The Most Expensive Celebrity Homes of All Time

The rich and famous have the luxury of spending their days and nights in homes that look more like castles — and sometimes are — in the most exclusive and coveted neighborhoods in the country and world. They spend millions to live like royalty in mansions with amenities that might make real royalty blush. Here's a look at some of the most expensive celebrity homes in history — including the eye-popping homes of two of the richest (and most polarizing) men on the planet: Kanye West and Elon Musk. Prices on all homes bought, sold, or listed before 2017 have been adjusted for inflation.

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Malibu, California

Kanye West likes austere minimalism — and his recent purchase of a four-bedroom, five-bathroom beach house is no exception. The lowest floor holds three ensuite guest bedrooms, while the middle level has a living room, kitchen, and powder room. The top floor features a bedroom suite and rooftop oceanside terrace for enjoying the beach. 

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Hillsborough, California

After announcing he wanted to "own no house" last year on Twitter and subsequently selling most of his properties, the Tesla founder seems to have changed his mind about dumping this one. After announcing he was willing to part with it on Twitter (and bypassing listing the property), he apparently pulled it from the market after three months. We can understand why he might want to hold on to this one, though. Built in 1916, the 10-bedroom, 10-bathroom mansion has a ballroom, a banquet dining room, a solarium, a library, an in-law suite, a wine cellar, and a workshop.

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Brentwood, California

The music mogul most people know because of his high-profile legal battles with Taylor Swift has purchased a six-bedroom, 10-bathroom, 19,000-square-foot home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. The modern farmhouse has 13-foot ceilings, an indoor lap pool, an outdoor pool, three fireplaces, a steam room, a home theater, a wine cellar, and a fire pit. It also has a pool house and a guest house, in case one of those six bedrooms just doesn't appeal to visitors.  

Los Angeles

Pop star The Weeknd just spent a cool $70 million on this renovated 33,000-square-foot mansion in the swanky Los Angeles enclave of Bel Air. The nine-bedroom mansion has indoor and outdoor pools, a recording studio, a home theater, and a commanding view of the Bel Air Country Club's golf course.

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Kauai, Hawaii

Apparently, musician Carlos Santana is a fan of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. A year after buying one home on the island for $8 million, he bought a larger place nearby for $20.5 million. The new place is made up of four pods that sprawl around a living space with a retractable roof. One is the living room and dining room, one is the main suite (with an outdoor shower, of course), another has two guest bedrooms, and the last has a garage for a total of 8,000 square feet. There's also an infinity saltwater swimming pool and an outdoor kitchen and barbecue.

Malibu, California

Although she didn't get the $60 million she asked originally, Cindy Crawford sold her Malibu mansion for $45 million in 2018 (equivalent to $47 million today), making it one of the posh neighborhood's most expensive properties. The 5,254-square-foot seaside estate is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean — and stunning views would be an understatement. The sprawling property offers privacy that's rare for A-listers thanks to the surrounding acres of rugged wilderness.

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Hidden Hills, California

The princely mansion in Hollywood's Hidden Hills that Kim and Kanye call home belonged originally to Elvis' only child, Lisa Marie Presley. They bought the sprawling property in 2014 for $20 million but quickly began sinking tens of millions of dollars into it to make it their own. In 2019, the home — which sits next to those owned by other stars, including fellow members of the Kardashian clan — was appraised at $60 million.

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Los Angeles

Many celebs move from mansion to mansion without ever making their giant house a home. Not Zsa Zsa Gabor, the eccentric and consummately quotable late movie star who spent four decades in the same Bel Air estate. In 2012, Gabor and ninth husband Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt accepted an offer on the home. A peculiar arrangement, however, allowed Gabor to remain in the mansion her entire life. Five years later, in 2017, she passed away and the deal finally went through. Just one year later in 2018, the property sold for $20.8 million — nearly twice as much as the 2017 sale price.

Laglio, Italy

In 2002, George Clooney bought an estate in Laglio, Italy, called Villa Oleandra from the Heinz family for $10 million. Today, despite reports that Clooney was entertaining an offer for $100 million to sell the place, he and his wife Amal have been spotted there with their twins.

