Between 1919 and 1947, William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan constructed a sprawling palace in San Simeon, California complete with 165 rooms, elaborate swimming pools, and even a private zoo.
Nestled in the Santa Lucia Mountains of California’s central coast is a lavish estate called Hearst Castle. Also known as “La Cuesta Encantada” or “Enchanted Hill,” the expansive home was built by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst between 1919 and 1947.
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1 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding property.Smith Collection/Getty Images 2 of 34Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California was owned by William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul, and was built between 1919 and 1947.Wikimedia Commons 3 of 34William Randolph Hearst had a modest bedroom in comparison to the rest of the estate.Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images 4 of 34Canadian actress Norma Shearer with William Randolph Hearst at the castle during one of his birthday parties.Keystone/Getty Images 5 of 34William Randolph Hearst with film producers Irving Thalberg and Hal Wallis, Louis B. Mayer, Baroness Phillipe de Rothschild, Colonel Henry Roosevelt, Marion Davies, and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 6 of 34Actor Jimmy Stewart posing at Hearst Castle in 1938.John Swope/Getty Images 7 of 34William Randolph Hearst with three of his five sons on the tennis courts in San Simeon, California. Left to right: William Randolph Hearst Jr., William Randolph Hearst Sr., John Randolph Hearst, and George Hearst.Bettmann/Getty Images 8 of 34Zebras from Hearst Castle’s zoo can still be seen roaming the property today.Smith Collection/Getty Images 9 of 34William Hearst sitting next to actress Rita Hayworth.Bettmann/Getty Images 10 of 34A carved wooden bed post inside Hearst Castle.George Rose/Getty Images 11 of 34A view from the window balcony at Hearst Castle.François GOHIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 12 of 34Casa del Sol, one of several guest “cottages” built around Casa Grande, the central structure. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images 13 of 34In a letter to architect Julia Morgan, Hearst wrote, “I am sending back the plan of the temple garden with the suggestion that we make the pool longer than it is, as long as a swimming pool. Mrs. Hearst and the children are extremely anxious to have a swimming pool!”George Rose/Getty Images 14 of 34Zebras and bison in the private zoo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images 15 of 34The outdoor gardens at Hearst Castle overlook thousands of acres of land that Hearst once owned.George Rose/Getty Images 16 of 34The entrance of Casa del Mar, “House of the Sea.” Hearst’s family stayed here while the initial construction was underway on the rest of the castle. Wikimedia Commons 17 of 34The ancient Egyptian sculptures outside Casa Grande are the oldest pieces in Hearst’s art collection. Wikimedia Commons 18 of 34William Hearst began an affair with Hollywood actress Marion Davies just before construction began on Hearst Castle. She eventually came to live with him there. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images 19 of 34The Roman Pool was built in the style of an ancient Roman bathhouse, and the imagery depicted on the walls is representative of Roman mythology. Wikimedia Commons 20 of 34The assembly room at Hearst Castle is so large that there are phones on either end so guests don’t have to walk across the room to talk to each other.Wikimedia Commons 21 of 34The billiard room contains some of the rarest artwork in Hearst’s collection. Wikimedia Commons 22 of 34The Millefleur hunting scene woven in Flanders in the 15th century that hangs in the billiard room. Wikimedia Commons 23 of 34Casa Grande at night. Wikimedia Commons 24 of 34Hearst’s lover, actress Marion Davies, posing for a photo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images 25 of 34The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle was restored in 2018. George Rose/Getty Images 26 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding terrain.Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images 27 of 34Casa Grande was reportedly inspired by Church of Santa María la Mayor in Ronda, Spain.Wikimedia Commons 28 of 34A sitting room in the Doge’s Suite, which was inspired by the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Wikimedia Commons 29 of 34The gothic library has a portrait of Hearst at the far end painted by Orrin Peck. Wikimedia Commons 30 of 34The main library houses over 4,000 books and 150 ancient Greek vases that are more than 2,000 years old.Wikimedia Commons 31 of 34William Randolph Hearst and movie star Marion Davies celebrating his 70th birthday in 1933.Bettmann/Getty Images 32 of 34A copy of The Three Graces by Antonio Canova.Wikimedia Commons 33 of 34Hearst Castle as seen from a tour bus on the ride up the hill.George Rose/Getty Images 34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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Inside Hearst Castle, The Lavish California Estate Built By The 20th Century’s Biggest Newspaper Tycoon View Gallery
Hearst worked with architect Julia Morgan to design the 165-room castle that sits on 250,000 acres of land in San Simeon, California. With 38 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, three opulent guest houses, and two enormous pools, the estate cost an estimated $137 million in today’s currency to build.
