Celebrity Luxury Homes for Sale: Current and Past Dream Homes

“Star gazing” at celebrity homes is an established pastime in Beverly Hills, where tourists can buy maps of celebrity residences.

While tourists still enjoy seeing the homes of the stars today, some want a more personal connection that comes with buying a celebrity’s home.

We’ll dazzle you with a few celebrity home listings, past and present, and let our expert real estate agent, Tami Pardee of Pardee Properties, explain what makes celebrity luxury homes for sale not only so intriguing, but also so different from the average luxury home for sale.

Celebrity homes, my way

Some celebrity homes have become as iconic as their owners, whether due to the architecture, the location, the history, or the star who once owned them.

Twin Palms exemplifies all of the above. Frank Sinatra set the scene for post-war Hollywood glamor with his mid-century modern renovation of a Palm Springs estate, featured in the 1950 Joan Crawford film, The Damned Don’t Cry. This is the house, designed by E. Stewart Williams, that launched California Desert style. Scene of lavish parties and incendiary fights with then-wife Ava Gardner, the 8,000-square-foot home was purchased by billionaire Jim Pattison in 1995 and is now available to rent on Airbnb for upwards of $3,000 a night.

Homes once owned by an older generation of A-list celebrities “have cachet,” Pardee says. “It’s very cool to be in a celebrity’s house.”

However… name value alone doesn’t always generate higher prices or heightened interest from buyers.

For example, another Sinatra Palm Desert MCM home, Villa Maggio, can’t find a buyer, despite its “President Kennedy slept here” plaque, association with Hollywood royalty, and private helipad.

This nine-bedroom, 12.5-bathroom mountaintop hideaway has been on and off the market with different agents since 2007, with a price reduction in 2015 from $4.4 million to $3.9 million. In 2021, it hit the market again at $4.25 million with Markus Canter of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.

Keeping with the Rat Pack theme, a Sinatra property in Malibu had better luck. It was purchased for $9.95 million (down from $12.9) by actress Mindy Kaling in 2020. The seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom beachfront home designed by Ted Grenzbach features some Art Deco influences. Boasting the same Hollywood status as his other homes, it is an entertainer’s dream.

Pardee explains that it’s less about the celebrity than what they bring to the property. She says Courtney Cox and Ellen DeGeneres both have “a design eye” and can “transform a property and create value.”

Lavish luxury at a price

Gossip about celebrity homes rivals gossip about the celebrity homeowner. Some common questions are answered below:

How much do celebrity and luxury homes cost?

The price of luxury homes varies geographically, although a common measure of a luxury property is a base price of at least $1 million. Luxury home prices have risen steadily in recent years despite – or because of – the global pandemic as homeowners seek additional space, more privacy, or other features while they quarantine at home.

Beverly Hills homes home prices were up 11.2% in 2021 from the previous year and continue to appreciate.

How does the rate of appreciation with celebrity luxury homes compare with the average home?

There’s no blanket rate, according to Pardee. Just like with the average home, a celebrity home appreciates or depreciates depending on the property, not the owner. “If it’s lifestyle-oriented, [the home] increases in value, [but] if it’s too specific, that will decrease the value and the buyer pool,” she says. “Overly specific does not increase value.”

Recently listed is the home of former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Tony Stewart. The $30 million asking price is the highest in the entire state of Indiana.

Built in 2011, the 20,000-square-foot luxury log home sits on 415 acres. In addition to six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, this sportsmans’ ranch – which is zoned as a hunting preserve – features four fireplaces, a six-car garage, a game area, a bowling alley in the basement, a lighted onyx bar, an 8,700-gallon fish tank, a nine-acre stocked lake for fishing, and a trophy room big enough to hang a full-size Indy car.

Pardee says it may be difficult to find a buyer for such a specific house, but the Midwest audience wants different attributes than the L.A. clientele. Bowling alleys and outdoor recreation beat recording studios.

What did it cost when it was first built and how much has it appreciated in value?

Currently listed at $30 million for the home and 415 acres of land, Tony Stewart’s home cost significantly less to build and the property itself was recently valued at $3.5 million, according to Bartholomew County property records.

Does the association with the celebrity influence the home’s worth?

Not always. That said, much of what celebrities value is desired by high-end buyers too: luxury, landscaped grounds, privacy and security. Those qualities add value, no matter who the owner is.

Anything unusual about a property – be it a celebrity pedigree or a more ghostly connection – will attract star-struck looky-loos who may be just seeking design inspiration, so it’s important to find an agent accustomed to dealing with the rich and famous who will not be star-struck.

“You need a good reputation,” Pardee points out. “You have to be trustworthy. If you’re star-struck, it’s very difficult [to attract celebrity clients].”

Has Pardee sold to very many famous people?

Pardee has been working with celebrity clients for years, but won’t reveal any names, due in part to NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). Anonymity is important to them, she explains. According to Pardee’s HomeLight Top Agent profile, she has been in the industry for nearly 20 years and has more than 2,000 real estate transactions worth of experience.

