Unlock the Doors to Celebrity Dream Homes
May 22, 2024
Frank Sinatra in the modern kitchen of his Palm Springs home
Have you ever wondered where the most beloved stars of Hollywood's golden era called home? Or if they're all that different from where you live? From the era of silent film to stars of the 1970s, these rare vintage photos of expensive celebrity homes will show you just how the other side really lives.
Look closer at these photos and you won't just see outrageous houses and expensive mega mansions, you'll see what your favorite actors and musicians were really like. These snapshots show the places that the most beloved celebrities in the world retired to when they were exhausted of the spotlight. In essence, these homes are extensions of who they really are.
The lifestyles of the rich and famous really are fascinating, but they're just like normal people in many ways. They want a place to call home and a place where they can get some peace and quiet. Look deep and you might see a bit of yourself in these recently uncovered photos...
Inside, this home is a mid-century modern lover's dream. It's covered in wood paneling, has seven stone fireplaces, two kitchens, and the guesthouse even has a kitchen and a deck. Oh, and of course it has a helicopter pad. You never know when you need one of those.
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller in front of their Connecticut house
Marilyn Monroe was at the apex of her fame when she married playwright Arthur Miller in 1956. Following their wedding Monroe became an official east coaster and began living in the couple's Sutton Place apartment in Manhattan, a home in upstate New York and a out of the way estate in Connecticut. At the time she was happy to never to return to the west coast.
While in Connecticut the couple spent much of their time in a two-story home in the middle of a 325 acres of land. This secluded wonderland was allegedly chosen because Monroe told Miller shortly after tying the knot:
I hate Hollywood, I don't want it any more. I want to live quietly in the country and just be there when you need me. I can't fight for myself any more... All my life I've been alone. Now for the first time, the really first time, I feel I'm not alone any more. For the first time I have a feeling of being sheltered. It's as if I have come out of the cold.
Humphrey Bogart sits on the balcony of his home
Unlike many celebrity homes, Sluggy Hollow was more of a party house than a place to get away from it all. The Bogarts hosted all manner of the Hollywood elite almost every day of the week. Sadly, the home was demolished to make way for a condo in the mid 20th century.
In the 1950s, Joan Crawford was photographed in her newly designed Brentwood, California, home
In 1934, Crawford added two new rooms to the house - a dressing room and a master bathroom. LAter that year she added a pool house and an outdoor theater, so she could better acclimate to performing live. She later said about her constant renovations:
I've been criticized for being a faddist about my home in decorating and redecorating it with my change of mood. That's absurd, of course. But I couldn't live in that house if not a stick of furniture had been changed from the way it was when I first moved in. Because the same person isn't living there.
Bob Hope's space age home
The house was already expensive, but after it burned down in 1973 it cost an additonal $500,000 to get back in working order. Even though it has a very modern design it's not without its classic pleasures. While at home Hope would play tennis on his personal court while enjoying the outdoor fireplace on chilly evenings.
James Dean in his collegiate apartment
Dean could often be found lounging on the top floor of this five-story, 19th century townhouse in his beatnik inspired digs. This was where Dean came to get away from his fame, even if he had to share a bathroom with the rest of the apartment's tenants. Maybe he thought that this kept him grounded.
Jayne Mansfield bought a seven-bedroom Los Angeles home with her husband, Mickey Hargitay, in 1958 for more than $70,000
Purchased for a whopping $76,000 in 1958, the house had seven outdoor fireplaces for those cold Los Angeles nights, a heart shaped pool with "I Love You Jaynie" spelled out in gold mosaic tile and matching fixtures across the home. Unfortunately, this architectural spectacle was demolished in 2002.
Lucille Ball in front of her "starter" home in Beverly Hills
As you might imagine, the home is a rather spacious place where the Lucyand Desi could relax in peace. A major plus for these stars was how far back it was set from the street. Today the house is worth just under $7 million, which isn't bad for a piece of comedy history (also a really nice home).
Shaquille O'Neal's slam dunk of an estate
Referred to as "Shaq-apulco," the estate has 12 bedrooms, 700 feet of prime lake frontage, and a recording studio. It's literally got everything that someone would want. Whether you're the size of a champin slam-dunker or you just like being in a huge house, if you've got about $20 million to throw around it could be yours.
