The property of 12305 Fifth Helena Drive is located in Brentwood, Los Angeles. In February 1962, Marilyn Monroe purchased the property. However, just six months later, on August 5 1962, she was found dead in her bedroom from a barbiturate overdose at the age of 36.
12305 Fifth Helena Drive as seen from the backyard, the property in which Marilyn Monroe died.
THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE
12305 Fifth Helena Drive is a one-story, Hacienda-style home that sits on 2,900 square feet at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac just off San Vicente Boulevard.
An aerial view of the property, the back yard and pool is to the right of the photo.
How the property looked when Marilyn bought 12305 Fifth Helena Drive in 1962.
Built in 1929, the L-shaped property features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a swimming pool, and a citrus grove. While the front yard may be quite small, the backyard more than makes up for it. Which is why it appears most photos of the property appear to be taken from the back.
The living room as it looked when Marilyn Monore lived there.
The kitchen as it looked when Marilyn Monroe lived there in 1962.
In 1962 the house was purchased by Marilyn for $77,500. She reportedly paid half in cash, with the other half being mortgaged. While Marilyn appeared very happy at the home, she would unfortunately only live there for six months before tragedy struck.
The bedroom in which Marilyn Monroe died.
It was widely reported that the day after Marilyn died, at least six competing purchase offers were made on the house. A bidding war ensued, then in 1963 the Nunez family became the owners and purchased much of the content left inside the house. Most of which was auctioned off in 1997.
Even today, furniture belonging to Marily sells for a lot of money. A chair used in the last photoshoot Marilyn did at her Brentwood home sold in 2012 for $28,000.
Marilyn Monroe during her final photoshoot at her Brentwood home. The chair she is sat on would later sell for $28,000.
The house after Marilyn’s possessions had been removed.
12305 FIFTH HELENA DRIVE IN 2010
Although many of the home’s architectural features remain intact today (such as the door arches, ceiling beams, some windows, and some of the flooring), the kitchen and bathroom are almost unrecognizable from Marilyn’s days.
The 2010 listing, in which the property sold for $5.1 million, shows just how much the property had changed by then.
The living room as it looked in 2010, taken from almost the exact same angle as one taken in 1962 (found earlier in the article).
Another living area, taken from the 2010 listing.
The kitchen as it looked in 2010.
Study/office area leading out onto the patio.
Marilyn Monroe’s bedroom as it looked in 2010.
One of the bathrooms in the property from the 2010 listing.
THE HOUSE TODAY
In 2017 the house at 12305 5th Helena Drive went back on the market again. This time selling for $7.25 million, $350,000 above the asking price. Just a day before what would have been Marilyn’s 91st birthday.
The front of the property as seen from the road.
While the property is still recognizable as the one Marilyn Monroe lived in, now more than 50 years on, some major changes have taken place over the years. The guest house and main house have been joined together. With several rooms added, but not accessible through the main house.
Other changes include the door to Marilyn’s bedroom being relocated to a different wall, as well as the obvious bathroom and kitchen renovations. The property also has a coat of arms at the front door which reads “Cursum Perficio”, which means “My Journey Ends Here” in Latin.
The front of the property as seen from just inside the gate.
The tiles by the front door.
One of the rooms seen earlier. Not much has changed, the distinctive fireplace is still in the corner of the room.
The kitchen is now unrecognizable, with major updates being done.
The living room and fireplace.
The original fireplace that was there during Marilyn’s time still exists today.
The swimming pool.
The rear of the property as seen from the back yard.
Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate a photo of Marilyn’s bedroom from the 2017 listing. It would have been nice to see if the bedroom had changed any more since the 2010 photo.