Hollywood Hills has always had its share of glitz, glamour, and mystery—but few homes have carried the weight of tragedy like the mansion once owned by Brittany Murphy.
Sixteen years after the actress’ sudden death shocked the world, this eerie property, originally purchased from pop star Britney Spears, is back in the spotlight.
The same house would also later witness the death of Murphy’s husband, Simon Monjack, just months after her passing.
From Britney to Brittany
Murphy bought the fully furnished Hollywood Hills estate from Spears in 2003 for $3.85 million, embracing the sprawling Los Angeles home as her sanctuary.
Years later, the mansion would become the backdrop for heartbreak and speculation.
On December 20, 2009, Murphy—best known for her role in Clueless—was found dead at just 32 years old.
She had been living there with her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack.
Tragically, Monjack would follow just five months later, passing away on the same property at the age of 40.
Untangling the Causes
Autopsies revealed that Murphy died from a combination of untreated pneumonia, anemia, and drug intoxication from prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Monjack’s death was also attributed to pneumonia, though questions lingered for years.
Even after their passing, the mansion remained central to the intrigue.
Monjack’s mother, Linda, later voiced concerns about “severe mold” in the home.
She claimed in a 2013 interview with the Daily Mail that her son had experienced hallucinations prior to his death, saying, “things were crawling out of his skin.”
However, the theory was officially dismissed by the medical examiner’s office back in 2010.
Family Ties and Final Moments
Murphy and Monjack had shared the home with her mother, Sharon Murphy, and tied the knot there in April 2007.
Sharon was the one who called 911 on the morning of her daughter’s death after she collapsed at 8 a.m., and she would later discover Monjack unresponsive just months later.
In the days leading up to her death, Murphy had flu-like symptoms, and she was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Monjack, similarly, succumbed to acute pneumonia and severe anemia, echoing the tragic pattern.
Whispers of the Supernatural
Even before Murphy moved in, the mansion had raised eyebrows.
Both Murphy and Spears reportedly sensed something off about the property.
Britney’s former makeup artist, Julianne Kaye, shared on the We Need to Talk About Britney podcast in 2021 that the singer had fled the house after a spiritual healer allegedly opened a “spirit portal,” releasing bad spirits that threatened her.
Murphy herself reportedly felt uneasy in the home, often sharing her discomfort with Monjack.
According to a 2011 Hollywood Reporter article, Monjack said, “She absolutely hated the Rising Glen house,” and Murphy frequently pleaded to stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel instead.
He also described the bathroom where she died as her personal “comfort zone,” a space where she relaxed, read, sang, and wrote.
Changing Hands and a Modern Makeover
Following Murphy’s death, the mansion went through several owners.
Sharon initially struggled to sell the home, reducing the asking price from $4.99 million to $2.7 million in 2011.
Fast forward to December 2024, the property was listed for nearly $18 million, with a complete transformation including a redesigned exterior and modern updates.
David Parnes of Carolwood Estates, known from Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, is handling the sale, now priced at $17,995,000.
A House with a Haunting Past
Even with renovations and a new price tag, the Hollywood Hills mansion remains tied to its chilling history.
From Brittany Murphy’s untimely death to Simon Monjack’s mysterious passing, whispers of unease still linger over the property, a stark reminder of how glamour and tragedy can collide in the City of Angels.
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