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Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt just bought one of the largest mansions in LA — and it's bigger than the Taj Mahal
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt just bought one of the largest mansions in LA — and it's bigger than the Taj Mahal

New York Post

time04-08-2025

  • Entertainment
  • New York Post

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt just bought one of the largest mansions in LA — and it's bigger than the Taj Mahal

The former CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, just secured the keys to the Spelling kingdom. Schmidt and his wife, Wendy, dropped a cool $110 million on Spelling Manor, the Wall Street Journal reported. The legendary property spans over 56,000 square feet, making it one of the largest homes in Los Angeles. Schmidt's recent acquisition is now tied for the second most expensive home sale of 2025. The 100-plus room estate, known as the Manor, is larger than both the White House and the Taj Mahal. 7 The massive home sits on 4.6 acres. AP 7 Eric and Wendy Schmidt. REUTERS 7 The home is variously known as Spelling Manor and Candyland, after its former owners, Aaron and Candy Spelling. ASSOCIATED PRESS Construction on limestone-clad mansion was completed in 1988 by legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling — the mastermind behind such hits as 'Dynasty,' 'Charlie's Angels' and '90210.' For a time, it was recognized as the largest single-family home in Los Angeles County, and its successive sales repeatedly notched record prices. The mansion is famous for its grand size and outlandish amenities. Its over-the-top interiors during the Spelling era included a two-lane bowling alley, multiple gift-wrapping rooms, a dedicated doll collection room, a 20-seat cinema and 27 bathrooms. Candy Spelling, the widow of Aaron Spelling and mother of actress Tori Spelling, sold the home in for $85 million in 2011 to the Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone. The 22-year-old carried out a major redesign of the palatial home, reportedly opting for a more contemporary look. 7 The mansion can reportedly accommodate parking for 100-plus cars. Getty Images 7 The Spelling family, pictured in 1997. ASSOCIATED PRESS Schmidt is reportedly applying his Silicon Valley-like penchant for optimization to renovation plans of his own. The 70-year-old will carry out a major remodel and rebrand of the Manor, according to the Journal. In addition to simplifying the floor plan and making it more energy efficient, he reportedly intends to rechristen the home '594,' after its Mapleton Drive address. Despite the eye-watering price, Schmidt can congratulate himself on paying less that the previous owner. The Manor last changed hands when Ecclestone offloaded the property to an unidentified buyer — reportedly a Saudi national — for slightly less than $120 million in 2019, setting yet another California record. 7 Schmidt is planning to renovate the home for simplicity and energy efficiency. Getty Images 7 The Schmidts reportedly plan to use the property for philanthropic events. Getty Images for LACMA The home was most recently listed for $137.5 million after several years of price cuts. Carolwood Estates agents Drew Fenton and Linda May represented the seller and the buyer, respectively. Schmidt and his wife, both philanthropists, plan to use the property to hold meetings and events for local nonprofits, the Journal reported. The pair own an impressive portfolio of other trophy homes across London, New York, California, DC, Florida and Massachusetts.

Trump says Epstein ‘stole' young women from Mar-a-Lago spa
Trump says Epstein ‘stole' young women from Mar-a-Lago spa

