What happens when a man who once welded pipes in Los Angeles oil refineries returns to the city — this time as a billionaire? He buys a $23 million mansion in cash, next door to Leonardo DiCaprio, in one of the most coveted neighborhoods on the planet. That’s exactly the story of Todd Graves, the Raising Cane’s founder whose chicken finger empire transformed him from a rejected business plan into one of America’s wealthiest men.
The Todd Graves house in Hollywood Hills isn’t just an address. It’s a full-circle moment. It’s proof that the same city that once handed him a welding torch now hands him the keys to an ultra-contemporary showpiece perched above the Sunset Strip. Let’s walk through what makes this luxury estate one of the most talked-about celebrity homes of 2026.
Who Is Todd Graves?
Todd Bartlett Graves was born in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in Baton Rouge. He attended Louisiana State University, where he wrote a business plan for a restaurant selling only chicken fingers — an idea his professor and multiple banks flatly rejected.
Undeterred, Graves took matters into his own hands. He worked grueling 90-hour weeks as a boilermaker in Los Angeles oil refineries, then fished for salmon in Alaska, saving enough to fund his vision. In 1996, together with childhood friend Craig Silvey, he opened the first Raising Cane’s near LSU’s campus.
Fast forward to 2026:
- Net Worth: $22 billion (Forbes), making him the 111th wealthiest person in the world and America’s richest restaurateur
- Company: Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers — 900+ locations across 42 states
- Revenue: $5.6 billion in 2025 annual revenue
- Ownership: Graves retains approximately 90% of the company through a family trust
- Milestone: Raising Cane’s surpassed KFC in annual U.S. sales in 2025, becoming the third-largest chicken chain in America behind Chick-fil-A and Popeyes
Beyond business, Graves is a philanthropist, an avid collector of historical artifacts (including a 66-million-year-old triceratops skull and the hearse that carried Martin Luther King Jr.), and a devoted family man married to Gwen Drain Graves since 2000.
Where Does Todd Graves Live?
Todd Graves’ most high-profile residence as of 2026 is his $23 million mansion in the Bird Streets neighborhood of Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California.
The Bird Streets sit above the Sunset Strip in the Hollywood Hills — arguably the most exclusive neighborhood pocket in the Los Angeles hills. This guard-gated, ultra-private enclave is known for its A-list residents, jaw-dropping canyon views, and properties that rarely hit the open market. Graves’ new luxury home sits directly next door to a five-property compound long owned by his close friend Leonardo DiCaprio, solidifying this as one of the most star-studded corners of the city.
What makes the location even more meaningful is the personal history. Graves once worked in the city as a boilermaker — welding equipment and wielding blowtorches at oil refineries. As a kid, he dreamed of moving to Hollywood. Decades later, he’s back, not with a broom, but with a $23 million all-cash purchase.
The House: First Impressions
The moment you approach this property, the architecture tells you something is different. Built in 1979 and extensively remodeled in the early 2000s, the structure leans hard into ultra-contemporary design — clean geometry, glass planes, and a presence that commands the ridgeline.
The home previously belonged to Canadian banker Stan Bharti, who acquired it in 2011 for $14.5 million. Before that, it was owned by businessman Sam Nazarian. What truly put this mansion on the cultural map, however, was its starring role as Vincent Chase’s house in HBO’s “Entourage” — a detail that makes it instantly recognizable to millions of TV fans worldwide.
Graves reportedly paid the full $23 million in cash, negotiating slightly below the $24.9 million listing price.
Interior Design & House Tour
Architecture & Style
The home carries a distinctly contemporary aesthetic — what some have described as a “Miami Vice” meets Hollywood glamour sensibility. Think an all-white palette throughout, Lucite furniture pieces that catch and scatter light, and a glass-bottom foyer that lets you look straight down from the entry level. The multi-floor layout takes full advantage of the ridgeline position, with each level offering a different angle on the sprawling Los Angeles skyline.
Living Spaces
The main living areas are open, airy, and flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Clean lines dominate every room. There’s no visual clutter here — just deliberate, high-impact design choices and materials that age well. The spaces feel built for gathering, equally suited to an intimate dinner with close friends or a more ambitious A-list event.
Bedrooms
The mansion includes three bedrooms, with dual primary suites that are the real showstoppers. Both command panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline — the kind of bedroom backdrop that makes waking up feel cinematic every single morning.
Entertainment Spaces
This is where the home earns its reputation as a future social hub. Features include:
- A private movie theater for intimate screenings
- A sleek bar designed for entertaining
- A piano lounge that adds an unexpected layer of elegance
Given that the property is already expected to host A-list gatherings, these spaces make perfect sense.
Kitchen
The indoor kitchen is outfitted with Miele appliances — the kind of professional-grade equipment favored by those who take cooking seriously. An additional outdoor kitchen with Viking appliances extends the entertainment possibilities into the open air.
