 In early 1911 , Margaret J. Anderson , a wealthy widow , and her son , Stanley S. Anderson , who had been managing the Hollywood Hotel , ordered the construction of the Beverly Hills Hotel , in close proximity to the Burton Green mansion . Burton Green , an oil tycoon and real estate developer , President of the Rodeo Land and Water Company , had purchased land in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains , which had once been owned by the Mexican government . He had begun building mansions on the land , including his own residence , investing some $ 500 @,@ 000 , but was having difficulty selling them . He hired Anderson to build a hotel , which he named Beverly Farms , after his home in Massachusetts , believing that it would attract people to the area , billing it as " halfway between Los Angeles and the sea " . The Hollywood film industry was taking off at the time and investors were looking to develop the area . A May 11 , 1911 edition of The Los Angeles Times announced the news that a " huge Mission @-@ style hotel " was to be built by Anderson , with the motto that " her guests were entitled to the best of everything regardless of cost " . 