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1 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding property.Smith Collection/Getty Images 2 of 34Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California was owned by William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul, and was built between 1919 and 1947.Wikimedia Commons 3 of 34William Randolph Hearst had a modest bedroom in comparison to the rest of the estate.Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images 4 of 34Canadian actress Norma Shearer with William Randolph Hearst at the castle during one of his birthday parties.Keystone/Getty Images 5 of 34William Randolph Hearst with film producers Irving Thalberg and Hal Wallis, Louis B. Mayer, Baroness Phillipe de Rothschild, Colonel Henry Roosevelt, Marion Davies, and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 6 of 34Actor Jimmy Stewart posing at Hearst Castle in 1938.John Swope/Getty Images 7 of 34William Randolph Hearst with three of his five sons on the tennis courts in San Simeon, California. Left to right: William Randolph Hearst Jr., William Randolph Hearst Sr., John Randolph Hearst, and George Hearst.Bettmann/Getty Images 8 of 34Zebras from Hearst Castle’s zoo can still be seen roaming the property today.Smith Collection/Getty Images 9 of 34William Hearst sitting next to actress Rita Hayworth.Bettmann/Getty Images 10 of 34A carved wooden bed post inside Hearst Castle.George Rose/Getty Images 11 of 34A view from the window balcony at Hearst Castle.François GOHIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 12 of 34Casa del Sol, one of several guest “cottages” built around Casa Grande, the central structure. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images 13 of 34In a letter to architect Julia Morgan, Hearst wrote, “I am sending back the plan of the temple garden with the suggestion that we make the pool longer than it is, as long as a swimming pool. Mrs. Hearst and the children are extremely anxious to have a swimming pool!”George Rose/Getty Images 14 of 34Zebras and bison in the private zoo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images 15 of 34The outdoor gardens at Hearst Castle overlook thousands of acres of land that Hearst once owned.George Rose/Getty Images 16 of 34The entrance of Casa del Mar, “House of the Sea.” Hearst’s family stayed here while the initial construction was underway on the rest of the castle. Wikimedia Commons 17 of 34The ancient Egyptian sculptures outside Casa Grande are the oldest pieces in Hearst’s art collection. Wikimedia Commons 18 of 34William Hearst began an affair with Hollywood actress Marion Davies just before construction began on Hearst Castle. She eventually came to live with him there. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images 19 of 34The Roman Pool was built in the style of an ancient Roman bathhouse, and the imagery depicted on the walls is representative of Roman mythology. Wikimedia Commons 20 of 34The assembly room at Hearst Castle is so large that there are phones on either end so guests don’t have to walk across the room to talk to each other.Wikimedia Commons 21 of 34The billiard room contains some of the rarest artwork in Hearst’s collection. Wikimedia Commons 22 of 34The Millefleur hunting scene woven in Flanders in the 15th century that hangs in the billiard room. Wikimedia Commons 23 of 34Casa Grande at night. Wikimedia Commons 24 of 34Hearst’s lover, actress Marion Davies, posing for a photo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images 25 of 34The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle was restored in 2018. George Rose/Getty Images 26 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding terrain.Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images 27 of 34Casa Grande was reportedly inspired by Church of Santa María la Mayor in Ronda, Spain.Wikimedia Commons 28 of 34A sitting room in the Doge’s Suite, which was inspired by the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Wikimedia Commons 29 of 34The gothic library has a portrait of Hearst at the far end painted by Orrin Peck. Wikimedia Commons 30 of 34The main library houses over 4,000 books and 150 ancient Greek vases that are more than 2,000 years old.Wikimedia Commons 31 of 34William Randolph Hearst and movie star Marion Davies celebrating his 70th birthday in 1933.Bettmann/Getty Images 32 of 34A copy of The Three Graces by Antonio Canova.Wikimedia Commons 33 of 34Hearst Castle as seen from a tour bus on the ride up the hill.George Rose/Getty Images 34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
