Key Takeaways
- Celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost, and Ellen DeGeneres made notable real estate transactions in 2024, including buying and selling luxurious homes.
- Some celebrities, such as Jen and Ben, listed their homes for sale, which foretold their divorce.
- Baz Luhrmann’s Gramercy Park townhouse has been on the market since 2022, with its unique style making it difficult to sell.
- Other celebrities, like Bethenny Frankel and Gracie Abrams, made significant purchases, with Frankel moving to Florida and Abrams buying a co-op in Greenwich Village.
Introduction to Celebrity Real Estate
The world of celebrity real estate is always abuzz with activity, and 2024 was no exception. From buying and selling luxurious homes to making headlines with their real estate transactions, celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost, and Ellen DeGeneres were in the news. One notable example is Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost’s purchase of a $13 million penthouse at 1220 Park Avenue, which was half the asking price. The triplex, which features five terraces, eight balconies, and six wood-burning fireplaces, seems like a solid investment.
Renovations and Sales
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi also made headlines with their real estate transactions. In 2024, they hired 70 people to expedite an extensive renovation of their $20 million house in the Cotswolds. However, after moving in and living there for just a month, they listed the house for $30 million and moved on to another place nearby. The reason for the quick sale was that the property did not have enough space for Portia’s horses. DeGeneres stated, "We needed a home that had a horse facility and pastures for them." It’s surprising that this wasn’t considered part of the renovation.
Challenging Sales
Baz Luhrmann’s 8,500-square-foot Gramercy Park townhouse has been on the market since 2022, with its unique style making it difficult to sell. The problem, according to brokers and stagers, is that there’s too much of Luhrmann’s personal style, including red velvet carpet, ornate furniture, and colorful wallpaper. As one stager put it, "When you run up against a style like his and his wife’s, it’s virtually impossible to see yourself in that space unless you’ve lived your life in a Baz Luhrmann movie." The apartment was relisted in May with a price cut from $20 million to $14 million, and the interiors were whitewashed in grays and creams. However, it remains on the market.
Divorce and Real Estate
Jen and Ben’s divorce was foretold when they listed their 12-bedroom Beverly Hills mansion for $68 million in June 2024. The divorce was finalized in January 2025, but the house still hasn’t sold. The pair cut the price to $60 million in May and again in September to $52 million. It seems that there aren’t many people in the market for a house with space to park 92 cars. Another example is Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer, who bought a house at 19 Cranberry Street in 2022 for $12.3 million. They put it back on the market earlier this year as rumors swirled that they were splitting up, and they sold it in December for $11 million, a $1.25 million loss. A few days later, Schumer announced on Instagram that they were indeed getting divorced.
Celebrity Purchases
Gracie Abrams paid $5.5 million for a three-bedroom co-op at One Fifth, a storied Greenwich Village Art Deco building, in the spring. Sabrina Carpenter bought a penthouse in Tribeca for $9.95 million in the fall, also in a building with a celebrity pedigree. It’s always nice to be among friends when moving to a new place. Bethenny Frankel announced that she was moving to Florida in April, calling it her "healthiest life choice." She listed her five-bedroom, eight-bath house in Greenwich off-market for $8 million and sold it over the summer for $7.83 million. Frankel has since taken to Florida, stating, "For me, walking into a home and understanding where you are is critical."
Real Estate Drama
Alec Baldwin’s Amagansett house is his ninth child, and he can’t figure out what to do with it. He listed the estate for $29 million in 2022, letting it languish on the market for years, eventually cutting the price to $19 million in 2024. He almost sold it last summer but backed out and relisted it again in December for $21 million. If it sells, the Baldwins will have to figure out what to do with Hilaria’s gigantic portrait. Kanye West bought Tadao Ando’s masterpiece in 2021 for $57.25 million and promptly tore it up, leaving the Malibu house a shell of itself. He sold it for $21 million in 2024 to a house-flipping crowdfunding firm, Belwood Investments. However, the house is now at risk of foreclosure as the lender is suing Belwood, claiming the company owes $814,000 in mortgage payments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the world of celebrity real estate is always fascinating, with stars like Scarlett Johansson, Ellen DeGeneres, and Baz Luhrmann making headlines with their purchases and sales. From luxurious penthouses to sprawling estates, these celebrities spare no expense when it comes to their homes. However, as seen with Jen and Ben’s divorce and Amy Schumer’s sale of her home, real estate transactions can also be a sign of trouble in paradise. As the world of celebrity real estate continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see what’s in store for these stars and their homes in the future.