This Billionaire’s Former Estate Is Now An Insanely Luxurious Resort. Here’s Why Celebrities Love It.

The 18 hole course at Sensei Porcupine Creek offers one of the most exclusive (and expensive) golf ... [+] experiences on earth. Hint: You get the course all to yourself. Sensei Porcupine Creek is unlike any other resort or wellness retreat in California—or maybe anywhere. The 230 acre property that was once Larry Ellison’s private estate now offers just 22 accommodations, with meals by Nobu , next level wellness activities , art by the likes of Keith Haring, and one of the world’s most over the top (and expensive) 18 hole golf experiences .

Hidden behind electric gates on an inconspicuous residential street in Rancho Mirage, California, the sanctuary is a place to “move, nourish and rest,” whether that means a guided hike on the resort’s private network of trails, hitting backhands with a former top 10 ranked tennis pro, or resetting intentions during a “mindset one on one with biomarkers” that lets you self regulate emotions by way of a biofeedback device.

Changing hands quietly between billionaires since its construction in 2004, Porcupine Creek has been Ellison’s discreet haven since the Oracle co founder purchased the property for $42.9 million in 2011. In the fall of 2022, he opened the expanse for select guests as a Sensei resort after a meticulous overhaul that now includes eight villas — two and four bedroom residences with full kitchens, Japanese style soaking tubs and robot toilets, creekside patios, and outdoor rain showers.

No more than 68 guests will ever be on property at the same time, which is why it’s quickly becoming a favored getaway for Hollywood, business and tech titans . Without as much as a single "namaste," the wellness program at Sensei Porcupine Creek sets new ... [+] levels for mind body retreats on the high end.

The wellness program sets new standards for health retreats on the high end. Modeled after Ellison’s original Sensei resort in Lanai, Hawaii, the treatments and activities, developed with Sensei co founder Dr. David Agus, a prominent physician and professor, lean on science and data to elevate relaxation and mindfulness practices beyond the “woo woo.” You won’t hear a “namaste” or “follow your bliss” with guides and practitioners trained more like scientists and cognitive behavioral therapists than chakra whisperers at a spa.

Take the Optimum Wellbeing Program , which begins a week before arrival at Porcupine Creek with a Whoop 4.0 wearable device mailed to your home to help gather real time fitness, sleep and recovery data prior to arrival. After a thorough fitness assessment on Day One to measure your V02 Max, gait analysis, vertical jump and other performance metrics, you and your Sensei team then co create behavior changes that support your goals.

It’s all done with the latest techniques and tools, such as thermal body mapping that reveals points of tension or inflammation in the body that might not otherwise show up. To further fine tune, guests of the program have three private sessions to sharpen mindset, nutrition and fitness, with optional blood marker assessment to inform nutritional recommendations.

Imagine a therapy appointment for the body, mind and soul and you get a picture of what these transformative guided sessions are like. Golf for one, anyone? The 18 hole course at Sensei Porcupine Creek gives you the freedom to golf ... [+] without worrying about pace or anxiety. The golf program is perhaps the true standout.

The 6,665 yard course at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains is framed by waterfalls, skinny palms and cacti, and dotted with museum worthy art by Keith Haring and Robert Indiana, that went mostly unseen until now. Bob, the resident bobcat, makes adorable appearances, and there’s maximum adrenaline at the “signature” 15th hole, a par 3 that plays from a patch of green on the mountainside to a flag standing 200 yards across a rocky ravine.

That’s not the differentiator, though. What makes Porcupine Creek an outlier is the concept of “peace of play” that comes with having the course — get ready — entirely to yourself. Even on rare days when more than one party or group wants to golf (outsiders are not permitted), tee times are spaced widely enough so there’s never a worry about pace or timing.

Call it shame free golf. Nobody will see your mulligan, nobody will gripe if you lose three or four balls on a tee shot; and if you really love a hole you can play it again. All that comes with one of the highest greens fees in the country—$950 for 18 holes—though no place else gives you the freedom and swinging room that Sensei does.

There’s even a bluetooth speaker on your cart so you can backbeat your round with “Fly Me To The Moon,” because, let’s face it, Ol’ Blue Eyes really would have loved this course. And let’s not even talk about the Nobu omakase menu that’s available hole by hole as a special amenity known as the oma course se experience (see below).

To hear more about one of the most innovative and exclusive resorts on earth, I spoke to Julie Oliff, general manager for Sensei Porcupine Creek. David Hochman: Tell me about the foundational ideas and principles that Sensei was built upon. Julie Oliff: Our mission is woven into our DNA. It informs everything we do, from our programming to the people we hire.

Specifically for Sensei, our mission is to guide the world to greater wellbeing, which might sound ambitious. However, it comes into perspective when you know our founders: Larry Ellison, a technology pioneer, and Dr. David Agus, a world renowned wellness expert. They’ve distilled our mission into three elements: move, nourish, rest.

We offer these pathways to our guests, starting with those who come through our gates, but also with our daily workforce. This mission centric approach transforms everything, including the experience of our team and the hiring strategy, converging on a unique purpose. For our guests, it means their stay is more than just an escape; it’s an enveloping experience in an extraordinary environment with a broader purpose—to change the world.

David Hochman: There’s a dichotomy in the idea of a resort as a place to retreat and also change the world. How do you bridge that? Julie Oliff: Great question. It’s much like the old saying about how you eat an elephant—by taking one bite at a time. Our grand mission is complemented by a specific vision: to inspire longer, healthier lives.

To that end, we make each step concrete. Bringing guests to our serene setting, showcasing our beautiful golf course, and ensuring they are surrounded by nature is an impactful beginning. And we make the science of wellness tangible and understandable, which is a real distinction for us. We’re living in a time when wellness is a buzzword, but Sensei strives to cut through the noise—and there’s so much noise right now—focusing on the guests, what they aim to achieve, and the science that backs it up.