Sophia Loren's Roman villa
Inside, visitors culd find guilded ceilings, art covering the walls, and some truly gorgeous rooms. Aside from the living areas, Loren had a 135 foot swimming pool, complete with a pool house the size of a normal house, and her own orchard on the property. Now that's living European style.
Bill Gates' home, dubbed "Xanadu 2.0"
Gates initially purchased the grounds for just $2 million in 1988, but he's definitely increased the property value. Constructed out of 500-year-old Douglas fir trees, the mansion is both tech savvy and eco friendly - it works with its surroundings to keep the temperature regulated. This massive place is exactly the kind of place you picture someone like living.
Sonny and Cher's Palm Springs villa
Sonny and Cher enjoyed the mountains around the Villa Carmelita as well as the beautiful terracotta floors on the inside. 12 people can stay in this home comfortably while enjoying the spa-esque bathrooms. If you can't stay at Sinatra's place then this is the Palm Springs home to enjoy.
George and Amal Clooney's Italian villa
The Clooney's home features 25 rooms, an outdoor theater, a gym, a tennis court, and something called the "pizza room." This reall is one of the most stunning celebrity homes of any era. The luxury of this villa is so much more romantic than a regular ol' compound in Calabassass, don't you think?
Sting's Manhattan duplex sold for $50 million
The duplex is exactly what you want from the city, it has 43 feet of frontage on Central Park as well as a 396 square foot terrace where you can watch the world go by. The master bath has his and hers spas as well as a sauna and dressing rooms. It's safe to say that everything about this place is magic.
John Wayne's home office
Wayne's home was exactly what you'd imagine. The interior was cozy with woord panelling and fireplaces to make everyone feel at home, but it was his den that he was the most proud of. Wayne had what he referred to as the "Fifty Years of Hard Work Wall" that featured his Oscar for True Grit as well of photos of friends and family. He told Architectural Digest:
I find things that appeal to me, and I try to blend them in here. I don't [care] whether anyone else likes them or not. But I think I've done a pretty fair job.
Gregory Peck pours a drink at his home bar
The house wasn't all artsy ranch arcitectural flourishes, it also had the green leather bar that you see in the photo. Architectural Digest later noted:
[Peck's den was] a place for casual entertaining and where family evenings, kids [the Pecks had three sons], and dogs [the couple had several Alsatians] were welcome.
Elvis Presley strolls the grounds of Graceland
Following the death of Elvis' mother the King began to go hog wild with the eccentricies of Graceland. He installed a swimming pool in his father's room with a jukebox full of Elvis' 45s and the entire place was outfitted with cameras that Elvis wastched on a close circuit television at all hours. Speaking about the over the top oppulence of Graceland in the 1970s, NYU professor Mark Crispin Miller referred to it as:
The home of the organization that was himself, was tended by a large vague clan of Presleys and deputy Presleys, each squandering the vast gratuities which Elvis used to keep his whole world smiling.
Mary Pickford's Los Angeles mansion, PickFair, was one of the most famous homes in the US
It's truly crazy just how amazing Pickfair was. Hollywood's elite often stopped by the estate to have a drink at the saloon, take a look at the art, and swim in the first of its kind in-ground swimming pool. It's not clear how much the estate costs in the beginning of the 20th century, but decades later it sold for $60 million.
Tom Cruise's secluded estate
This house wasn't just picked up by the star, he had it specifically built for privacy while on vacation in this affluent Colorado area. Listed for $39.5 million in 2021, the home sold in less than a year. It's not clear who purchased the property, but we're sure they're going to enjoy this picturesque homestead.
O.J. Simpson's Brentwood estate
Inside, Simpson carried on with the very '90s khaki interior. Simpson's success in the NFL, as well as his time as a spokesman for various products meant that he had a lot of money to play with when it came to building out his dream home. IT's not clear how much the home cost initially, but it sold for $2.6 million at auction following his court case.
Marlon Brando called this neo-Gothic mansion home
The house itself features four bedrooms and five baths, as well as two different winding staircases. This is exactly the kind of place you can picture someone like Brando living, especially when you realize that it has a dining room that seats 20 and a library. Living here would be an offer you can't refuse.
Oprah's Oasis
When Oprah bought this estate in 2001 it went for $50 million. It's likely that the price has since skyrocketed, which makes since. Not only does this Montecito home have a very famous name attached but now that it can produce its own fruit it's literally giving life to the people of California.
