Bitmoji Creator Spends Big for the Famed Hollywood Hills 'Hang Glider' House – Yahoo Finance

One of the Los Angeles skyline’s most instantly recognizable homes sold this spring. Following the unexpected death of its owner, the Hollywood Hills “hang glider” house — so-called because it’s perched atop one of L.A.’s highest promontories like a hang glider ready to take flight — came up for grabs. In better condition than ever, and with a covetable architectural history and some of the best views around, the place garnered lots of attention.Sad circumstances aside, the listing was also timed perfectly, debuting right as the real estate market was at its white-hot peak, post-COVID lockdowns. The ask was $7.99 million, but it appears a fierce bidding war broke out among potential suitors, driving the sales price all the way up to $9.4 million. The all-cash buyer was Canadian tech guru Jacob “BA” Blackstock.While he’s not exactly a household name, you’ve probably used a Blackstock-designed product. The 45-year-old comic artist is best known for cofounding Bitstrips, the company that makes Bitmoji — yes, those little smiley emojis. Bitmoji debuted in 2014 and became an overnight sensation; Snapchat took notice, snapping up the company in 2016 for $100 million, paying Blackstock in a mix of cash and stock. Blackstock subsequently joined…
Read More