Explore Hammond Castle, The Extravagant Estate Built By Thomas Edison’s Eccentric Protégé
10 Enchanting New York Castles Built By 20th-Century American Royalty
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1 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding property.Smith Collection/Getty Images 2 of 34Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California was owned by William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul, and was built between 1919 and 1947.Wikimedia Commons 3 of 34William Randolph Hearst had a modest bedroom in comparison to the rest of the estate.Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images 4 of 34Canadian actress Norma Shearer with William Randolph Hearst at the castle during one of his birthday parties.Keystone/Getty Images 5 of 34William Randolph Hearst with film producers Irving Thalberg and Hal Wallis, Louis B. Mayer, Baroness Phillipe de Rothschild, Colonel Henry Roosevelt, Marion Davies, and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 6 of 34Actor Jimmy Stewart posing at Hearst Castle in 1938.John Swope/Getty Images 7 of 34William Randolph Hearst with three of his five sons on the tennis courts in San Simeon, California. Left to right: William Randolph Hearst Jr., William Randolph Hearst Sr., John Randolph Hearst, and George Hearst.Bettmann/Getty Images 8 of 34Zebras from Hearst Castle’s zoo can still be seen roaming the property today.Smith Collection/Getty Images 9 of 34William Hearst sitting next to actress Rita Hayworth.Bettmann/Getty Images 10 of 34A carved wooden bed post inside Hearst Castle.George Rose/Getty Images 11 of 34A view from the window balcony at Hearst Castle.François GOHIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 12 of 34Casa del Sol, one of several guest “cottages” built around Casa Grande, the central structure. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images 13 of 34In a letter to architect Julia Morgan, Hearst wrote, “I am sending back the plan of the temple garden with the suggestion that we make the pool longer than it is, as long as a swimming pool. Mrs. Hearst and the children are extremely anxious to have a swimming pool!”George Rose/Getty Images 14 of 34Zebras and bison in the private zoo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images 15 of 34The outdoor gardens at Hearst Castle overlook thousands of acres of land that Hearst once owned.George Rose/Getty Images 16 of 34The entrance of Casa del Mar, “House of the Sea.” Hearst’s family stayed here while the initial construction was underway on the rest of the castle. Wikimedia Commons 17 of 34The ancient Egyptian sculptures outside Casa Grande are the oldest pieces in Hearst’s art collection. Wikimedia Commons 18 of 34William Hearst began an affair with Hollywood actress Marion Davies just before construction began on Hearst Castle. She eventually came to live with him there. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images 19 of 34The Roman Pool was built in the style of an ancient Roman bathhouse, and the imagery depicted on the walls is representative of Roman mythology. Wikimedia Commons 20 of 34The assembly room at Hearst Castle is so large that there are phones on either end so guests don’t have to walk across the room to talk to each other.Wikimedia Commons 21 of 34The billiard room contains some of the rarest artwork in Hearst’s collection. Wikimedia Commons 22 of 34The Millefleur hunting scene woven in Flanders in the 15th century that hangs in the billiard room. Wikimedia Commons 23 of 34Casa Grande at night. Wikimedia Commons 24 of 34Hearst’s lover, actress Marion Davies, posing for a photo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images 25 of 34The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle was restored in 2018. George Rose/Getty Images 26 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding terrain.Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images 27 of 34Casa Grande was reportedly inspired by Church of Santa María la Mayor in Ronda, Spain.Wikimedia Commons 28 of 34A sitting room in the Doge’s Suite, which was inspired by the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Wikimedia Commons 29 of 34The gothic library has a portrait of Hearst at the far end painted by Orrin Peck. Wikimedia Commons 30 of 34The main library houses over 4,000 books and 150 ancient Greek vases that are more than 2,000 years old.Wikimedia Commons 31 of 34William Randolph Hearst and movie star Marion Davies celebrating his 70th birthday in 1933.Bettmann/Getty Images 32 of 34A copy of The Three Graces by Antonio Canova.Wikimedia Commons 33 of 34Hearst Castle as seen from a tour bus on the ride up the hill.George Rose/Getty Images 34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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Explore Hammond Castle, The Extravagant Estate Built By Thomas Edison’s Eccentric Protégé
