Ridiculous Features In Celebrity Homes You'll Never See In The Common House
Besides faces that are familiar to millions, celebrities are blessed with one other thing that the majority of us common folk lack: bags of money. When you're that rich, it's understandable that celebs sometimes spend their money on bizarre endeavors and outlandish projects. A famous multi-millionaire may indulge in everything from a spot of trout farming, if you're The Who's Roger Daltrey; a splash of Barbie Doll collecting, if you're Johnny Depp; or even a smidgen of pigeon fancying, if you're Mike Tyson. Yet it's when the rich and famous turn their attention to their own homes that things get really interesting.
F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me." They certainly are, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the dwellings of celebrities the world over. When you're a household name, customizing your crib and pimping your pad is an absolute must. So, if you think your recent sofa purchase was extravagant, think again. Celebrities take self-indulgence to a whole new level when it comes to furnishing their house with ridiculous features that you just won't find in the common home. Keep reading for a peek inside the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
Rod Stewart's field of dreams
Ultimate soccer fan Rod Stewart loves the Beautiful Game so much that he once installed a soccer field (or what he would call a "football pitch") in the yard of his former mansion in Essex, England (via The Sun). It's not quite as large as a regulation pitch that the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo strut their stuff upon, but it's pretty spectacular. According to The Daily Record, players from Celtic, Newcastle United, and Liverpool have all trained on the rocker's field of dreams. Yet, in 2019, the lifelong Celtic fan yearned for new pastures and sold the mansion for £4.1 million to West Ham United forward Andy Carroll. Stewart initially put his mansion on the market for £7.5 million but decided to drop the price after a lack of interest.
Stewart is something of a big kid at heart. BBC News reports that he also had an epic model train set in the attic of his Los Angeles home. The intricate model, which spans 1,500 square feet and took him 23 years to build, is based on a U.S. city in the 1940s. "A lot of people laugh, but it's a wonderful hobby," he told the BBC. Stewart loves his toy so much that he commissioned seven shipping containers to bring it back to the U.K. when he returned in 2021, per to The Scottish Sun.
Dance floor king John Travolta is also king of the skies
John Travolta is not just a talented thespian who can bust some serious moves on the dance floor, but he's also a pretty handy man to have in a cockpit if you're ever taking to the skies. According to Aviation Times, the "Saturday Night Fever" star has two runways leading to the front door of his home in Ocala, Florida, and his neighborhood, Jumbolair Aviation Estates, has a community runway (pictured above). The certified private pilot — who owns a grand total of five aircraft, including a Qantas Boeing 707 — dreamed of having planes parked in his front yard ever since he was a young boy. "I was five years old when I fell in love with aviation," he said, via Aviation Times. "This is in my blood."
Business Insider reports that Travolta designed his home around the jets and, since 2002, has been a Qantas ambassador at large. Travolta confesses that flying jets is something he enjoys when he's not working and gives him something to do. In the past, the actor, who also has a 16-car garage on his property, has flown his own plane for appearances at film festivals.
Bouncing Bill Gates and his trampoline room
We'd all probably be bouncing for joy if we made the sort of money Microsoft founder Bill Gates does. But, according to Delish, the billionaire has taken bouncing to another level by having a designated trampoline room built in his $127 million complex in Medina, Washington. Apparently, his children adore this high-ceilinged and colorful space within the 66,000-square-foot mansion, which goes by the nickname Xanadu 2.0, per The Business Times. "The trampoline room seems kind of over the top but my kids love using it to work off their excess energy," Gates explained, per Business Insider.
The house that Bill built also features a 60-foot pool, a well-stocked stream full of salmon and trout, a 150-person reception hall, a gym paneled with rock from a regional mountain peak, and, of course, all the smart home features you'd expect from a tech mogul (via The New York Times). For example, throughout the mansion, video walls can be programmed to display various artworks, depending on the guest.
It's a dog's life at Paris Hilton's house
When you're an heiress to a hotel empire worth billions, you can afford to be a bit indulgent with your dollar. But spending $325,000 for a dog mansion is barking mad in anyone's books — except Paris Hilton's. In 2009, the social butterfly decided her dogs deserved a whole lot more than your typical dog house, per Esquire. They needed a two-story, Spanish-colonial-style mini-mansion, complete with a balcony, a tile roof, exterior lighting, and an ornate wrought-iron gate.
Architectural Digest reports that, inside Hilton's 300-square-foot dog mansion, you'll find air conditioning, pink walls, wrought-iron details, functional windows, designer furniture by Philippe Starck, and a sparkling chandelier. It was designed by Faye Resnick and built in Hilton's Los Angeles backyard so her four-legged friends are never more than a whistle away.
The lavish expense shouldn't be too surprising considering that the dog lover once spent $13,000 to buy one pup and $25,000 for an additional pair, per AD.
A bed fit for Shaq
Shaquille O'Neal is a pretty big guy, but, it has to be said, his bed is off the charts. The place where Shaq lays his head measures 15 by 30 feet, according to Fancy Pants Homes, and features the insignia of his childhood hero, Superman, in the middle. Shaq's bed would take up 20% of the total floor space of the average family home and is one-fifth the size of a tennis court.
