Insane Montana mansions, Johnny Carson's $40M LA estate, and Call of Duty creator's Bel Air sale
Jan 23, 2026
Key Points
- Call of Duty creator Dave Anthony sold his custom Bel Air mansion for $22 million, a $18.5 million gain from its $3.5 million purchase price 15 years prior.
- Montana's Big Sky ski community has transformed into a high-end real estate market with a median listing price of $3.05 million, anchored by three luxury resort clubs.
- Big Sky's appeal to wealthy buyers combines authentic Montana culture with major infrastructure investments and exclusive ski-in, ski-out residential communities opened in recent years.
Summary
Dave Anthony, the Call of Duty creator and writer-director of the Black Ops franchise, sold his custom Bel Air mansion for $22 million. He acquired the property 15 years ago for $3.5 million and completed a full rebuild in 2022, netting an $18.5 million gain. The sale came in well below the initial $27 million asking price after 18 months on the market. The 9,000-square-foot H-shaped home sits on nearly three-quarters of an acre with seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms, and two powder rooms. Amenities include a 100-foot retractable projector screen in the primary suite, a soundproof movie theater with cashmere recliners on the lower level, a soundproof study that doubles as a panic room, a wine cellar, and outdoor entertainment spaces with a zero-edge pool and music-synchronized fountain.
Big Sky
Montana's Big Sky has transformed from a remote ski outpost founded around 1973 into one of the state's most expensive real estate markets. The median listing price reached $3.05 million as of December, driven by recent infrastructure investments and the opening of luxury residential resort communities. Three exclusive ski-in, ski-out private clubs anchor the market. The Yellowstone Club, founded in the 1990s, features Tom Weiskopf-designed golf. Montage Big Sky Resort opened in 2021 with 139 hotel rooms and fractional residence ownership. Moonlight Basin Resort offers full home ownership rather than fractional stakes. Full-time residents typically cluster in Meadow Village and Town Center in condominiums, while part-time buyers purchase single-family homes in the mountains for ski access. Big Sky maintains authentic Montana character, with residents dressing in cowboy boots and jeans. The area hosts major events including the PBR's bull-riding championship in summer and operates ski terrain across 5,850 acres.