What is most interesting about selling celebrity luxury homes?

Pardee insists that celebrities are “normal people at the end of the day” who just want to find the right home. However, she does believe that a home is more important to them than to the average person because they crave privacy. “It’s their sanctuary. They want different moments so they don’t have to go out: an intimate experience so they never have to leave.” That can translate to a swimming pool, recording studio, movie theater, basketball court, or nightclub – whatever they’re into.”

How does the selling price per square foot of a celebrity home compare to an average American home?

While the square-foot price of homes in the U.S. has steadily risen (with a dip here and there) since 2000, historically, celebrity homes have not sold for significantly higher prices. And, although the celebrity aspect can increase a home’s profile, it rarely increases price – and can even add days on market (DOM).

Price can go either way, Pardee notes, but a celebrity name tag attached to a home usually adds, rarely subtracts, from the cost.

Some, however, like the former home of the late Kirk Douglas, have to be sold for land value.

Who does Pardee think has the best (or coolest) celebrity house?

“Ellen DeGeneres has the coolest houses,” Pardee thinks. Celebs like the comedienne/talk show host are creative people, she notes. Many are world travelers who include aspects of their experiences into their homes.

Which celebrity has the most expensive house?

Bill Gates’ mega-mansion ‘Xanadu 2.0‘ is one of the most expensive, at $125 million.

By the way, it’s followed closely by George Clooney’s Lake Como estate and George Lucas’ 26-acre Skywalker Ranch, both at $100 million.

Other top-ten contenders include:

• Jay-Z and Beyonce’s $88 million Bel Air mansion
• Angelina Jolie’s $61 million French chateau
• Tom Cruise’s $59 million Colorado mountain home
• Tiger Woods’ $54.5 million Florida oceanside house
• Ellen DeGeneres’ $45 million California oasis
• Kylie Jenner’s $36.5 million Holmby Hills resort
• Taylor Swift’s $30 million coastal retreat

See more amazing luxury high-end homes

In the mood to look up other celebrity homes on the market? Keep an eye on these high-end luxury brokerages that often handle celebrity properties.

Sotheby’s International Realty 

The luxury real estate company founded in 1976 by Sotheby’s fine art dealers has handled numerous celebrity clients’ properties, including Jimmy Fallon’s Gramercy Park Queen Anne-style home once owned by James Cagney.

Christie’s International Real Estate

The luxury real estate arm of Christie’s, a fine art auction house, established in 1995, is a wholly owned subsidiary that has listed properties for many celebrities, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Jon Bon Jovi, and Ian Fleming.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 

This real estate brokerage franchise network was established in 2000 when founder Warren Buffet purchased the energy company MidAmerican, which owned HomeServices. Just in the last year, celebrity clients have included Tobey Maguire and Geena Davis.

Keller Williams Luxury International

Founded in 1983, this brokerage now offers more than 420 offices and 12, 500 agents around the world. 

Nest Seekers International 

Founded in 2001, Nest Seekers is an international brokerage that incorporates unconventional marketing and media exposure to move properties. Recent celebrity clients include Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Marc Anthony.

Distinctive Collection by Better Homes and Gardens

Associated with the Better Homes and Gardens magazine, this luxury brokerage features 10,000 affiliated agents across the country.

The RE/MAX Collection

With nearly 50 years of experience in luxury properties, the RE/MAX Collection’s recent celebrity clients include Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec, Lakers’ star Anthony Davis and Poison’s Bret Michaels.

Coldwell Banker Global Luxury

Launched in 2008 for digital listings of some of the most prestigious properties, this arm of Coldwell Banker has served celebrity clients such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Cheryl Tiegs, Candy Spelling, and Sylvester Stallone.

HomeSmart International

Since 2000, HomeSmart has used the latest technology to revolutionize the brokerage model. In addition to selling Bing Crosby’s former home, they have worked with actress Taraji P. Henson.

Compass Luxury Homes

Founded in 2012, Compass has 300 offices in 130 cities across the country, but developed its Luxury Homes arm to better serve famous clients such as Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer, Paris Hilton, Khloé Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez.

Buy and sell real estate like a celebrity

Pardee is convinced that celebrities are just like the rest of us. One thing’s for sure: even celebrities rely on top real estate agents to get their homes sold in a timely manner and at the best price.

When you’re looking for a real estate agent who can sell your house faster and for more money, look no further than HomeLight’s Agent Match. It takes just two minutes on this free service to find a knowledgeable, experienced agent who knows your area and will treat your home with all the fanfare of a celebrity home.

Header Image shows the interior of IndyCar and NASCAR driver Tony Stewart’s recently-listed $30 million, 20,000-square-foot luxury log home for sale in Indiana. The home sits on 415 acres. Source: (Brock Childs, Home Aesthetic)