10 Enchanting New York Castles Built By 20th-Century American Royalty
Biddy Mason, The Enslaved Woman Who Sued Her Master For Freedom — And Became A Real Estate Tycoon
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1 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding property.Smith Collection/Getty Images 2 of 34Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California was owned by William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul, and was built between 1919 and 1947.Wikimedia Commons 3 of 34William Randolph Hearst had a modest bedroom in comparison to the rest of the estate.Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images 4 of 34Canadian actress Norma Shearer with William Randolph Hearst at the castle during one of his birthday parties.Keystone/Getty Images 5 of 34William Randolph Hearst with film producers Irving Thalberg and Hal Wallis, Louis B. Mayer, Baroness Phillipe de Rothschild, Colonel Henry Roosevelt, Marion Davies, and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 6 of 34Actor Jimmy Stewart posing at Hearst Castle in 1938.John Swope/Getty Images 7 of 34William Randolph Hearst with three of his five sons on the tennis courts in San Simeon, California. Left to right: William Randolph Hearst Jr., William Randolph Hearst Sr., John Randolph Hearst, and George Hearst.Bettmann/Getty Images 8 of 34Zebras from Hearst Castle’s zoo can still be seen roaming the property today.Smith Collection/Getty Images 9 of 34William Hearst sitting next to actress Rita Hayworth.Bettmann/Getty Images 10 of 34A carved wooden bed post inside Hearst Castle.George Rose/Getty Images 11 of 34A view from the window balcony at Hearst Castle.François GOHIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images 12 of 34Casa del Sol, one of several guest “cottages” built around Casa Grande, the central structure. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images 13 of 34In a letter to architect Julia Morgan, Hearst wrote, “I am sending back the plan of the temple garden with the suggestion that we make the pool longer than it is, as long as a swimming pool. Mrs. Hearst and the children are extremely anxious to have a swimming pool!”George Rose/Getty Images 14 of 34Zebras and bison in the private zoo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images 15 of 34The outdoor gardens at Hearst Castle overlook thousands of acres of land that Hearst once owned.George Rose/Getty Images 16 of 34The entrance of Casa del Mar, “House of the Sea.” Hearst’s family stayed here while the initial construction was underway on the rest of the castle. Wikimedia Commons 17 of 34The ancient Egyptian sculptures outside Casa Grande are the oldest pieces in Hearst’s art collection. Wikimedia Commons 18 of 34William Hearst began an affair with Hollywood actress Marion Davies just before construction began on Hearst Castle. She eventually came to live with him there. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images 19 of 34The Roman Pool was built in the style of an ancient Roman bathhouse, and the imagery depicted on the walls is representative of Roman mythology. Wikimedia Commons 20 of 34The assembly room at Hearst Castle is so large that there are phones on either end so guests don’t have to walk across the room to talk to each other.Wikimedia Commons 21 of 34The billiard room contains some of the rarest artwork in Hearst’s collection. Wikimedia Commons 22 of 34The Millefleur hunting scene woven in Flanders in the 15th century that hangs in the billiard room. Wikimedia Commons 23 of 34Casa Grande at night. Wikimedia Commons 24 of 34Hearst’s lover, actress Marion Davies, posing for a photo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images 25 of 34The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle was restored in 2018. George Rose/Getty Images 26 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding terrain.Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images 27 of 34Casa Grande was reportedly inspired by Church of Santa María la Mayor in Ronda, Spain.Wikimedia Commons 28 of 34A sitting room in the Doge’s Suite, which was inspired by the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Wikimedia Commons 29 of 34The gothic library has a portrait of Hearst at the far end painted by Orrin Peck. Wikimedia Commons 30 of 34The main library houses over 4,000 books and 150 ancient Greek vases that are more than 2,000 years old.Wikimedia Commons 31 of 34William Randolph Hearst and movie star Marion Davies celebrating his 70th birthday in 1933.Bettmann/Getty Images 32 of 34A copy of The Three Graces by Antonio Canova.Wikimedia Commons 33 of 34Hearst Castle as seen from a tour bus on the ride up the hill.George Rose/Getty Images 34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding property.Smith Collection/Getty Images
2 of 34Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California was owned by William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul, and was built between 1919 and 1947.Wikimedia Commons
3 of 34William Randolph Hearst had a modest bedroom in comparison to the rest of the estate.Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
4 of 34Canadian actress Norma Shearer with William Randolph Hearst at the castle during one of his birthday parties.Keystone/Getty Images
5 of 34William Randolph Hearst with film producers Irving Thalberg and Hal Wallis, Louis B. Mayer, Baroness Phillipe de Rothschild, Colonel Henry Roosevelt, Marion Davies, and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
6 of 34Actor Jimmy Stewart posing at Hearst Castle in 1938.John Swope/Getty Images
7 of 34William Randolph Hearst with three of his five sons on the tennis courts in San Simeon, California. Left to right: William Randolph Hearst Jr., William Randolph Hearst Sr., John Randolph Hearst, and George Hearst.Bettmann/Getty Images
8 of 34Zebras from Hearst Castle’s zoo can still be seen roaming the property today.Smith Collection/Getty Images
9 of 34William Hearst sitting next to actress Rita Hayworth.Bettmann/Getty Images
10 of 34A carved wooden bed post inside Hearst Castle.George Rose/Getty Images
11 of 34A view from the window balcony at Hearst Castle.François GOHIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
12 of 34Casa del Sol, one of several guest “cottages” built around Casa Grande, the central structure. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images
13 of 34In a letter to architect Julia Morgan, Hearst wrote, “I am sending back the plan of the temple garden with the suggestion that we make the pool longer than it is, as long as a swimming pool. Mrs. Hearst and the children are extremely anxious to have a swimming pool!”George Rose/Getty Images
14 of 34Zebras and bison in the private zoo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images
15 of 34The outdoor gardens at Hearst Castle overlook thousands of acres of land that Hearst once owned.George Rose/Getty Images
16 of 34The entrance of Casa del Mar, “House of the Sea.” Hearst’s family stayed here while the initial construction was underway on the rest of the castle. Wikimedia Commons
17 of 34The ancient Egyptian sculptures outside Casa Grande are the oldest pieces in Hearst’s art collection. Wikimedia Commons
18 of 34William Hearst began an affair with Hollywood actress Marion Davies just before construction began on Hearst Castle. She eventually came to live with him there. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images
19 of 34The Roman Pool was built in the style of an ancient Roman bathhouse, and the imagery depicted on the walls is representative of Roman mythology. Wikimedia Commons
20 of 34The assembly room at Hearst Castle is so large that there are phones on either end so guests don’t have to walk across the room to talk to each other.Wikimedia Commons
21 of 34The billiard room contains some of the rarest artwork in Hearst’s collection. Wikimedia Commons
22 of 34The Millefleur hunting scene woven in Flanders in the 15th century that hangs in the billiard room. Wikimedia Commons
23 of 34Casa Grande at night. Wikimedia Commons
24 of 34Hearst’s lover, actress Marion Davies, posing for a photo at Hearst Castle.Salomon/Getty Images
25 of 34The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle was restored in 2018. George Rose/Getty Images
26 of 34An aerial view of Hearst Castle and the surrounding terrain.Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images
