Expensive Mega-Mansions Owned By The Rich and Famous That Are Nearly Worthless Today

On the Market Since: 2017
Total Area: 5,200 square feet
Initial Value: $8 million*

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are Hollywood royalty as well as couple goals. The average Joe would jump at a chance to live in one of their homes – but then again, the average Joe doesn’t have millions laying around in the bank. 

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s Home - Brooklyn, New York @Town & Country Magazine / Pinterest.com

The actors listed their Brooklyn townhouse back in 2017 for $8 million, although they bought it the year prior for $6 million. Situated in Park Slope, the house is the kind of thing that dreams are made of, and yet it took them over a year to finally sell it. When they did, they accepted an offer of $6.5 million, so scarcely turned a profit. 

On the Market Since: 2017
Total Area: 6,000 square feet
Initial Value: $9 million*

Some of the Spice Girls have done incredibly well for themselves, but Mel B has fallen on harder times over the last few years. Scary Spice bought her 6,000 square foot LA property with her ex-husband back in 2014, but put it on the market three years later. 

Mel B’s LA Home - Los Angeles, California @Stefen Lee Liberti-West L.A. Realtor / Pinterest.com

Mel was originally asking for $9 million, but the price continued to drop. At first it went down to $7.5 million. Eventually it was dropped to $5.5 million and finally found a buyer two years after first hitting the market. 

On the Market Since: 2014
Total Area: 2,262 square feet
Initial Value: $1.7 million*

Before Meghan Markle was the Duchess of Sussex, she was an actress married to Trevor Engelson. During her marriage she lived in a quaint house in central LA. The home went up for sale after they split for $1.7 million, but it took some time for a deal to be struck. 

Meghan Markle’s Former Estate - Los Angeles, California @Lonny Magazine / Pinterest.com

Eventually the property was sold in January 2020 for $1.68 million, which is a far cry from the value of Windsor Castle or even her current rented LA mansion. Meghan is no stranger to glamorous homes, having lived in several expensive pads over the last few years. 

On the Market Since: 2020
Total Area: 12,500 square feet
Initial Value: $7.35 million*

In late September of 2020, actor Pierce Brosnan and his wife, filmmaker Keely Shaye Smith, decided to sell their beachfront mansion. They listed the 12,500-square-foot property for $100 million, which is far more than what they initially got the land for (two plots) in 2000.

Pierce Brosnan's Malibu Home @People / Pinterest.com

They purchased the two plots of land for $7.35 million, and they built their dream house on it, raising their two sons there. Brosnan and his wife listed the compound with Compass’ Chris Cortazzo, as they have decided they want to spend more time at their mansion in Hawaii. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly it sells in 2021 (if at all).

On the Market Since: 2020
Total Area: 4,000 square feet 
Initial Value: $11.5 million*

Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins put his mansion on the market in February of 2020. The cliffside estate, located in Malibu, has five bedrooms and five bathrooms. It was built in the 1950s. The mansion is listed with The Agency’s Santiago Arana. It is currently on the market for $11.5 million, and there is no word on if there have been any takers yet.

Anthony Hopkins' Malibu Home @amluxmag / Twitter.com

The home has beautiful views of Point Dume and Zuma Beach. Miraculously, it was unharmed during the Woolsey wildfire in 2018, which devastated much of Malibu. The estate sits on an acre of land, and there’s only a patch of lawn separating the home from the cliff. 

On the Market Since: 2020
Total Area: 9,700 square feet 
Initial Value: $11.2 million*

In 2019, former One Direction band member Liam Payne put his Santa Monica Mountains home on the market. The 9,700-square-foot mansion sits on five acres of land, and, when Payne first put it up for sale, he listed it for $11.2 million. In June of 2020, Payne dropped the price to $10.8 million.

Liam Payne's Calabasas Home @Audrey Rose Floralde Stylik / Pinterest.com

The estate comes with a guesthouse, recording studio, gym, meditation pavilion, private vineyard, spa, and pool. Payne listed the home with Compass’ Tomer Fridman and Hilton & Hyland’s Jonah Wilson. The reason for the listing was Payne’s move back home to his native U.K. Now, Payne lives in a mansion in Brookwood, England. While he’s been waiting for his California mansion to sell, he’s been renting it for $110,000 per month.

On the Market Since: 2021 (Maybe)
Total Area: 9,000 square feet 
Initial Value: $100 million*

People Magazine reported that it’s possible that George and Amal Clooney might be considering selling their Lake Como, Italy villa, which Clooney purchased as a summer home in 2002. Known as Villa Oleandra, the summer residence is located in a quiet village. It was built in the 1700s.

