, and the late James Avery.
From Airbnb Promotion to Multi-Million Dollar Sale
In a memorable 2020 promotion for the show's 30th anniversary, the property was made available to rent via Airbnb, with Will Smith acting as a virtual host during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The promotion was exclusive to Los Angeles County residents.
"If this place looks familiar that's because it's just as fly as it was when I first rolled up the driveway," the Oscar-winning actor said in the promotional material. He playfully referenced his character, stating, "I'm handing you the keys so you'll have my wing of the mansion all to yourself; but my sneaker collection is off limits, alright?"
Guests during the promotion could enjoy show-themed activities like bedroom basketball and listening to throwback classics, all designed to evoke the spirit of the beloved series.
A Property Shadowed by Recent Controversy
The sale of this iconic piece of pop culture real estate arrives as Will Smith approaches the fourth anniversary of his infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars. During the ceremony, he walked on stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, a condition related to her alopecia diagnosis.
Smith later apologised for his actions in an online video in July 2022, stating his wife "had nothing to do with" his decision to attack Rock. He also resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was subsequently banned from attending the Oscars for ten years.
Despite the controversy, the Brentwood mansion remains a solid piece of television history, forever linked to the show that made Will Smith a household name. Its sale represents a rare opportunity to own a key artefact from a defining era of 1990s entertainment.
