From Robin Leach’s ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous’ to MTVs ‘Cribs’ to HGTV’s ‘Celebrities at Home,’ we’ve always been fascinated with the homes where our icons of music and screen live their private lives. You can’t have a discussion about celebrity homes without beginning in L.A. We all like to live near our work and celebrities are no different.
L.A. is a sprawling metropolis. In fact, the cities of Boston, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland can all fit inside its city limits. L.A. also has the 2nd highest population density in the U.S. This makes L.A. extremely crowded, which is why most celebrities can be found bunched together in neighborhoods that offer a little more property and privacy, although that doesn’t seem to stop the wily paparazzi or corny guided bus tour operators from showing up outside.
Like Steve Martin said, “You know, you’re really nobody in L.A. unless you live in a house with a really big door.” The exclusive Los Angeles neighborhoods of Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, and Pacific Palisades boast some of the nation’s most spectacular homes with residents that often attend both Oscar and Grammy nights. And let’s not forget star-studded Malibu just outside the City of Angels.
Beverly Hills is where the likes of Taylor Swift (who owns homes all over the country), Bruce Willis, Rod Stewart, and the Hiltons relax. Beverly Hills is also where you’ll find the most expensive celebrity home, or any home, in the nation – Spelling Manor. Coming in at around 56,000 sq. ft. with a price tag of $150 million, this French chateau-style mansion has 123 rooms, 16 carports, tennis courts, swimming pool, bowling alley, and "kitchen where you can cook for two or 800".
In the Hollywood Hills, you could find Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Halle Berry, or Ben Affleck having their morning coffee. Bel Air can brag about residents Adam Sandler, Nic Cage, and Madonna. Going for a walk in Brentwood, you might spy Steven Spielberg, Dustin Hoffman, or Cindy Crawford. In Pacific Palisades and Malibu, taking in the soothing Pacific Ocean air on any given evening might be Rihanna, Cher, Charlize Theron, and Ozzy Osborne.
With its unlimited creative opportunities, perfect weather and beautiful beaches, L.A. remains a favorite among celebrities for making a home. Not all celebrities choose Hollywood after making it big, however. Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence has said, “Sadly, I cannot live in Los Angeles anymore. I don’t understand how actors can do it. You have no life here. You are followed everywhere. It’s not like that anywhere else in the world. I don’t want to stay in L.A. and start thinking that’s reality - because it’s very far from normal.”
Celebrity Homes in New York
Some celebrities eschew Hollywood and find their glitz and glamour in New York City. There has always existed a playful rivalry between celebrities who choose to live in L.A. and those who choose NYC. Neil Simon famously said, “When its 100 degrees in New York, it’s 72 in Los Angeles. When it’s 30 degrees in New York, in Los Angeles it’s still 72. However, there are 6 million interesting people in New York, and only 72 in Los Angeles.”
Famous NYC residents include Spike Lee, Robert DeNiro, Tyra Banks, Tina Fey, Anne Hathaway, and Samuel L. Jackson. DeNiro is currently renting a condo overlooking Central Park for a whopping $125k a month! While talking about NY, we can’t forget the Hamptons, where the NYC celebrities spend their weekends! Jerry Seinfeld’s Hampton’s home is worth an estimated $32 million and even has a baseball field.
Celebrities That Live Outside of New York & LA
Miami can’t be left out of a discussion about celebrity homes. Lenny Kravitz, Enrique Iglesias, and Gloria Estefan call this exotic, tropical city home. Miami’s Star Island is aptly named with homes owned by Sean ‘P-Diddy’ Combs and Shaquille O’Neal. Billy Joel has a massive $35 million home on exclusive La Gorce Island. Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest women of the 20th Century, has a vacation home in Miami as well.
But what about the celebrities who want a simpler life away from the big cities and the lights, camera, action. There is Elijah Wood, star of the massive Lord of the Rings Trilogy; he lives in Austin, Texas. Mega-star Julia Roberts lives on a secluded ranch with her family in New Mexico. “It's peaceful, and it's a relief,” Roberts has said of her ranch. Many celebrities are even choosing to move even further from Hollywood – overseas. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have settled at Chateau Miraval, a 1,200-acre estate in Correns, France. The property has olive groves, a vineyard, and even a moat. Pitt has said about life at the chateau, ”It’s very peaceful and the antithesis of the drive, the want, the need to get ahead indicative of life in Hollywood. I’m instantly reminded what quiet sounds like.”
It seems once they get past the thrill of owning oversized swimming pools and full gymnasiums, some celebrities want what we all want with our home – a place to truly feel at peace.
Are you ready to live like a celebrity? The Northrop Team can’t promise a leading role in a Hollywood Blockbuster, but we can help you pick a home suitable for the stars. Check out our inventory of luxury homes in the Maryland & DC area by contacting a Real Estate Agent today.
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