Boston Globe

time30-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Boston Globe

Trump says Epstein ‘stole' young women from Mar-a-Lago spa

The president has faced an outcry over his administration's refusal to release more records about Epstein after promises of transparency. Trump has attempted to tamp down questions about the case, expressing annoyance that people are still talking about it six years after Epstein committed suicide while awaiting trial, even though some of his own allies have promoted conspiracy theories about it. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's imprisoned former girlfriend, was recently interviewed inside a Florida courthouse by the Justice Department's No. 2 official; officials have not publicly disclosed what she said. Her lawyers said Tuesday she's willing to answer more questions from Congress if she is granted immunity from future prosecution for her testimony. Advertisement Aboard Air Force One while returning from Scotland, Trump said he was upset that Epstein was 'taking people who worked for me.' The women, he said, were 'taken out of the spa, hired by him — in other words, gone.' 'I said, listen, we don't want you taking our people,' Trump said. When it happened again, Trump said, he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago. Advertisement Asked if Giuffre was one of the employees poached by Epstein, he demurred but then said 'he stole her.' The White House originally said Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago because he was acting like a 'creep.' Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year. She claimed that Maxwell spotted her working as a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago in 2000, when she was a teenager, and hired her as Epstein's masseuse, which led to sexual abuse. ASSOCIATED PRESS Ga. Rep. Greene says 'genocide' is happening in Gaza Strip WASHINGTON — US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican from Georgia, who often casts herself as the standard-bearer of MAGA politics on Capitol Hill, said a 'genocide' is underway in the Gaza Strip, becoming the first member of her party in Congress to use the term as she condemned the humanitarian disaster unfolding there. 'It's the most truthful and easiest thing to say that Oct. 7 in Israel was horrific and all hostages must be returned, but so is the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza,' Greene said in a social media post Monday evening. It was the strongest in a series of escalating statements she has made in recent weeks criticizing Israel's conduct of the war and calling for action to end the suffering in Gaza. The stance is a clear break with the vast majority of Republicans in Congress, who have made unconditional support for Israel a hallmark of their foreign policy approach. Greene's comments were a direct rebuke of one Republican colleague in particular, Representative Randy Fine of Florida, who has drawn intense criticism for comments he made on social media last week calling the images of starving children in Gaza a campaign of 'Muslim terror propaganda.' Advertisement 'Release the hostages,' Fine wrote, adding, 'until then, starve away.' Fine, a first-term lawmaker who has been outspoken in Congress about his Jewish faith and staunchly pro-Israel views, made the remarks the same day that he was elevated to a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the influential panel that focuses on international policy. Fine made his comments before President Trump said there was 'real starvation' happening in Gaza and made commitments to offer additional support to increase aid. 'That's real starvation stuff — I see it, and you can't fake that,' Trump said Monday after a series of meetings with European leaders while in Scotland. 'We have to get the kids fed.' NEW YORK TIMES Pentagon reverses, will continue to share data with meteorologists WASHINGTON — Days before the Pentagon was set to cut off access to satellite observations that help meteorologists track hurricanes overnight, Defense Department officials told government forecasters they would continue sharing the data, after all. Defense officials initially announced in late June that they would terminate a feed of satellite data, giving meteorologists just a few days of notice. As forecasters raised concerns that any loss of data that helps detect fast-strengthening storms could increase the risks they pose to coastal communities, the Pentagon extended that timeline to July 31. But officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Tuesday they now expect 'no interruption' in the data their meteorologists receive through what is known as the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, which includes microwave-based observations that reveal storm activity even through the cover of darkness. US Navy officials said its Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center had planned to phase out the data as it prepares to replace the aged satellites by next year. Advertisement 'But after feedback from government partners, officials found a way to meet modernization goals while keeping the data flowing until the sensor fails or the program formally ends in September 2026,' a Navy spokesperson said in an email. Meteorologists cheered the decision, saying termination of the microwave data could have set back hurricane capabilities. Several decades ago, before such data was available, forecasters ran the risk of what they called a 'sunrise surprise,' when daylight would reveal that a storm had strengthened more than meteorologists had expected. 'Crisis averted,' hurricane expert Michael Lowry, a former National Hurricane Center senior scientist, wrote on the social media platform Bluesky. NOAA officials stressed that, while valuable, the Defense Department's microwave satellite observations represent 'a single dataset in a robust suite of hurricane forecasting and modeling tools.' Meteorologists at the Hurricane Center and National Weather Service also have access to microwave-based observations collected by NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System. WASHINGTON POST Va. judge orders Youngkin-backed university board members removed FAIRFAX, Va. — A judge ordered that eight public university board members tapped by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin be removed from their posts in a victory for Virginia Senate Democrats who rejected the appointees in a June committee vote. Fairfax Circuit Court Judge Jonathan D. Frieden severed the newly appointed members from their governing board seats at the University of Virginia, George Mason University, and the Virginia Military Institute. His order came at the request of nine Virginia Senate Democrats who filed a lawsuit last month requesting immediate action against the heads of university boards, also known as rectors or presidents. The nine senators argued that despite the legislative committee rejecting the membership of the eight board members, the board chairs had continued acknowledging them as members, and Frieden agreed. Advertisement 'Here, the public interest is served by protecting the power of the elected legislature to confirm or reject gubernatorial appointees,' Frieden wrote in an opinion letter about his order. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Virginia's attorney general said in a statement that their office would be appealing the order. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Husband rearrested in death of Colorado woman, whose remains were found after 3-year search
Husband rearrested in death of Colorado woman, whose remains were found after 3-year search

Toronto Sun

time21-06-2025

  • Toronto Sun

Husband rearrested in death of Colorado woman, whose remains were found after 3-year search