Marilyn Monroe bought her most famous house in Brentwood, California, for $90,000
Standing amidst a small grove of orange trees, the home, guest house, and pool are now on the market for just under $7 million. At the time of the purchase Variety reported that Monroe was becoming quite the homemaker:
[Monroe has thrown] herself into making a home for herself. She planted an herb garden and in early 1962 traveled to Mexico to purchase authentic furniture, art and tapestries for her new home.
Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow's New York City apartment
Today this penthouse is on the market for almost $5 million and it's exactly the kind of place that you can imagine the former Rat Pack leader owning. What better way to finish up a day in New York City than riding up the elevator to your penthouse and looking out at the skyline? Sinatra knew how to live.
David Bowie's New York City apartment is fit for the man who sold the world
The entire condo has been remodeled multiple times and it includes a dressing room built specifically for Iman. The whole enchilada costs a very helthy $6.5 million, which is worth it for a Bowie superfan with cash to burn. At the very least it would be cool to be around that Ziggy Stardust energy.
Louis B. Mayer stands with his girls in front of the mansion he bought for his daughter
The Georgian Revival-style mansion was built in 1938 and it holds 11 bedrooms as well as a huge Art Deco library. Director Billy Wilder once said of the Goetzes:
[They] had the best food, the best people, and the best things on the walls.
Buster Keaton's mansion cost $5 million in 1926
Keaton was a swell guy so the house wasn't home to unspeakable acts or anything, but it does have underground passages and even secret rooms. Not just a cool addition to the house, the tunnels made it easy to get around the 17,000 square foot Italian inspired villa. This may be the coolest celebrity home we've ever seen.
George Lucas calls Skywalker Ranch home
Visitors to the ranch are asked to not take any photos, and blueprints for the location aren't readily available. What we do know is that the property has a 300 seat theater, a two story library, underground parking for 200(!) and it allegedly has its own fire station. When you're the guy who brought Star Wars to the masses where else would you live?
Paul Newman's Connecticut home is deceptively rustic
Every building on the property was completely rennovated, but it's the main house that was the centerpiece of the estate. Featuring exposed beams and a beautiful open floorplan, it was the kind of house you never want to leave. Today it's on the market for just over $7 million.
Brad and Angelina once owned a home on a $60 million vineyard
It's rare that celebtrity home can pay for itself, but this vineyard wasn't just a vanity purchase for Pitt. In 2012, he explained that it was an escape from Hollywood:
I love learning about the land and which field is most suitable for which grape, the drama of September and October: Are we picking today? Where are the sugar levels? How is the acidity? Is it going to rain? It’s been a schooling for me. In the off months, I enjoy cleaning the forest and walking the land. 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.
Clint Eastwood's Carmel ranch
Eastwood established his home in the area, the Mission Ranch, with views over the glimmering Monterey coast. The actor lives in a farmhouse that was built in the 1850sand now features six guest rooms aside from the master bed. It really is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.
Cary Grant's Palm Springs hideaway
With views of the mountains and a saline pool, it's no surprise that Grant stayed here whenever he needed to get away from it all. Situated in the middle of the "Movie Colony," the house sits on an acre and a half, it's perfect for the star who wants to disappear for a while. However, if you want to buy it you'll have to shell out a little over $4 million.
Candice Bergen's country kitchen
Even in the 1970s Bergen's cottage cost a pretty penny. However, thanks to her constant stream of work it wasn't a major issue for her to pick up this wonderful little spot that she could call home. She's gone on to live in bigger and even more expensive places, but this cottage will always carry a special place in her home.
Dennis Hopper's Venice, California estate
Aside from the "Three Little Pigs," Hopper's affectionate name for the lofts, his compound also features floating staircases and a set of ginormous windows. This $5,800,000 home where Hopper spent his final years, and it makes sense why he did that. The place is absolutely stunning and it's right on the beach.
Dolly Parton's retro estate
The house clocks in at more than 3,000 square feet, but that's just the house. Her actual property is home to a swimming pool, a tennis court, even a chapel. There's a ton of room on her property so she doesn't have to leave if she doesn't want to.
Sylvester Stallone's superyacht, Enchantress ✨
The Enchantress is built for play and for stay, and with a length of 114 feet it's like being on a house on the sea. There's a master bedroom, two double cabins, and space for 10 guests to sleep in five rooms. Oh, and this superyacht can also host seven crewmembers.