Los Angeles
After unloading a Beverly Hills property for $38 million in 2011, the "Friends" star seems to be hanging onto this cheaper but still-swanky mid-century property in Bel Air, which she originally purchased that year. The four-bedroom, seven-bathroom house is 8,500 square feet but sits on over 3 acres of land. It also includes a guest house, swimming pool, and a hillside vineyard. 

Telluride, Colorado

In 2019, Tom Cruise listed his 298-acre Telluride, Colorado, property for $59 million. Built from heavy bleached timbers and featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Cruise designed the log mansion estate himself in 1994. The sprawling property boasts some of the most stunning views in the west and includes a hockey rink, a basketball court, a tennis court, and even some private trails.

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Hollywood Hills, California

Gwen Stefani bought a sprawling Hollywood Hills mansion known as The Summit in 2006 with then-husband Gavin Rossdale for $13.3 million. Most of its six giant bedrooms open into the mansion's outdoor lounge and recreation area, which includes a tennis court and a pool. Previously owned by Jennifer Lopez, it also features a guesthouse that offers panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley. In 2017, she listed it for $35 million but ultimately sold it for $21.7 million two years later. More recently, she and fiancé Blake Shelton bought a house together in Encino for a comparatively budget-friendly $13.2 million. 

Palm Beach, Florida

Radio king Howard Stern bought his home in Palm Beach, Florida, from a textile executive for a cool $52 million in 2017 (equal to about $54.9 million today). The five-bedroom estate sits on 3.3 acres next to an exclusive country club. He's not the only media personality who has owned an enviable home in Palm Beach — Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter have been among Stern's neighbors.

Coral Gables, Florida

The Grammy-winning singer recently unloaded his 12-bedroom, 13-bathroom mansion in Coral Gables for $22.4 million. Though far less than his $27 million asking price in September 2020, it's still a decent bump from the $19 million he spent for the house in 2017. The home comes with an elevator and a swimming pool, and sits on the water to boot.

Medina, Washington

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda, spent $63 million over seven years to build their Medina, Washington, mega-complex. It's called Xanadu 2.0 — that's a "Citizen Kane" reference — and if it was sold today, it would go for about $145 million,  according to the Orissa Post. It spans 66,000 square feet, and although it has six kitchens and 24 bathrooms, it only contains seven bedrooms. Not surprisingly, it's bursting with tech and houses an insane collection of art and artifacts — a Leonardo Da Vinci manuscript alone is worth $31 million.

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Brentwood, California

When James signed with the Lakers in 2018, he needed a house in L.A. He opted for a $23 million mansion in the chic and wealthy Brentwood neighborhood with eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. The ultra-modern mansion boasts features such as marble countertops and French oak floors made with wood sourced from Spain. There's also a rooftop terrace, a master bedroom with a private patio, a cigar lounge, and a wine cellar. Although there's a full gym, the home does not include a basketball court.

New York City

Demi Moore sold her opulent New York City penthouse for $45 million in 2017 (equivalent to $47.4 million today) — she had originally asked $75 million — 27 years after she and then-husband Bruce Willis bought it. It's a triplex at San Remo, an exclusive Central Park West co-op that's long been famous for housing celebs. Among those who owned units there are Bono, Diane Keaton, Glenn Close, Steven Spielberg, and Steve Jobs.

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Tampa, Florida

The retired New York Yankees shortstop had this waterfront home in Tampa, Florida, built in 2012 but recently sold the massive residence. It spans 30,875 square feet and comes with plenty of privacy thanks to a 6-foot-high gate. There's a home gym, outdoor kitchen, saltwater pool, and not one but two three-car garages. There's also a clubroom with a full bar and pool table. Jeter had been renting the property to Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen for $75,000 a month.

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Correns, France

In 2008, the couple bought Château Miraval, a castle and vineyard in the south of France, for the equivalent of $67 million, or about $80 million today. The main house has 35 rooms, a helipad, indoor and outdoor pools, a video game room, a home theater, and more. Outside, there's a dirt bike course, a chateau garden that includes a 200-year-old olive tree, and, like all good castles, a moat. The vineyard supports Miraval Wines, which produces highly coveted rosé.  Despite divorcing in 2016, Pitt and Jolie are still co-owners of the property.

