The Internet-Famous Malibu Barbie House Is Available To Rent

In 2015, two Malibu beach homes found themselves internet famous overnight. 

‘Voldemort and Barbie are neighbours!’ read the Reddit caption. And no wonder. To the left: a dark, gloomy all-black mansion – the kind you might dream-up for a super-villain or gothic anti-hero. On the right: a bubblegum pink and purple cartoon home, probably similar to the one you doodled as a child when whimsically imagining your dream adult life.

Marcelo Lagos Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

Other memes were soon to follow: grumpy and sunshine, the vibe of an upbeat song vs the horribly depressing meaning, opposites attract, etc., etc. Soon they were in Grand Theft Auto V and then they were everywhere. 

And just when the internet thought it had escaped the madness, the Barbie vs Oppenheimer double-billing of July 2023 was announced. Cue a summer of ‘Barbenheimer’ mania and many a Malibu house meme pitting the fun and girly film against the dark and brooding biopic.

Marcelo Lagos Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

Funnily enough, the houses weren’t planned this way. They were originally both built by the same developer as part of a colourful trio called the ‘Sherbert Houses’ in 1998. The first was baby blue, the second (now the Voldemort / Batman / Addams Family / Marilyn Manson home) painted foam green, and the last the same whimsical pink and purple that it is today. It wasn’t until 2021 that the second was bought up, painted matte black, and shot the Malibu street into the limelight. 

Streams of influencers have visited the iconic location over the years in a bid to get ‘the pic’ of the famous opposites. And now you too can be a part of internet history, as the Barbie House is available to rent – all for a cool $38,500 a month.

Marcelo Lagos Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

Be warned: those wishing for Barbie Dream House interiors, à la Greta Gerwig’s film, may find themselves disappointed. Inside, the fully-furnished home is less pastel pinks and aquamarine sparkles, and more a very grown up coastal palette of off-whites, millennial greys, sea blues and bohemian prints.

Sadly not the real life Barbie and Ken after all, the current owners are in fact Howie Nuchow, the co-head of American sports giant CAA Sports, and his wife, Gina Nuchow. The couple purchased the home in 2015 for $5.4 million. The property has been on the rental market on and off for several years, beginning at a dizzying $49,000 a month in 2020. It more recently went back on the market for a less shocking $39,500 per month until it was removed in December 2025.

Marcelo Lagos Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

Located on Palisades Beach Road, just off the Pacific Coast Highway, this four-storey, three-bedroom, three-bathroom home spans 2,822 sqf of prime beachfront real estate. On the main level you can see right through to the back of the home where the living room meets the large expanse of public beach, while, elsewhere, floor-to-ceiling glass doors lead to a glass-enclosed patio with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean. ‘As soon as you come to the top of the stairs you are face to face with that gorgeous view of sand and ocean,’ says Kevin Mitchell of Sotheby’s International Realty. 

On the next level sits the primary suite with a spa-inspired bath, ocean-facing terraced seating area and a patio overlooking the sand, while the suite below boasts a large rooftop deck with panoramic coastline vistas and views across Santa Monica pier, all screened by a row of hedges. There is an additional en-suite bedroom plus an open-plan kitchen and living space too. 

Available to rent for $38,500 a month. Find out more at sothebysrealty.com