If they leave with one meaningful change that integrates into their life, we’ve succeeded. David Hochman: You mentioned technology. How does it factor into the guest experience? Julie Oliff: Our approach to technology is thoughtful and purposeful. It's not used gratuitously; it's there to enhance, not dominate.

We’ll use thermal body mapping, for example, if guests choose it, to offer insights into stress points in the body, and that can help pinpoint areas to work with during a massage. It’s part of our philosophy of choice—not prescribing but providing options. We have a partnership with Whoop for wearable technology, aligning with our belief in personalized data interpretation, which goes beyond mere numbers to what the data means for the individual’s goals.

Inside one of the villas at Sensei Porcupine Creek David Hochman: What's the goal for most guests during their stay? Julie Oliff: The goals are as diverse as our guests themselves. Whether they wish for rest, an intense fitness regime, or a productive and extended day, we adapt. It could be weight loss, it could be improving sleep, it might be optimization of some kind.

Our guides, with advanced degrees and extraordinary humanity, sit down with guests to customize their stay. It’s about interpreting data, demystifying science, and creating a program for success and understanding. David Hochman: The Guide Sessions are unlike anything you’ll find at other resorts.

They’re not exactly therapy sessions because you can’t really do therapy at a resort, right? Then again, they do look and feel a lot like therapy. Can you describe them? Julie Oliff: Ha. Yes, the guide sessions are where the essence of Sensei is most palpable. They are deep, personal, and not at all like therapy, honestly.

Though they achieve a therapeutic depth. It’s a way to get to know yourself and your priorities in a session that cuts through the surface and get to the heart of things. It’s a unique Sensei experience that’s been remarkably successful in helping guests make real progress. David Hochman: How involved are Larry Ellison and Dr.

Agus in the development of Sensei? Julie Oliff: They are intimately involved. The deep design ethos, the values, and the mission—all stem from their shared vision . They envisioned this after the loss of a mutual friend, seeking to create a place that fosters healthier living. This property is just the beginning of what they hope to achieve.

David Hochman: Even in a valley with more than 100 golf courses, the one at Sensei Porcupine Creek stands apart. Tell me about the special aspects of the golf program. Julie Oliff: Our golf course is an embodiment of the ethos of freedom and enjoyment we aim to inspire. The course is where guests can play without the burden of observers.

It brings a lightheartedness to the game, allowing guests to connect with the joy of play and literally kick off their shoes or re play a hole because they enjoy it, if they so wish. The course’s current design reflects Mr. Ellison’s vision and the desire for a private, relaxed golfing experience.

David Hochman: His taste in art makes an impact, too. Art seems to be an integral part of Sensei. How does it enhance the experience? Julie Oliff: Art is as essential as nature here. The pieces just transfix you with beauty, and it’s another part of this journey of immersion. Whether it’s Robert Indiana’s life stages, which take you from birth to passing by way of numbers, or Keith Haring’s green dancing man, which is nothing if not pure joy to behold.

Each work of art is curated to inspire and to complement the transformative journey of our guests. With no more than 68 guests on a 250 plus acre property at any one time, Sensei Porcupine Creek is ... [+] one of America's most exclusive retreats. David Hochman: The accommodations raise the bar for resorts in the Coachella Valley and beyond.

In particular, the villas are above and beyond what you find at most resorts, with custom linens and terry robes, Japanese style soaking tubs and toilets, and artful minimalism. What went into creating these villas? Julie Oliff: The villas are more than accommodations; they’re an extension of the privacy, luxury, and space we’ve created here, and they’re designed to feel like a home.

Each one offers a sanctuary, a place to enjoy solitude or company with equal pleasure, complete with stunning views and luxurious amenities. Thoughtful details went into absolutely every aspect of these villas. Each choice of material is exquisite. Every door is custom made. There are little thoughtful details, such having martini glasses in the freezer.

So, if anyone comes in and has an emergency need for a martini, that can happen. The hangers were all custom made. And this, too, comes out of science. David Hochman: There’s a science to custom built hangars? Julie Oliff: Well, actually, our science department keeps telling us about the importance of symmetry and clutter free environment in relaxation and maintaining a sense of calm.

That informs what we absolutely do not put in the room. For instance, there’s no paper or anything like that throughout the villas, particularly in the bedrooms. A clutter free environment is so key to healthy sleep hygiene. And, yes, even the symmetry behind how the hangers are hung, the symmetry behind how the robes are folded rather than hung, in our walkthrough closets—everything had science behind it in terms of how things were done and executed.

David Hochman: Looking ahead to 2024, what can guests expect from Sensei? Julie Oliff: Hot off the presses, we're planning a pop up in the Caribbean at the Four Seasons in Anguilla , offering a taste of Sensei's wellness treatments. Here in the desert, we'll continue enhancing our rest and recovery program, along with our unique dining experiences like the oma course se on the golf course.

David Hochman: Wait. Did you say oma course se? Julie Oliff: I did. It is literally an omakase experience on the golf course where we offer guests the incredible Nobu omakase dining experience on the actual golf course. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it is, but picture wagyu beef and king crab and Japanese whiskey and everything you could possibly imagine that is amazing from Nobu at different stages during your golf game coming out to you on the golf course.

With a grand finale of the dessert bar on the 18th hole. It's magnificent. David Hochman: There are golf goals and then there are golf goals. That sounds like an absolute dream. Julie Oliff: It's part of what sets us apart, I would argue, from most properties on the planet, if not every wellness property.

Sensei is a very, very special place. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and accuracy ..