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Malibu, California

In 2014, Lady Gaga dropped $22.5 million on a mansion in Malibu, about $25 million in today's dollars. Unlike many celebrity mansions in closed communities, Gaga's oceanfront estate is in a fairly normal suburban neighborhood. Visitors — such as Bradley Cooper, who first met the singer there — are greeted by an extra-long driveway, stables, barns, and a horse-riding ring. The architecture is inspired by traditional homes in the south of France.

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Beverly Hills, California

Ellen DeGeneres had been asking $49 million for her Beverly Hills estate when Ryan Seacrest agreed to buy it for what the  Hollywood Reporter says was an estimated $40 million in 2010, or more than $45 million today. Either way, it's quite a house. The 9,200-square-foot, nine-room modern home has two posh guesthouses and sits on more than 3 acres on a private street in Beverly Hills.

Pacific Palisades, California

TV writer/producer David E. Kelley and his wife Michelle Pfeiffer recently listed a house they bought less than two years ago for $25 million. The Mediterranean-style home has a whopping seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, plus a library with a fireplace, an upstairs suite with another fireplace and two bathrooms, and a private patio with views of the Riviera Country Club. There's also a wine cellar with a tasting area, a screening room, a garden, and an infinity swimming pool. 

Holmby Hills, California

The late Hugh Hefner bought the Playboy mansion in 1974 for $1 million. More than 40 years and countless debaucherous nights later, in 2016, a billionaire named Daren Metropoulos bought it for  a reported $105 million. That's roughly $113 million in today's dollars. The famous everybody-who's-somebody-has-been-there estate is a 22,000-square-foot gothic and Tudor mansion with 29 rooms, a tennis court, a year-round fireworks permit, and a zoo license.

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Los Angeles

J.Lo is the master of a sprawling, multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio that spans the country and the globe. At the heart of it all is her $28 million French country-style mansion in Bel Air, designed by famed architect Samuel Marx in 1940. It features a guesthouse, parking for 17, a 30-seat screening room, and a pub.

Holmby Hills, California

In 2014, P. Diddy dropped $40 million on a gargantuan mansion in Holmby Hills, California — that's more than $43.6 million in today's dollars. The eight-bedroom palace includes a wine cellar, a gym, a 35-seat theater, and a lagoon pool with an underwater tunnel that leads to a luxury grotto. In all, his estate spans 17,000 square feet.

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Brentwood, California

Also in 2014, another rap and media mogul plunked down $40 million on an equally lavish mansion. In this case, it was Dr. Dre who bought a 20,000-square-foot estate in Los Angeles' tony Brentwood neighborhood. The French-country mansion, once owned by Tom Brady, features a moat and a 10,000-square-foot music studio. Adjusted for inflation, it's worth more than $43 million, just like Diddy's pad.

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Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

Mel Gibson's jungle hideaway in Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula is called Playa Barrigona. Situated on more than 400 acres of pristine rainforest, the estate claims more than two miles of stellar beach coastline overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The main home, called Casa Guanacaste, boasts seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms. In 2017, he listed it for $29.8 million, down from an original asking price of $35 million.

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Beverly Hills, California

In the silent film era, it's hard to imagine any power couple was bigger than Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. The Bey and Jay-Z of their time, the couple was known for hosting lavish and exclusive parties whose guest lists included European royalty, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Amelia Earhart. Those parties took place at Pickfair (a play on the couples' last names), the 17-bedroom, 30-bathroom mansion that served as the center of Beverly Hills movie star culture. It boasted the largest pool in Beverly Hills, which the couple used to cross in a canoe. Billionaire businessman Corry Hong bought it for about $17 million before listing it — as a fixer-upper, mind you — for $60 million in 2008. That's nearly $72 million today.

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Beverly Hills, California

"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell parted with his Beverly Hills mansion in 2020 for $25 million. It has six bedrooms and bathrooms, and the perks are pretty great — side-by-side massage tables, live-in butler's and maid's quarters, and a $1 million security system that reportedly had retina scan authorization. Not a bad return on the $8 million he paid in 2004.