If you're interested, the property is currently on the market for a whopping $16.5 million, according to Business Insider. Purchased in 1993 when Shaq was playing for the Orlando Magic, the 31,000-square-foot mega-mansion is located in Windermere, Florida. It also boasts a media room, an entertainment room, two garages that can accommodate 17 cars, a recording studio, a fitness center, 12 bedrooms, and 15 baths. The fun doesn't stop there. The retired NBA player also has an aquarium room, a 95-foot pool with a waterfall and a swim-up bar, a 6,000-square-foot indoor basketball court, and, of course, a life-sized statue of Superman.
Slipping 'n' sliding with Gene Simmons
Most celebs own a pool, but not many can lay claim to a twisting and turning 60-foot waterslide like Gene Simmons can. According to MarketWatch, the KISS bassist's 13,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion features a gorgeous resort-like pool with a hot tub and an extensive patio, but the humongous slide is obviously the biggest hit with visitors. The home also offers a professional-sized tennis court, parking for upward of 30 cars, and five lead-lined panic rooms throughout in case of emergency.
Although the rock icon has lived in the seven-bedroom, nine-bath home since 1987 — which he built after knocking down the farmhouse that was originally located on the site — he recently put it on the market (again) for $25 million (according to Robb Report) after vowing to leave the state due to California's high taxes. It was previously listed in October 2020 for $22 million.
Michael Jordan's island of grass
When you reach a certain level of stardom, an infinity pool is simply a must for your home. But, when you're Michael Jordan, you'll also want to install an island made of grass right in the middle of the aforesaid pool. Business Insider reports that the former 56,000-square-foot compound of the NBA icon not only has an infinity pool to cool off but a circular patch of grass perfect for having picnics or catching some rays. A sizeable patio surrounding the pool makes it a great place for entertaining, and the three-bedroom guest house means visitors can spend the night in comfort.
Jordan's former Chicago home also has a few other exceptional features that reflect his personal passions, such as a putting green, a full-size basketball court, a cigar room, a huge wine cellar, and something intriguingly called a gentlemen's club.
You gotta bowl with it at Lady Gaga's home
Lady Gaga may be partial to a bad romance, but she enjoys a spot of bowling, too. According to Curbed, she has a couple of bowling lanes located in a secret hideaway at her Malibu pad. This underground playroom is only accessible via a hidden passageway leading from the living room. Besides the 1960s-themed bowling alley, equipped with plenty of colorful bowling balls, the space also has a well-stocked wine cellar, a theater, and a wet bar. Sounds like the perfect place for a party.
The 10,270-square-foot house contains other hidden gems that'll drive common folk "gaga," including a saltwater pool, a bocce ball court, an eight-horse stable, and a dressage ring. The five-bedroom, seven-bath home also has a safe room, so it's clear Gaga prioritizes her privacy and safety. And, if that's not enough, the residence is only a stone's throw away from Zuma Beach.
In da club with 50 Cent
Rapper 50 Cent's old crib definitely has a ceratin je nais se quois. After purchasing the house from none other than Mike Tyson in 2007, 50 got busy customizing it to his own style, and that includes a spacious nightclub and casino (via Metro). Not only does an area with gaming tables overlook the dance floor, but the club also has its own stripper poles and a wall mural of 50, real name Curtis Jackson.
It appears he was a big believer in the philosophy that staying in is the new going out, and his 21-bedroom Connecticut crib has ample features to guarantee plenty of big nights in. With both an outdoor pool and an indoor pool, a recording studio, a movie theater, a basketball court, a gym, and a Playboy-style grotto, 50 certainly knew how to live.
Unfortunately, all that bling came at a price, and when 50 filed for bankruptcy in 2015, the 52-room mansion was put up for sale.
Oprah's wine mine
All celebrities enjoy having a well-stocked wine cellar — but can you imagine having a wine mine? Oprah Winfrey has just that in her $14 million ski home in Telluride, Colorado, according to Food & Wine, and it's pretty intoxicating. So how does a mine differ from a cellar? The media mogul's underground wine storage facility is 56 feet long and houses 1,600 bottles of rare vintage. It also looks and sounds like a mining tunnel, complete with an antique ore cart and the sounds of creaking wood and dripping water piped in.
While this seems like quite the extravagance, Oprah — who has a real estate portfolio that includes six mansions (via SheKnows) — knows that innovative design can turn your average home into something truly special. Infinity pools and gyms have become standard for the wealthy, but if you really want to get people talking, a wine mine is the way to go.
Drake's $400,000 mattress
In the Toronto home of Canadian rapper Drake, you'll find a bed made of money. Well, not literally, but his mattress did cost $400,000 to make, according to The Guardian. That's the asking price of a modest home and one hell of a price to pay for a good night's rest. The mattress, the Grand Vividus (pictured above), was designed and created by the Swedish company Hastens. Called the "Birkin bag of beds" by some, it was completely handmade, and, on average, such a mattress takes a team of four people about 600 hours to make. Hastens store manager Linus Adolfsson explained that, in Sweden, the mattress is the most important piece of furniture money can buy, and that Swedes "have a completely different attitude to sleeping."
Nevertheless, the thought of spending $400,000 on a mattress is enough to give most common folk a nightmare of epic proportions. However, Drake is no stranger to indulgence, considering he also owns a $3.4 million car and a chandelier made of 20,000 pieces of Swarovski crystal.