In a tight race against Fab Factory Studios, John Mayer and Charlie's Angels director McG have purchased the lot that has belonged to The Jim Henson Co. for the past 25 years.

Once the A&M Records headquarters (1966-1999) and earlier, the Charlie Chaplin studios (1917-1953), the lot has been the home to several historic Hollywood productions.

The pair's competitive buyers on the lot, Fab Factory Studios is run by father and son Steven and Shaun Fabos and has ties to the Church of Scientology, as Steven Fabos has reportedly been a major financial contributor. Had Fab Factory been successful in their bid, the already significant presence of the Church of Scientology in the Los Angeles area would have grown even further.

Instead, their clock ran out and Mayer's team had their offer accepted, rumored to lie in the $60m range.