Key Features at a Glance
- Size: 6,000 square feet across multiple floors
- Bedrooms: 3 (dual primary suites with LA skyline views)
- Design Style: Ultra-contemporary, all-white aesthetic with Lucite furniture
- Infinity Pool: With panoramic city views of Los Angeles
- Movie Theater: Private screening room
- Bar & Piano Lounge: Entertainment-focused social spaces
- Indoor Kitchen: Miele appliances
- Outdoor Kitchen: Viking appliances
- TV Fame: Featured as Vincent Chase’s home in HBO’s Entourage
- Celebrity Neighbor: Leonardo DiCaprio’s compound directly next door
- Purchase: All-cash deal at $23 million
Exterior & Outdoor Living
Perched on one of the Bird Streets’ most sought-after ridgelines, the exterior of the Todd Graves mansion is as much about the view as it is about the structure itself. The infinity pool is the crown jewel of the outdoor space — water appears to spill directly off the edge of the hillside, merging seamlessly with the Los Angeles skyline stretching out below.
The property takes full advantage of the Southern California climate, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor living through expansive decks and terraces. On a clear evening, the lights of the city below stretch from downtown to the Pacific — the kind of view that makes you understand exactly why this neighborhood commands the prices it does.
Todd Graves’ Full Real Estate Portfolio (2026)
| Property | Location | Estimated Value | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Hills Mansion | Bird Streets, Los Angeles, CA | $23 million | 6,000 sq ft, ultra-contemporary, next to DiCaprio |
| Baton Rouge Estate | Harvard Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA | Part of $60M+ portfolio | 12,000–14,000 sq ft, iconic $400K treehouse |
| Nashville Penthouse | Four Seasons Residences, Nashville, TN | $15 million | Record-setting $3,795/sq ft sale in 2024 |
| Highland Park Mansion | Highland Park, Dallas, TX | $10 million | Prestigious enclave, purchased with wife Gwen |
| Knox Hotel Penthouse | Knox Hotel & Residences, Dallas, TX | Undisclosed (est. $25M+) | Two-floor penthouse, potentially Dallas’ priciest |
Total Estimated Portfolio: $60M+ across all properties
Net Worth & Business Empire
Todd Graves’ wealth is almost entirely tied to Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers — a company he owns roughly 90% of through his family trust, Sockeyes LP.
By the numbers in 2026:
- Net Worth: $22 billion (Forbes, January 2026)
- Raising Cane’s Revenue: $5.6 billion in 2025
- EBITDA: $1.1 billion in 2025
- Locations: 900+ across 42 states, with international expansion underway including a UK flagship in London
- Distributions: More than $900 million collected from the company since 2020
- Forbes Ranking: #46 on the Forbes 400 (2025), #111 globally
The brand’s “One Love” philosophy — one menu, obsessively perfected — turned what everyone said would never work into one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in American history.
Family & Lifestyle
Todd Graves married Gwen Drain Graves in 2000, a McDonald’s franchisee he had known since high school. The couple has two daughters and the family’s primary residence remains in Baton Rouge, Louisiana — close to the LSU campus where it all began. Their yellow Labrador, Raising Cane III, carries on the tradition of the brand’s canine mascots.
Graves is known for staying deeply hands-on in his business despite its scale, writing many of the brand’s marketing campaigns himself. He’s an avid collector of historical artifacts, a philanthropist supporting education and disaster relief, and someone who clearly views his properties not just as investments but as expressions of a life earned the hard way.
What makes him stand out among celebrity billionaires is the directness. No entourage. Dark jeans, plain T-shirt. A man who says “keep going” more than he says “celebrate.”
Final Remarks
The Todd Graves house in Hollywood Hills is the kind of property that only makes complete sense when you know the story behind it. A man who once welded pipes in this very city, who dreamed of making it here, now owns one of its most talked-about mansions. The all-cash $23 million purchase isn’t a status symbol — it’s a full-circle story, decades in the making.
From the iconic Entourage-famous architecture to the infinity pool floating above the Los Angeles skyline, from the Leonardo DiCaprio compound next door to the Miele-equipped kitchens and private theater within — this is what it looks like when an underdog finally wins on his own terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Todd Graves live in 2026?
Todd Graves’ primary family home is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His newest and most high-profile property is a $23 million mansion in the Bird Streets neighborhood of Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, purchased in early 2026.
How much is the Todd Graves Hollywood Hills house worth?
Todd Graves paid $23 million in cash for the Hollywood Hills mansion, purchasing it slightly below the $24.9 million asking price.
Who used to own Todd Graves’ Hollywood Hills house?
The home was previously owned by Canadian banker Stan Bharti, who purchased it in 2011 for $14.5 million. Before Bharti, the property was owned by businessman Sam Nazarian.
Was Todd Graves’ house on TV?
Yes. The Bird Streets mansion is recognizable to fans as Vincent Chase’s house from HBO’s series Entourage.
Who is Todd Graves’ neighbor in Hollywood Hills?
Todd Graves’ Hollywood Hills mansion sits directly next door to a compound owned by actor and conservationist Leonardo DiCaprio, who is a close friend.
What is Todd Graves’ net worth in 2026?
Forbes estimates Todd Graves’ net worth at $22 billion as of January 2026, making him the wealthiest restaurateur in America and the 111th richest person in the world.
Does Todd Graves still own the Baton Rouge treehouse estate?
Yes. The Baton Rouge estate with its famous $400,000 custom treehouse remains one of Graves’ most beloved properties and is close to the original Raising Cane’s location near LSU.