Christie Brinkley's Hamptons home sits on 20 acres of land
The main room of the house has four bedroom and five baths, and there's a guest house with another four bedrooms and two and a half baths. Basically, if you went out to the Hamptons for a weekend Brinkley in the 2000s you had a place to sleep that wasn't a sofa. The entire property has recently been listed for just under $30 million, so if you're looking for a place to stay with a tower...
Clark Gable's Spanish inspired home
Gable lived in this Spanish Colonial home for a while with actress Carol Lombard when they were both able to get away from their respective sets. The home is genuinely cool. It has exposed beams, beautiful tiles, and a master bedroom that opens right into the outdoors.
Henry E. Huntington's mega mansion
While the magnate was alive he put together one of the most astounding collections of 18th century British portraits that exists today. Believed to be worth $50 million, the collection is now on display in Huntington's former home. Today, it's a library that's supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, can you imagine living in something like this?
Beyoncé & Jay-Z's luxury home in Los Angeles
More than a mansion, this place is a legit compound with an exterior area that features 10,000 square feet of outdoor living space and an additional two acres where one can find a basketball court. Weirdly enough, this estate was never officially put on the market. That means that Bey and Jay just snatched it up.
Elton John's superyacht, "Wabi Sabi"
The Wabi Sabi doesn't just cut through the ocean, it acts as an all in one resort for a select few. It houses 18 guests in eight beautiful cabins and can fit even more crewmembers. No one on board John's superyacht will want for anything... unless the singer starts taking requests.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Meditterranean villa in the heart of Los Angeles
The home comes complete with seven bedrooms and seven baths along with a chef's kitchen, multiple living rooms, and of course, a private gym. Aside from the many amenities it's the exterior of the home that's really impressive. Stepping out to one of the many balconies Arnie has views of the ocean, the mountains, and his own private duck pond.
Barbara Eden from 'I Dream of Jeannie' enjoying her home
Located deep in one of Los Angeles' many canyons, Eden's home is a classic celebrity getaway. There's a pool and a paddle tennis court just beyond the redwood deck. During one remodel she told the LA Times:
I was eight months with no kitchen. It was also a country kitchen that men flipped over, but I didn’t know I was going to get married when I started the project. I decided to make the whole house brighter, so we sandblasted, plastered and painted to make it lighter and to take advantage of the views.
Aaron Spelling's massive manor
To put the immense size of this mansion in perspective, it has about 1,500 square feet on the White House, and it has a one lane bowling alley with its own shoe closet. To keep this place going it has to have a staff of 30, but that's probably a minimum, right? This is one celebrity house that sounds like way too much work.
James Dean was a handyman at this Hollywood hacienda
Inside the home you can expect to find three beds and four baths as well as a kind of Mission style design that's popular on the west coast. There's also a set of exposed beams and the original 1927 fireplace. So it doesn't just have plenty of history, it's an architectural beauty as well.
Dr Dre's makes beats in his Brentwood estate
This house comes with anything you could want, including an outdoor kitchen, bathtub, and a cabana. The interior is constructed from reclaimed and antique materials, which is just smart construction, and it has its own kitchen as well as a state of the art gym. If this place has a recording studio then there's no need for Dre to ever leave.
Audrey Hepburn's Swiss residence
The large estate was absolutely gorgeous while Hepburn was overseeing its splendor. Painted in tones of white and pastels, it was a sensuous European getaway that was all about rest and relaxation. While living on her estate Hepburn was known to spend most of her time in the garden tending roses.
One of the smaller Howard Hughes estates
Inside, Hughes was able to relax - when he wanted to - in a sunken living room with a double-sided fireplace. On the other side of the living room was a dining room that was separated from the terrace by glass walls that could be moved around however Hughes saw fit. Aside from the mind bending interior design, the home featured a spa, a sundeck, and terazzo floors across the house.
Harold Lloyd spent his silent film money on the Greenacres estate
Suzanne Lloyd, Harold's granddaughter, said of how much the estate meant to the actor:
The house had a personality and a life to it. It was a lovely feeling—there was warmth and laughter, but there was also structure, strength, and integrity. The main thing is that it was his home. And he was very proud of it.
Phil Spector's castle in the suburbs
With 10 bedrooms and 11 baths, the house also has two wings that are perfect clones of one another in the 10,590 square foot home. Spector abandoned the home after his arrest in 2009, and as of 2019 it has been on the market for various, very expensive prices. If you want a piece of rock n roll history this could be yours.