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Heiress vs. LA: Tear Down Marilyn Monroe's Mansion?
27 Feb
Summary
- Heiress and husband sue LA for blocking demolition of Marilyn Monroe's former home.
- Couple claims city violated their constitutional rights to property use.
- Landmark designation followed public outcry after purchase in 2023.
A Brentwood heiress, Brinah Milstein, and her producer husband, Roy Bank, have filed a new lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles. They allege their constitutional rights were violated when the city blocked their attempts to demolish a mansion previously owned by Marilyn Monroe.
The couple purchased the $8.35 million Spanish-style home in 2023 with the intent to tear it down and expand their adjacent property. Monroe owned the house for only six months before her death in 1962.
After obtaining demolition permits, public outrage prompted the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission to declare the site a landmark in January 2024. The couple's initial lawsuit in May 2024 sought to prevent this designation.
In their updated complaint, Milstein and Bank claim they were denied legally required notice and an opportunity to be heard. They assert the city deprived them of the property's use without public benefit or compensation, noting no trace of Monroe's occupancy remains.
Despite the litigation, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to preserve the property in June 2024. A judge previously dismissed the couple's first suit in September 2025, calling it a motion to demolish. The landmarked home, not visible from the street, has reportedly attracted tourists, causing traffic and trespassers, including a burglary in November 2025.
