Following her husband’s passing in 1996, Betty Jo Stephens carved out a prominent role in Santa Barbara, where she and her spouse had lived for 61 years. Taking the helm as CEO of Excel Mineral after John Stephens, renowned for creating the Jonny Cat litter brand, Betty became a fixture in local politics and philanthropy. Her hilltop estate in the affluent Hope Ranch enclave hosted luminaries such as President Jimmy Carter and Texas Gov. Ann Richards. Almost six years since Betty’s death at 86, her long-time residence, untouched for over five decades, has hit the market for a substantial $66 million.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Stephens purchased two adjoining ocean-view parcels in 1957, building a home four years later. They acquired a third lot in the 1970s across the street, creating a family compound with private beach access.
Now owned by their daughter Joi Stephens, affectionately known as the “kitty-litter heiress,” the property is represented by Sam Palmer and Blair Chang of The Agency. It is described as an expansive canvas for an unparalleled estate, capable of housing a 20,000-square-foot main house and two 7,500-square-foot guesthouses. Nestled on 11 acres behind a gated driveway, the current residence boasts ocean, canyon, and mountain vistas, featuring a koi pond, motorcourt, and two-car garage. The 7,500-square-foot living space, last renovated in the early 2000s, includes four bedrooms and five baths.
Highlights of the home include a living room with a two-way fireplace and French doors opening onto a terrace, a chandelier-lit dining room, an open-plan kitchen, office space, and an ocean-view master suite under a vaulted wood-beam ceiling. Outdoors, amenities include an observation deck, pool, spa, and open-air cabana. The equestrian-zoned property also accommodates horses and a stable.
WSJ notes that despite multiple purchase offers, Joi Stephens and her auctioneer husband Frank Kominski, who divides their time between Hope Ranch, Palm Beach, FL, and Boston, are now relocating due to Kominski Auctions’ expansion into South Florida.
