A Real Estate Portfolio Built on a Grindr Fortune
Joel Simkhai, the Israeli-American entrepreneur who founded Grindr in 2009 and helped establish it as the world’s largest geosocial networking app for gay, bi, and queer men, has spent the years since his 2018 exit building a notable real estate portfolio across Los Angeles. Simkhai sold the majority of Grindr to Beijing-based Kunlun Tech through two transactions valued at nearly $250 million, and a portion of that fortune has since been reflected in a collection of high-end properties across the city’s sought-after hillside neighborhoods.
His approach to real estate has been relatively consistent: acquire architecturally distinctive residences in areas such as the Hollywood Hills and Outpost Estates, hold them for several years, and eventually sell. The results have varied, with some transactions producing gains and others losses, but the pattern suggests a focus on distinctive properties rather than long-term ownership. In 2017, he paid $10.5 million for a neo-Mediterranean mansion above the Sunset Strip, later selling it in 2021 for roughly $9.6 million to Killers guitarist Dave Keuning and his wife, designer Emilie Keuning. The residence has since changed hands again and is now owned by Brad Pitt. Simkhai has also owned property in New York, giving his portfolio a broader presence beyond Los Angeles.
Away from real estate, Simkhai has remained connected to the dating-app industry he helped shape, launching the app Motto in 2022. Yet his property dealings have also established a distinct profile in Los Angeles real estate, particularly through his interest in homes where architecture, location, and expansive views converge.
Simkhai Puts Sunset View Drive Showplace on the Market
Joel Simkhai is once again testing the Hollywood Hills luxury market, offering a contemporary estate on Sunset View Drive for just under $15 million. The listing concludes a five-year ownership period for Simkhai, who acquired the property in January 2020 for approximately $13 million. That purchase itself came at a significant reduction from the property’s original $22.5 million asking price.
Unlike some of his previous Los Angeles residences, Simkhai did not occupy the Sunset View Drive home as a full-time residence. Instead, the property remained an investment while he was based elsewhere. The architecture and setting were central to its appeal, combining a mid-century-influenced design with sweeping views that extend from Downtown Los Angeles toward the Pacific. The combination offered a distinctive proposition within the competitive Hollywood Hills market.
The estate also sits beside a residence owned by Edwin Castro, the Altadena resident who became a billionaire after winning the record-setting Powerball jackpot in 2022. Its location illustrates the concentration of substantial private estates and considerable fortunes in this section of the Hollywood Hills. After five years of ownership, the property is now returning to the market at a time when Los Angeles’ ultra-luxury segment has become more selective than during the strongest years of the early 2020s.
At an asking price near $15 million, the property would represent an increase of roughly $2 million over Simkhai’s reported purchase price, before accounting for broker commissions, taxes, maintenance, and other ownership expenses. The eventual sale price will determine the property’s actual investment performance. Regardless of the outcome, the listing adds another chapter to Simkhai’s pattern of acquiring architecturally distinctive homes and eventually bringing them back to the market.
Details About the House
| Fact | Details |
| Year Built | 2017 |
| Location | Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles |
| Lot Size | Nearly 0.5 acre |
| Interior Size | 8,771 sq. ft. |
| Bedrooms | 5 |
| Bathrooms | 8 |
| Levels | 3 |
| Pool | Infinity-edge pool |
| Asking Price | Just under $15 million |
Property Timeline
2017: Home is built on Sunset View Drive in the Hollywood Hills, with interiors by architect and designer Tim Campbell.
Prior to 2020: Property is initially listed for $22.5 million.
January 2020: Joel Simkhai purchases the estate for approximately $13 million, well below the original ask.
2020–2026: Simkhai holds the property as an investment, never using it as a primary residence.
June 2026: Simkhai lists the estate for sale at just under $15 million through The Altman Brothers Team at Douglas Elliman.
