Nurture or nature" When children grow up and follow in their parents’ footsteps, for better or worse, many wonder if their choices are based on how they were raised or simply genetic. Of course, if their paths lead to success and happiness, parents take credit for the nurturing. Likewise, if the kids’ choices lead to failure and misery, it’s often attributed to a fluke of nature. So what do we make of this family tree"

When American film producer Ken Kao and his wife, Japanese fashion model Jessica Michibata, purchased one of the most stunning estates in Los Angeles, it was initially kept a secret. Only after several months of sleuthing did the sale of the mansion, designed by architect Noah Walker and built on speculation by Nathan Frank, a concert violinist and scrap metal industry giant, go public.
The two-structure manor sits on a three-and-a-half-acre parcel in the mountains that overlook Beverly Hills. It’s further complemented by the natural countryside of the area, including 130 native oak trees scattered throughout the property. Upon completion in 2015, one of China’s most renowned film producers and investors, James Wang, bought the property for $19.9 million. Four years later, he sold it to Michibata and Kao for an all-cash payment of $22.5 million.

The 8,000-square-foot main house has an uncharacteristic floor plan. All the communal rooms are positioned above the bedrooms, which themselves are partially sunken into ...