Bob Hope's space age UFO-style home in Coachella sells for $13m - a QUARTER of its initial asking price

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It looks like a home from another planet and it originally came with an out-of-this world $50 million price tag.

But now Bob Hope's space-age California home has sold for just a quarter of its original asking price, just $13 million, after spending several years on the market.

The 10-bedroom estate, overlooking Coachella Valley, was custom designed the famous comedian and his wife Dolores by renowned Modern architect John Lautner.

The unique UFO style home, which was completed in 1980, was first put on the market in March 2013 for $50 million. But the property proved a tough sell, and the price was dropped to $34 million just nine months later. By December 2014, the asking price had plummeted to half its original listing, at just $25 million.

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Boldly go where no home has gone before: Bob Hope's famed Palm Springs home has finally sold for $13 million

Futuristic: The home owes its space age look to a design by famed modernist architect John Lautner

Not pooling your leg: The swimming facility was actually made in the shape of Bob's famous profile

No wonder he was so cheerful: Bob was often cited as the biggest private landowner in California

However, the new owner, reported to be investor Ron Burkle - worth an estimated $1.54 billion, snapped it up at a bargain $13 million.

The futuristic mansion is the most famous property owned by Hope, who was extremely passionate about architecture.

'If the Martians ever came to Earth, they would know where to land,' the legendary comic once said of his home. 

Its interior is almost as distinctive as the outside, though one imagines that architect John Lautner had little to do with the bright and whimsical Rousseau-like jungle mural and trompe l'oeil greenhouse alongside the sheltered pool.

Stunning: The property was specially designed to take advantage of the glorious natural landscape

Stream of consciousness: The funnyman will have found this a relaxing place to think up new gags

Skylight: The Californian sunshine is able to come streaming in thanks to the roofs unique design

The concrete, steel and glass house was built in 1979 and has about 22,000 square feet of living space, and its unique design is somewhat reminiscent of the USS Enterprise 

Sited on San Jacinto mountain to have a spectacular view overlooking the Coachella Valley, and its curving copper ' mushroom' roof plays off the shape of the nearby mountains.

The home has ten bedrooms, and Bob apparently did not like being caught short as there are also 12 bathrooms.

It also has the unique distinction of having a massive boulder jutting out the living room floor.

The English-born entertainer obviously had expensive tastes, as the murals on the first floor and the pool area are by Garth Benton, whose work is also featured at the Malibu Getty. 

The home with the hole: The California house's unusual design makes it look like something out of a science fiction movie 

Telescopic view: The legendary comedian had the perfect place to indulge his famed love of stargazing here 

View-tiful: Bob had it sited on San Jacinto mountain to have a spectacular view overlooking the Coachella Valley

As well as the Hollywood standard swimming pool, which is in the shape of Hope's famous profile, other outdoor features include a pond, tennis court and an outdoor fireplace.

Bob died in 2003 aged 100 and his long-running career saw him meet presidents, star in films and tour the world firing his famous one-liners. 

His second wife Dolores, who he married back in 1934, died in 2011 at 102 . 

The entertainer was often cited as the biggest private landowner in California.

Architect Lautner was said to have been infuriated at what he deemed to much interference by the Hopes. 

It is said he thought the house inappropriately furnished, and distanced himself from the property in later years.

Everlasting love: The 10-bedroom estate was custom designed the famous comedian and his wife Dolores (pictured together, left, in an undated photo, and right in 1994) who Hope met at a dance. The pair were married for 70 years until his death in 2003

Family: Bob and Dolores had four children together, (L-R) Anthony Hope, Nora Hope, Linda and Kelly

Stars in their eyes: Comedian Bob Hope entertains a large crowd of G.I.s, mostly patients who are wrapped in blankets, at a hospital in New Caledonia in the Pacific during World War II on Oct. 18, 1944. Hope entertained troops serving overseas for years