The property had originally been built around 1878 for William H. Howard, a businessman, before being sold to Charles Frederick Crocker, a railway titan. Hearst acquired the home around 1927, and Morgan added a circular driveway, Palladian windows, columns, and wings to give it a more presidential flair. However, its similarities to the White House extend farther than just its façade. Inside, there is also a a replica of the Oval Office and the East Room, in addition to a recreation room, home theater, fitness room, wine cellar, and roof deck.
The Elies purchased the home in October of 2022 for $15 million, according to SF Gate, and put roughly $6 million into renovations, the Wall Street Journal reports. The home is not the only White House replica in the United States—many notable copies are spread out across the country, including properties in Atlanta; Dallas; and McLean, Virginia, as well as international imitators in places like Hangzhou, China, and Erbil, Iraq.