27 of 34Casa Grande was reportedly inspired by Church of Santa María la Mayor in Ronda, Spain.Wikimedia Commons
28 of 34A sitting room in the Doge’s Suite, which was inspired by the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Wikimedia Commons
29 of 34The gothic library has a portrait of Hearst at the far end painted by Orrin Peck. Wikimedia Commons
30 of 34The main library houses over 4,000 books and 150 ancient Greek vases that are more than 2,000 years old.Wikimedia Commons
31 of 34William Randolph Hearst and movie star Marion Davies celebrating his 70th birthday in 1933.Bettmann/Getty Images
32 of 34A copy of The Three Graces by Antonio Canova.Wikimedia Commons
33 of 34Hearst Castle as seen from a tour bus on the ride up the hill.George Rose/Getty Images
34 of 34Like this gallery?Share it:
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Inside Hearst Castle, The Lavish California Estate Built By The 20th Century’s Biggest Newspaper Tycoon View Gallery
Inside Hearst Castle, The Lavish California Estate Built By The 20th Century’s Biggest Newspaper Tycoon View Gallery
Inside Hearst Castle, The Lavish California Estate Built By The 20th Century’s Biggest Newspaper Tycoon View Gallery
Inside Hearst Castle, The Lavish California Estate Built By The 20th Century’s Biggest Newspaper Tycoon View Gallery
Inside Hearst Castle, The Lavish California Estate Built By The 20th Century’s Biggest Newspaper Tycoon
View Gallery
Throughout the 1920s and ’30s, Hearst Castle hosted countless parties that were attended by some of Old Hollywood’s biggest stars. What’s more, William Randolph Hearst and his luxurious home even inspired Orson Welles’ acclaimed 1941 film Citizen Kane.
Hearst resided in the castle with his wife — and later his mistress — during the course of its construction. He was ultimately forced to abandon it in 1947 when his health declined. After the newspaper magnate’s death in 1951, Hearst Castle was donated to the State of California, and today it is a California State Park and historical monument.
The Affluent History Of Hearst Castle
William Randolph Hearst was accustomed to grand displays of wealth. His father, George Hearst, had made millions during the California Gold Rush. According to the official Hearst Castle website, George then used that money to buy 40,000 acres of land between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
As a child, William Randolph Hearst often visited the land, which was then called “Camp Hill,” with his family. According to PBS, they rode horses, went on hunts, and slept in fully-furnished tents on the property.
After George Hearst died in 1891 and his wife Phoebe followed in 1919, William inherited the land. He also inherited his father’s struggling newspaper, The San Francisco Examiner, and he soon transformed it into a successful business. By the 1930s, William Randolph Hearst was the head of a media empire comprising dozens of newspapers, magazines, wire and photo services, newsreels, radio stations, and film studios.
Getty ImagesWilliam Randolph Hearst, the media mogul behind Hearst Castle.
In 1919, Hearst was already well on his way to success. He decided to build a home on the property in San Simeon that he had loved so much as a child. He purchased the surrounding land until he had a plot of 250,000 acres. At first, he intended to build a simple bungalow, and he approached trailblazing female architect Julia Morgan to help him design his quiet California escape.
Morgan was the first woman to graduate with a degree in engineering from California State University, and she had studied architecture at the renowned Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. When Hearst first reached out to her in 1919, he reportedly said, “Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something.”
That “little something” quickly became the vast mansion that towers over the property today.
Inside The Extravagant Halls Of Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle consists of one main house — the Mediterranean-style “Casa Grande” — and three guest cottages, each of which is larger than the average American home. Casa Grande stretches a staggering 68,500 square feet. That’s larger than the White House.
Altogether, the four houses have 165 rooms. In addition to its 38 bedrooms and 42 bathrooms, Casa Grande has a billiard room, a theater, a library, and even its own beauty salon. Surrounding the buildings are 123 acres of lush, manicured gardens, walkways, and terraces.