Published Jun 20, 2025 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 4 minute read Barry Morphew leaves a Fremont County court building in Canon City, Colo., with his daughters, Macy, left, and Mallory, after charges against him in the presumed death of his wife were dismissed, on April 19, 2022. Photo by Jerilee Bennett / Files / ASSOCIATED PRESS DENVER — The husband of Colorado woman Suzanne Morphew, whose remains were discovered over three years after she was reported missing on Mother's Day 2020, was arrested again Friday on a first-degree murder charge, authorities said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Barry Morphew was arrested Friday in Arizona after a Colorado grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday, three years after the initial case was dropped due to prosecutorial issues with evidence. His bond was set at $3 million, cash only, according to court documents. The district attorney's office said in a statement that it is seeking to bring him back to Colorado. A 2024 autopsy report said Suzanne Morphew died of 'unspecified means' but ruled it a homicide. While there was no indication of trauma in her remains, a drug cocktail used to tranquilize wildlife was found in one of her bones, the report said. A tranquilizer gun and accessories were found in the Morphews' home, according to investigators. Barry Morphew has maintained his innocence since his wife disappeared, and his attorney David Beller blasted the new indictment. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Yet again, the government allows their predetermined conclusion to lead their search for evidence,' Beller said in a statement. 'Barry maintains his innocence. The case has not changed, and the outcome will not either.' The first case was dropped in 2022 Morphew was first charged with murder in May 2021, but prosecutors dropped that case the following year just as Morphew was about to stand trial. A judge barred prosecutors from calling key witnesses for repeatedly failing to follow rules for turning over evidence in Morphew's favour. That included DNA from an unknown male that was found in Suzanne Morphew's SUV. At the time, prosecutors said they wanted more time to find her body. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The judge agreed to drop the case against Morphew but allowed prosecutors the option of filing charges against him later. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Barry Morphew filed a $15 million lawsuit against county officials, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights. His lawyers also filed a complaint asking that the prosecutors be disciplined for allegedly intentionally withholding evidence. Iris Eytan, who was Morphew's attorney in 2021 but no longer represents him, said prosecutors 'fumbled' the case. 'Not only is he is a loving father, but he was a loving husband,' Eytan told The Associated Press on Friday. Suzanne Morphew disappeared on Mother's Day The mystery surrounding Suzanne Morphew began when the 49-year-old mother of two daughters, who lived near the small town of Salida, was reported missing on Mother's Day 2020. Suzanne Morphew's mountain bike and helmet were found in separate spots not far from her home, but investigators suspected the bike had been purposefully thrown down into a ravine because there was no indications of a crash. A week after she went missing, Barry Morphew posted a video on Facebook pleading for her safe return. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'No questions asked, however much they want, I will do whatever it takes to get you back,' he said. When he was initially charged, the arrest affidavit laying out investigators' case against Barry Morphew said his wife insisted on leaving him. He later changed his statements as evidence developed. Morphew, an avid hunter, did not initially tell investigators that he went out of his way as he left for work on Mother's Day, driving toward the place where his wife's bicycle helmet was eventually found. Later, he said he went that way because he had seen an elk cross the road, according to the initial arrest affidavit. Suzanne Morphew's remains were found in 2023 Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents stumbled upon Suzanne Morphew's skeletal remains in September 2023 in a shallow grave during an unrelated search near the small southern Colorado town of Moffat, about 40 miles (65 kilometres) south of the Morphews' home. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Most of Suzanne Morphew's bones were recovered and many were 'significantly bleached,' according to the affidavit. Investigators removed a port through which Morphew could receive medicine to treat follicular lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, and found clothing similar to bicyclist clothes she was known to wear. Based on the status of the remains and clothing, a forensic anthropologist theorized that the body decomposed elsewhere, the affidavit says. Toxicology testing revealed all three drugs in a sedative used for wildlife called 'BAM' were in the bones. The presence of a metabolite for one of the drugs, butorphanol, suggested the remains would not have been contaminated with BAM after death, the affidavit says. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The coroner's office determined the cause of death was 'homicide by unspecified means' through intoxication of the three drugs, butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine. Investigators linked Barry Morphew to the drugs Barry Morphew obtained and filled several prescriptions for BAM while living in Indiana, shortly before the Morphews moved to Colorado in 2018. Barry Morphew was a deer farmer in Indiana and allegedly told investigators he used BAM to tranquilize deer in Indiana and Colorado, according to the indictment. In the area surrounding their home in Colorado, no private citizens or businesses, only Colorado Parks and Wildlife and National Park Service officials, had obtained BAM between 2017 and 2020, records show. No government officials reported missing BAM supplies. 'Ultimately, the prescription records show that when Suzanne Morphew disappeared, only one private citizen living in that entire area of the state had access to BAM: Barry Morphew,' the indictment concluded. — Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Associated Press reporter Jaimie Ding in Seattle contributed. Toronto & GTA World Toronto & GTA Hockey Columnists

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