Guitarist Steve Vai Lists Encino, CA Home for $11.8 Million

Robb Report says legendary guitarist Steve Vai has listed his longtime Encino, California home for nearly $11.8 million.

Vai, 65, and his wife Pia relocated to the Rancho Santa Fe area of San Diego in early 2025. He bought the Encino property three decades ago for $1.2 million.

Located behind gates in Encino’s sought-after Music Row neighborhood, the estate began as a mid-century home and has since grown to more than 10,000 square feet. The property includes five ensuite bedrooms, nine-foot ceilings, original poured-in-place terrazzo in the entry, foyer, and patios, and acacia wood flooring throughout. It also adds another 3,000 square feet of space, including a studio, pool house, and gym.

Photos of the home are available through Sotheby’s International Realty.

HOUSE DESCRIPTION:

Set behind gates in Encino’s coveted Music Row neighborhood, the longtime estate of legendary guitarist Steve Vai unfolds across nearly two private acres—an oasis of natural beauty, serenity, and inspiration. Originally conceived as a mid-century residence and thoughtfully expanded to over 10,000 sq ft, the home offers 5 ensuite bedrooms, 9-foot ceilings, original poured-in-place terrazzo throughout the entry, foyer, and patios, and rich acacia wood flooring throughout, complemented by acacia wood flooring and refined finishes. An additional 3000 sqft. has been added which includes studio, pool house, and gym. Opening seamlessly to lush, landscaped grounds, the estate lives as a true sanctuary—an inspired, artful environment where nature, creativity, peace, and possibility converge.

The interiors balance warmth and architectural presence, highlighted by a step-down family room with coffered, wood-inlaid ceilings and a striking Pennsylvania gray-blue stone fireplace. The chef’s kitchen serves as a central gathering space with custom cherry-wood cabinetry, Carrara marble countertops, a skylight, floating steel beams, and professional-grade appliances. A custom bar with fluted Gonzala wood cabinetry and a dramatic labradorite countertop adds a refined layer of entertaining, while the dining room is defined by a signature floating tapestry ceiling and seamless indoor-outdoor flow.

The main-level primary suite is a private retreat, opening to its own patio with a tranquil fountain. Additional ensuite bedrooms offer comfort, while an upper-level media room with vaulted coffered ceilings, kitchenette, and bath provides flexible space for guests or entertainment.

Outdoor living is immersive and serene—featuring black terrazzo accents, a covered pavilion with an exposed ceiling and a Pennsylvania blue stone accent wall, and calming water elements, including a babbling brook and a fountain. Entertain beneath the stars with a custom pizza oven and BBQ, or unwind across expansive grounds with a pool, gym, and a championship tennis court set among mature landscaping.

At the heart of the estate lies the world-renowned Harmony Hut—a recording studio designed and built by Steve Vai with meticulous attention to acoustics and sonic precision. Revered as a creative sanctuary where decades of music have been brought to life, it is a rare and irreplaceable offering.

A true legacy property—where architecture, nature, and artistry converge—this is more than a home; it is a sanctuary, a retreat, and a living work of art and modern music history..

Steve Vai is a Grammy-winning guitarist, songwriter, and producer known for his virtuosic playing, adventurous compositions, and long solo career. He first rose to prominence in the early 1980s working with Frank Zappa, then went on to record and tour with Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake before launching a highly successful solo career that includes landmark albums like Passion and Warfare. Over the years, Vai has sold millions of records, collaborated with a wide range of artists, and remained one of the most influential guitar players in modern rock.