The Rolling Hills Estates home of UFC co-founder Rorion Gracie has entered the market with an asking price of $3.998 million. Known as the Gracie Estate, the property is recognized for a custom, 900-square-foot martial arts studio built specifically for the Brazilian jiu-jitsu pioneer.
This 3,937-square-foot residence includes five bedrooms and five bathrooms, situated on a corner lot that spans nearly two-thirds of an acre. The location is near the Empty Saddle Club, a private, member-owned equestrian organization in the Palos Verdes Peninsula. While the property does offer amenities for horses, the standout feature is clearly the dedicated training space.
Public records indicate that Gracie and his wife, Silvia, purchased the property for $1.95 million in April 2012. Originally completed in 1960, the house has since undergone extensive remodeling and updates. The redesigned interior now features minimalist details and high-end kitchen appliances. La Cantina glass doors seamlessly connect the indoor living spaces with the backyard pool and spa terrace.
The kitchen is equipped with matte white cabinets featuring flat-panel doors and modern stainless steel bar pulls. It houses a Thermador side-by-side refrigerator and freezer combination, alongside a professional Wolf eight-burner range. An enclosed sunroom, with wraparound floor-to-ceiling glass, serves as the dining space. The primary suite, anchored by a fireplace, unfolds under a vaulted ceiling and includes a bookcase wall, two walk-in closets, and a stone-clad bathroom with a steam shower. Outside, the estate's manicured grounds offer various entertaining areas, a treehouse, and a barn complete with a tack room.
Gracie, who is 74, is a ninth-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu grandmaster and the eldest son of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie. He was introduced to martial arts at a very young age, carrying forward a family legacy that began in 1925 with the opening of their first academy in Rio de Janeiro. The family adapted traditional Japanese techniques, emphasizing leverage and energy efficiency for smaller fighters.
In 1993, Gracie co-founded the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) alongside Art Davie and John Milius. Their aim was to promote his family’s distinct method of combat and self-defense. He once described his early vision for the UFC as “very unique, very special,” where “Two guys walk in, one guy walks out,” as he told The Ageless Warrior Lab on YouTube.
Today, Gracie’s multimillion-dollar global martial arts empire is largely overseen by his eldest sons, Ryron and Rener. The enterprise is anchored by Gracie University, which originated from its headquarters in Torrance and has since expanded to a network of 252 certified training centers across six continents. Other facets of this expansive operation include promoting the Gracie Diet, curating the Gracie Museum—which houses what is described as the world’s largest archive of artifacts documenting the birth of modern MMA—and teaching Gracie Survival Tactics, a specialized defensive program utilized by elite military units worldwide.
The listing for the Rolling Hills Estates home is currently shared by Cari Corbalis and Britt Austin of Vista Sotheby’s International Realty.