Giant Homes with Invisible Owners

In the posh LA suburb of Bel-Air, "Starship Enterprise" stands for a 30,000-square-foot, curved glass-and-steel mega-mansion being constructed in apparent defiance of building codes or the possibility of earthquake-induced landslides. Celebrity developer Mohamed Hadid faces criminal charges for illegal construction, but accountability is problematic. The building is legally owned by a limited liability corporation.

That makes "Starship Enterprise" just one of many according to New York Times reporter Louise Story. She’s author of a seven-part series on properties owned by shell companies across the country.