Nicasio, California

Famed filmmaker George Lucas began assembling what would become Skywalker Ranch in 1978, the very next year after "Star Wars" came out. He assembled the 4,700-acre property — only 15 acres are developed — parcel by parcel for an estimated $100 million. It's actually not Lucas' primary residence and is used frequently as a Skywalker Sound workplace as well as a collaborative hangout for filmmakers. The estate's parking lots are underground to preserve its natural beauty. Amenities include Lake Ewok, a real working ranch, a world-renowned art collection, and a 300-seat movie theater that is believed to have the most sophisticated sound system in the world.

Santa Barbara, California

When daytime talk queen Ellen DeGeneres bought her Santa Barbara estate in 2013, she spent $26.5 million. When it was time to sell, she listed it for $45 million and sold it for $33.3 million in 2020. The massive and elegant stone house was designed in the 1930s by famed architect Wallace Frost to resemble a 17th century Italian villa. DeGeneres extended the 10,500-square-foot property by 16.9 acres with the purchase of two adjacent properties.

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Jupiter Island, Florida

Jupiter Island, Florida, is one of the wealthiest ZIP codes in America, and Tiger Woods is just one of the many rich and famous people who call the exclusive enclave home. He and  then-wife Elin Nordegren paid $40 million for the home in 2006 — about $51.2 million today — just to tear down the house and redo the sprawling property. Naturally, some of that cash went into building a golf practice facility that includes sand traps, fairways, and greens, which Tiger uses to practice his short game.

Jupiter Island, Florida

In 2017, Celine Dion sold her property on Florida's exclusive Jupiter Island for $38.5 million. The main house includes 11,000 square feet of living space, 13 bedrooms, and 14 bathrooms, but the main feature is aquatic: For Dion, a pool would not do for entertaining guests, so the property included a full private water park.

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Los Angeles

One of the world's biggest power couples should have one of the world's greatest homes, an idea that is not lost on Jay-Z and Beyoncé, who plunked down $88 million on a hillside estate in Bel-Air. It's the sixth-most expensive home ever purchsaed in the history of Los Angeles. Among its juiciest amenities are four pools, a 15-car garage, a full spa and wellness center, and 30,000 feet of living space that's enclosed within six different glass-walled structures. Famously business savvy, the couple took advantage of historically low mortgage rates by putting 40% down and mortgaging the remaining $52.8 million through Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs, just like regular people do.

Hidden Hills, California

Though some adult kids may want to put some distance between themselves and their parents, that isn't the case with the Kardashian clan. Khloe Kardashian and her mom, Kris Jenner, bought two side-by-side mansions (still under construction) for $37 million. They won't be the only members of the family in this Hidden Hills gated community. Youngest daughter Kylie Jenner has a home there, Kim Kardashian's digs are close by, and Kourtney Kardashian's baby daddy, Scott Disick, also has a home there.

Montecito, California

One of Oprah's homes — there are many, and they're all spectacular — is in Montecito, California. It's not a home, really, but a 42-acre estate she bought for $50 million in 2001. A 2012 tax assessment, however, valued it at up to $90 million. Adjusting for inflation bumps that number into nine-figure territory. Known as the Promised Land, the property is anchored by a 5,000-square-foot mansion and includes horse stables and an equestrian ring, avocado and fruit orchards, and lavishly manicured grounds.

Calabasas, California

Work began in 2003 on what would become Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith's home in star-studded Calabasas, California, but the property wasn't move-in ready until 2010. That year, the power couple scooped it up for $42 million, which is nearly $50 million in today's dollars. The custom-designed Moroccan-themed home includes a recording studio, a pool room, a meditation lounge, and nine bedrooms.

Asheville, North Carolina

In 1862, George Washington Vanderbilt III was born into wealth and privilege that was the closest thing to royalty you'll find in America. His industrialist family made a fortune in the steamboat and rail industries, and Vanderbilt used his fame, wealth, and social connections to amass one of the world's greatest art collections and private libraries. All that stuff needs a house fit to contain it all. In 1888, he began buying land in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, for what would become the largest private residence in America: the Biltmore estate.

An army of craftsmen labored on the French renaissance château — more than 1,000 people working six days a week for six years. When it was finished, the home itself occupied 4 acres; the surrounding property expanded to more than 100,000 acres. With 250 rooms in all, including 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms, it's one of the most historically and architecturally significant structures in the United States. In total, the Biltmore cost Vanderbilt $6 million, or about $184 million in today's dollars. 

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