Crypto’s Machi Big Brother Bought a $25 Million House in Los Angeles – DIRT
It’s no secret the cryptocurrency industry has been battered by a tsunami of bad publicity over the past year, with the demise of FTX and near-demise of Binance just the proverbial iceberg tip. But one whale who’s managed to stay swimming is Jeffrey “Jeff” Huang, the rapper turned controversial NFT and blockchain mogul better known on social media as Machi Big Brother. Records indicate Huang, 50, was the buyer who last week paid $25 million for an all-new Los Angeles mansion.
Born in Taiwan but raised in Irvine, Calif., where his parents continue to reside, Huang’s first brush with fame occurred in the early 1990s, as a founding member of hip-hop group L.A. Boyz, which achieved popularity in his native Taiwan. In recent years, the C.R.E.A.M. Finance founder has reinvented himself in the blockchain space, and is now widely known as one of the biggest collectors of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs. Last week, Huang made worldwide crypto headlines when he filed a lawsuit against crypto sleuth ZachXBT, for allegations posted about Huang in a 2022 Medium article.
But Huang can forget all that ugliness in his beautiful new home, which is perched high up in the famed Bird Streets neighborhood and boasts jetliner views of the Los Angeles skyline. Completed early last year, the 14,000-square-foot mansion sits on a half-acre of hillside land and first came up for sale last May, asking $34 million. More recently, the property was priced at $30 million.
In the works since at least 2014, the house was stuck in development hell for several years. In 2019, the original developer lost the property to foreclosure, and hard-money lender Hankey Capital took ownership of the project. With the aid of Plus Development, Hankey erected an organic contemporary extravaganza drawn by Vantage Design Group.
Bespoke finishes and sultry tones of beige and brown imbue the place with a warmth that belies its vast scale. Naturally, walls of glass abound, framing the dramatic views; the house was clearly designed for an owner who enjoys entertaining on a grand scale. High-end features include a state-of-the-art smart home system, an elevator, steam room and separate dry sauna, a skylit foyer, an infinity pool and custom walnut millwork throughout.
There’s also a wine room with a bar slathered in stunning jade marble, plus a large gym with a yoga area overlooking an atrium. The master suite features a true indoor/outdoor bedroom and bathroom, each with their own access to a private balcony via disappearing glass doors. Scattered around the rest of the home are three guest bedroom suites, plus separate maid’s quarters.
Like many homes in the tightly-packed Hollywood Hills, the residence sits hard up against the street, essentially free of landscaped yard space. The property is surrounded by similarly extravagant contemporary homes, and some of Huang’s nearest neighbors include Calvin Klein, the Winklevoss Twins, Fashion Nova founder Richard Saghian and billionaire Bernard Arnault.
Branden and Rayni Williams of the Beverly Hills Estates held the listing alongside Tyrone McKillen of Official; Michael Chen of AKGRE repped the buyer.
