Marilyn Monroe's Former Home Undergoes Major Changes

New owners fill in the iconic pool and seek to demolish the property where the actress died.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:07pm

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The $8 million Brentwood home where Marilyn Monroe died has undergone significant changes under its new owners, Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank. Aerial photos show the couple has filled in the sparkling pool where Monroe once found peace, replacing it with grass. The owners are now seeking to tear down the infamous property and are preparing to battle Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the city over the recent historical designation of the home, which they claim has 'rendered the property useless'.

Why it matters

Marilyn Monroe's former home has long been a tourist attraction and a piece of Hollywood history. The new owners' plans to demolish the property and the city's efforts to preserve it highlight the ongoing tensions between development and historical preservation in desirable neighborhoods like Brentwood.

The details

Milstein and Bank purchased the home for just over $8 million in 2023 and soon after applied for and received city approval to demolish the home and begin new construction. However, the city later designated the home a 'Historical-Cultural Monument' in 2024, after the permits were already approved. The couple is now suing the city, arguing the historical designation has 'rendered the property useless' and prohibited their ability to capitalize on the valuable home.

  • Milstein and Bank purchased the home in 2023.
  • The couple applied for and received city approval to demolish the home in 2023.
  • The city designated the home a 'Historical-Cultural Monument' in 2024.
  • Marilyn Monroe's naked body was wheeled out of the home on a gurney in August 1962 after her death.

The players

Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank

The couple who purchased Marilyn Monroe's former home in Brentwood for $8 million in 2023 and are now seeking to demolish the property.

Karen Bass

The Mayor of Los Angeles who is involved in the city's efforts to designate Marilyn Monroe's former home as a historical landmark.

Marilyn Monroe

The famous actress who died at the Brentwood home in 1962, making it a Hollywood landmark.

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What they’re saying

“Anybody who likes my house, I'm sure I'll get along with.”

— Marilyn Monroe (Life Magazine)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow Milstein and Bank to demolish the home or uphold the city's historical designation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between development and historical preservation in desirable neighborhoods, as well as the enduring legacy of Marilyn Monroe and the continued fascination with the home where she died.