There’s also the outdoor Neptune Pool, which is encircled by reconstructions of Roman temples. Inside, meanwhile, is another pool that took years to construct.
Public DomainA cartoon in Harper’s Weekly by W.A. Rogers in 1906 depicted Hearst as the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, stuck in his own ooze.
According to CNN, it took builders five years to complete the tilework for the indoor pool, which is designed to look like ancient Roman baths. When they finally finished, Julia Morgan decided it looked “too perfect” — and made them rip it all out and start over again.
While the pools, gardens, and opulent rooms are impressive, one of the most valuable parts of Hearst Castle is its art. William Randolph Hearst wanted his mansion to, in part, serve as a showcase for his extensive art collection.
Some key pieces include ancient Egyptian sculptures, a 17th-century painting by Spanish artist Bartolomé Pérez de la Dehesa, and a 15th-century ceiling from a palace in Spain. Hearst even hung two tapestries from the famous “Hunt of the Unicorn” series in the billiard room.
Every detail in Hearst’s home was meant to impress — which is perhaps why it soon became a hot spot for Hollywood’s biggest parties.
The Prominent Guests Of Hearst Castle
Not long before William Randolph Hearst started building his own personal palace, he began an affair with the young actress Marion Davies. Soon, she and Hearst were hosting parties for major celebrities at their estate.
“There was an old saying in Hollywood that there were two groups of stars,” a Hearst Castle tour guide, Jim Allen, once said. “The ones who had been to Hearst Castle and the ones who had said they had been to Hearst Castle.”
As reported by Far Out Magazine, Hearst’s parties hosted some of Old Hollywood’s most darling stars: Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Greta Garbo, Buster Keaton, and the Marx Brothers.
Getty ImagesOther famous guests who stayed at Hearst Castle include Franklin Roosevelt, George Bernard Shaw, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, and Calvin Coolidge.
Guests flew in through the castle’s private airstrip for costume parties and film screenings. When not drinking or lounging by the pool, they explored the massive property or visited Hearst’s private zoo, the largest of its kind in the world at the time.
However, not everyone was as impressed by Hearst as his Hollywood friends.
One of his prominent guests, Winston Churchill, described him as “a grave, simple child — with no doubt a nasty temper — playing with the most costly toys.”
In fact, Hearst became so well-known for his lavish parties and lifestyle that actor and director Orson Welles decided to base one of his most famous characters off of the newspaper tycoon.
‘Citizen Kane’ And William Randolph Hearst’s Final Years
Citizen Kane was released in 1941, and many say it’s Orson Welles’ magnum opus. The film is a scathing satirization of the wealth of obsessive media mogul Charles Foster Kane, and it’s clear that it’s based on Hearst’s own life. Kane even has his own sprawling estate called Xanadu, a mirror of Hearst Castle.
Hearst attempted to shut down the film’s production several times. He began publishing petty personal attacks on Orson Welles, and he even banned advertisements for Citizen Kane across all of his publications. Obviously, Hearst failed. To this day, Citizen Kane is considered one of cinema’s greatest accomplishments.
Public DomainCitizen Kane is about the rise and fall of a wealthy media mogul inspired by William Randolph Hearst.
Unfortunately for Hearst, Citizen Kane is the last impression many had of him. After he lost a great deal of wealth during the Great Depression, the parties at Hearst Castle died down. He had to close his private zoo and stop construction, leaving parts of the estate unfinished.
He and Marion Davies left Hearst Castle for the last time in 1947, when Hearst’s health started to decline and he needed to be closer to a hospital. He reportedly cried as they drove away from the estate. Davies said, “We’ll come back, W.R., you’ll see.”
But they never did. Hearst died four years later, and today the castle serves only as a reminder of his outrageous wealth and opulence.
After exploring Hearst Castle and learning its history, take a look inside Hammond Castle, the extravagant estate built by Thomas Edison’s protégé. Then, check out these 10 castles in New York built by American “royalty.”
