Bird founder Travis VanderZanden sells Bel-Air estate at $11M loss 

Travis VanderZanden has driven his scooter into the gutter, having sold his hilltop Bel-Air estate at a $10.9 million loss.

The founder and former CEO of Bird, the Santa Monica-based scooter-sharing firm, sold the 10,000-square-foot mansion at 11507 Orum Road for $10.8 million, according to the Robb Report. The buyer was undisclosed.

In September 2020, the VanderZandens paid $21.7 million to comedian Trevor Noah for their Bel-Air home. “The Daily Show” host bought the spec home in 2018 from developer Jacob Cohan for $20.5 million.

The sale comes after VanderZanden and his wife, Samantha, sold their 13,800-square-foot mansion in Coral Gables, Florida, for $26 million — $13.9 million off its initial asking price.

After nearly six months of renovations, the Bird founder was ready to flip and fly — and listed the pad for $25 million.  A would-be buyer inked a deal for the six-bedroom, nine-bathroom house, then fell out of contract.

By early last year, the 1.3-acre property’s asking price had sunk to $18.9 million.  

A fire damaged the property after VanderZanden bought it, according to a source familiar with the matter, who added the entire interior needs to be remodeled. If the property was insured, it is likely the sellers got a payout claim.

The two-story contemporary home, clad in black and white, has floor-to-ceiling walls of glass overlooking Bel-Air Country Club. Highlights include a stone wet bar showcasing a 500-gallon saltwater aquarium, a cigar room, a den with a marble fireplace, a movie theater and quarters for a live-in housekeeper.

A gourmet kitchen has two marble islands, plus temperature controlled wine storage for 250 bottles. Upstairs, a 2,200-square-foot master bedroom has its own bar, sitting room, dual walk-in closets and an 800-square-foot balcony.

A family sports room has glass walls that disappear for easy access to the patio. A tree-lined backyard has a 63-foot infinity pool.

VanderZanden, a former Lyft COO and Uber vice president, in 2017 founded Bird, the nationwide electric scooter-rental service once valued at $2.5 billion. By 2020, Bird had been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, In December, the company declared bankruptcy.   

— Dana Bartholomew

This story has been updated to reflect that a fire broke out at the home, causing significant damage to the interior.

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Residential

Los Angeles

Bird founder looks to flip mansion he bought from Trevor Noah

Residential

Los Angeles

Bird founder looks to flip mansion he bought from Trevor Noah

Residential

Los Angeles

Bird founder looks set to fly from glassy Bel Air mansion