In 1919, the millionaire Arthur Letts Sr. bought almost 4,000 acres of what was known as Rancho San Jose de Buenos Ayres. He set aside 400 acres for what would become Holmby Hills. Letts was born in 1862 in Holdenby, Northamptonshire, England. The parish of Holdenby was frequently referred to as "Holmby", a name that would figure prominently in Letts's real estate dealings. Letts was not only a shrewd businessman, but also a skilled horticulturist; the grounds of his Hollywood estate were planted with a variety of trees, and flower, creating remarkable gardens and extensive landscapes. Letts's masterplan for the prime land he had purchased in West Los Angeles was to create a neighbourhood of grand estates, which he christened "Holmby Hills".
Due to "Holmby Hills" lush landscaping, generous plot sizes and privacy, the area has always attracted the rich and famous. In the 1950s, Walt Disney built his dream home here. Celebrities such as Jean Harlow, Humphrey Bogart, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe have all called Holmby Hills their home.
