‘The Beverly Hillbillies’: The Clampett Family Mansion Sold For $150 Million
The sixties was a great time for television, with dozens of entertaining TV shows making an impression on viewers. One of the most iconic shows is one that remains popular with fans of all ages in the form of reruns. The Beverly Hillbillies is a silly, heartfelt series that told the story of the Clampett family, a group of country people who make it big and move to the ritzy city of Beverly Hills. Viewers instantly loved the series when it debuted and not much has changed over the years — even though the extravagant mansion featured in the show has had quite an incredible story in the decades since it was seen in The Beverly Hillbillies.
When did ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ debut on television?
The Beverly Hillbillies first premiered on television in 1962, according to IMDb. The series shared a number of similarities with TV shows like Green Acres and Petticoat Junction, both shows that highlighted country folks and the way that they dealt with family, friends, and work. Still, Beverly Hillbillies featured a unique story — Jed Clampett, a gentle, kind Ozark “hillbilly” discovers oil on his property and becomes a very wealthy man. Jed and his family, including “Granny,” Elly May, and Jethro, move to Beverly Hills, into an incredible mansion.
Although Jed is rich enough to buy and sell most of the neighborhood surrounding him, he and his family still have to deal with the judgment of uppity neighbors, many of whom don’t believe that the Ozark folks belong in Beverly Hills. Each episode provided not only plenty of comedy but lots of heart as well — for whatever Jed Clampett and clan might have lacked in refinement, they more than made up for it in love.
How long was ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ on television?
The Beverly Hillbillies didn’t always receive great reviews during its original run on television. Still, it was a firm fan-favorite and remained on TV until 1971. Some of the cast members returned for some reunion films well after the series ended, proving that the appetite for the characters was still there. Even today, decades after The Beverly Hillbillies ended, viewers continue to enjoy the adventures of the Clampett clan.
The public’s interest in elements associated with the show remains strong as well. In particular, fans are fascinated with the history of the incredible mansion that was featured in the show’s opening sequence.
What happened to the Clampett family mansion from ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’?
The Chartwell estate is a Bel Air-based mansion, a stunningly beautiful property that was featured in The Beverly Hillbillies several times during the course of the show’s run. Mainly used for exterior shots of the Clampett’s Beverly Hills home, Chartwell was designed by Sumner Spaulding in 1930 and features eighteen bedrooms, twenty-four bathrooms, a ballroom, a tennis court, space for forty vehicles, and a seventy-five-foot pool. The home remained unoccupied for fifteen years until it was purchased in 1945 for $200,000, a grand sum of money at the time.
In the sixties, the mansion became noteworthy for its role in The Beverly Hillbillies. The notoriety that it received helped to enhance the show’s value, and in 2017, it was put on the market for $350 million. Two years later, Chartwell sold for around $150 million, reportedly making it one of California’s most expensive properties, according to CNN. It is unknown whether a superfan of The Beverly Hillbillies purchased the mansion — but it is certain that the mansion’s history helped to play a role in making it the legendary property that it is today.
