The Mickey Cohen House in Brentwood, Los Angeles, isn’t just a home; it’s a piece of history wrapped in mystery. Once owned by the infamous gangster Mickey Cohen, this place was more than a residence; it was a fortress for a man living a dangerous life.
Tucked away in a quiet, upscale neighborhood, the house hides stories of crime, glamour, and survival. From bomb-proof walls to Hollywood parties, the Mickey Cohen House pulls you into a world of intrigue. Want to know what made this place so special? Please keep reading to uncover its secrets, from its unique design to its wild past.
Who Was Mickey Cohen?
Mickey Cohen was a larger-than-life figure in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1913, and as a child, he moved to Los Angeles and was raised in Boyle Heights. He was a boxer before he ventured into the underworld and became involved with such crimes as working with Bugsy Siegel.
In the wake of Siegel’s murder in 1947, Cohen rose to the top as a crime boss and took his place as a gambling operator in the city, while mixing with the Hollywood elite, like Frank Sinatra. He lived a life of wealth but also peril, and his relationship with law enforcement was constant.
Cohen owned several properties, but details about his cars, yachts, private islands, or jets are scarce; he wasn’t known for those. His net worth at his peak is tough to pin down, but his lavish lifestyle suggested millions. He likely owned at least three homes during his criminal career.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Meyer Harris Cohen |
| Born | September 4, 1913, Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | July 29, 1976, Los Angeles, California (stomach cancer) |
| Occupation | Gangster, Crime Boss, Former Boxer |
| Known For | Leading the Cohen crime family, with ties to Bugsy Siegel and Hollywood elites. |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | Unknown, but likely millions at his peak in the 1940s-1950s |
| Total Homes Owned | At least 3 (Brentwood, Coldwater Canyon, Van Nuys) |
Where Does Mickey Cohen Live Now?
Mickey Cohen passed away in 1976, so he no longer lives anywhere. At the height of his power, he called Los Angeles home, bouncing between properties that matched his flashy yet paranoid lifestyle. His most famous residence was the Mickey Cohen House at 513 Moreno Avenue in Brentwood.
He also rented a place in Van Nuys in the late 1950s and owned a mansion in Coldwater Canyon. After prison stints for tax evasion, his fortune dwindled, and he lost many assets, including the Brentwood house.
At the time of his death, Cohen was not the high roller he had been at the height of his notoriety, and his final residence remains uncertain. However, he is remembered through the infamous Mickey Cohen House.
Mickey Cohen House
The Mickey Cohen House at 513 Moreno Avenue in Brentwood, Los Angeles, is a legend in its own right. This wasn’t just a home, it was a fortress for a gangster who knew danger was always close. Cohen turned this ordinary-looking house into a stronghold, complete with high-tech security for its time. Built to blend into the quiet Brentwood neighborhood, the house hid its wild secrets behind a modest facade.
It served as a location for elaborate parties with movie stars and a target for competing gangsters, including a 1950 bombing that made a hole in the front bedroom. Despite the disorder, the Mickey Cohen House remained intact and signified Cohen’s power and paranoia. The Mickey Cohen House is a historical treasure today and attracts curious visitors who seek to glimpse Los Angeles’ true past.
Where Is Mickey Cohen’s House?
Situated at 513 Moreno Avenue in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood in Los Angeles, the Mickey Cohen House lies within one of the richest areas of the Westside. Surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Brentwood has a reputation for being quiet and lush in many ways.
The house’s location was advantageous, sufficiently far from the activity of L.A. to feel like a refuge, yet close enough to engage when appropriate. While the neighborhood was tranquil, it was anything but quiet at the Mickey Cohen House. After all, police were surveilling the house, and rival gangsters were attacking him. Today, with Brentwood’s charm and property values, 513 Moreno Avenue is a great address that continues to juxtapose suburban tranquility with the evils of The Mickey Cohen House.
Features of Mickey Cohen’s House
The Mickey Cohen House looked like a typical postwar ranch from the outside, but inside, it was a gangster’s dream. Spanning about 2,500 square feet, it had seven moderately sized rooms plus a maid’s quarters. Cohen worked with a top decorator to create a stylish, traditional interior. Each room had a single-color theme, think celadon greens in the living room and muted blues in the dining room.
His bedroom was modern, with neutral tones, natural leather, and a monogrammed bedspread sporting a giant “MC.” The den even had a library of classic books, despite Cohen barely being able to read. What set the house apart were its fortress-like features: reinforced walls, bulletproof windows, and a state-of-the-art alarm system, all built to keep Cohen safe from rivals and police alike.
Market Value
| Detail | Information |
| Build Year | Not specified in records |
| Purchase Year | Not specified in records |
| Purchase Value | Not specified in records |
| Current Estimated Value (2024) | $1.5 million (based on Brentwood comparables) |
Note: Exact build year, purchase year, and purchase value for the Mickey Cohen House are not well-documented. The current estimated value is based on 2024 Brentwood market trends.
Mickey Cohen Real Estate Portfolio
Mickey Cohen owned a few notable properties during his criminal career, each tied to his flashy yet dangerous lifestyle. Besides the famous Mickey Cohen House at 513 Moreno Avenue in Brentwood, he had a mansion at 9100 Hazen Drive in Coldwater Canyon. This place was a party hub in the 1940s, doubling as a high-stakes gambling den where Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra gambled big.
It was huge, likely over 5,000 square feet, and sat in a ritzy area known for privacy. Cohen also rented a home in Van Nuys in the late 1950s, a more modest spot in the San Fernando Valley. His childhood home was in Boyle Heights, a working-class LA neighborhood where he got his start in crime.
Conclusion
The Mickey Cohen House (513 Moreno Avenue) is more than just a building; it is a glimpse into a remarkable and wild period in Los Angeles’ history. From the fortress-like aspect to Cohen’s glamorous yet dangerous life lived there, the Brentwood home captivates with tales of crime, power, and survival. Although Cohen’s empire fell apart, the home stands tall and proud, a piece of history nestled among one of LA’s finest neighborhoods.
The currently estimated $1.5 million value speaks to Brentwood’s sizzling real estate market, but the real value is in its stories of Hollywood stars, mob feuds, and, more ominously, a bombing in 1950 that rattled the city. The Mickey Cohen House is a testament to secrets that hide in even the quietest of neighborhoods.
👉 For more celebrity home tours, architecture insights, and real estate stories, visit Olivihome.