George and Amal Clooney's Italian Villa @amrshaltot9 / Pinterest.com

The actor first put Ville Oleandra up for sale in 2010, but he changed his mind and took it off the market. He bought it for $10 million, and it’s possible that, were he to put it back on the market, he’d get $100 million for it. The Clooneys split their time between Italy and their $13 million English mansion. 

On the Market Since: N/A
Total Area: 16 bedrooms 
Initial Value: $2.5 million*

Even though Princess Diana was an unknown teacher when Prince Charles proposed to her, she was from a very wealthy family. Lady Diana Spencer was born at Park House on the Sandringham estate when her family rented it from Her Majesty the Queen. 

Princess Diana’s Childhood Home @pizza315 / Pinterest.com

The Spencer’s moved out in the ‘70s, but what happened to the house after that? In 2020 the house hit the headlines when it was reported the current tenants had scrapped plans for a pricey renovation. At the time, newspapers reported that the Sandringham estate was looking for new tenants but struggling to find a suitable use for the home.

On the Market Since: N/A
Total Area: Unknown
Initial Value: $1 million*

The untimely passing of Peaches Geldof in 2014 shocked the world, not least because her passing echoed that of her mother, Paula Yates. At the time of her death, Peaches was living in a $1-million-dollar Kent mansion with her two young children and her musician husband. 

Peaches Geldof’s Kent Mansion @dailymail / Pinterest.com

After Peaches passed away, the home was abandoned for over a year, with the media snapping eerie photos of what was once a happy family home. The property fell into disrepair before eventually being sold in late 2015.

On the Market Since: N/A
Total Area: 1324 square feet
Initial Value: $3.2 million*

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle turned heads when they announced plans to renovate their marital home at Kensington Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent over $3.2 million of British taxpayer’s money transforming the 1,324-square-foot home into a home that they would both love. Sadly, the couple exited the cottage when they moved stateside and stepped back from royal duties.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s Frogmore Cottage @dailymail / Pinterest.com

The Duke and Duchess later repaid the hefty sum after there was public outcry. While the cottage is undoubtedly lovely now, the renovations wouldn’t have added any value onto the home as it’s completely owned by the crown.

On the Market Since: 2017
Total Area: 2700 square feet
Initial Value: $10.5 million*

Rolling Stones rock star Keith Richards found that the lyrics of the band’s song are true—you can’t always get what you want. For Richards, what he wanted was a quick sale on his apartment in Greenwich Village. The apartment was 2,700 square feet and located in one of the most coveted neighborhoods in NYC.

Keith Richards' City Home @steadfastbuilde / Pinterest.com

Despite those perks, the apartment spent two years on (and then briefly off) the market. Finally, Richards was able to sell his duplex penthouse. However, he sold it for $9 million, taking a $1.5 million loss from when he purchased it in 2014. 

On the Market Since: 2017
Total Area: 4,400 square feet
Initial Value: $8.5 million*

One Direction singer and fashion icon Harry Styles bought this beautiful home in Los Angeles in 2016 for around $6.87 million. Styles lived there for a year before putting the home back on the market for $8.5 million, no doubt hoping that his star power would help with the sale.

Harry Styles' Los Angeles Home @dwellmedia / Pinterest.com

Unfortunately, it did not. He slashed the price on the home to $7.5 million, but even that wasn’t enough. Finally, the L.A. pad, which boasted four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a movie theater, chef’s kitchen, and pool, among other amenities, sold for $6 million in 2019. Styles took a loss of nearly $900,000 on the home.

On the Market Since: N/A
Total Area: Nine-bedroom home
Initial Value: $1.77 million*

Former glamor girl Katie Price is in the middle of a bankruptcy battle. She owns a mega-mansion in West Sussex, but she has yet to put the nine-bedroom estate up for sale. However, considering the realities that are lurking in that million-dollar mansion, we aren’t surprised.

Katie Price’s Mega Mansion @TheSunOnline / Pinterest.com

Despite her financial woes, it doesn’t seem like she’s going to sell the mansion anytime soon. If she does, she’ll have trouble finding a buyer, as her friend Charlie Farthing revealed to The Sun that the house is a wreck, with broken windows and horrible stenches. Price slept on the floor on a mattress in the home, which was reportedly overrun with animals.

On the Market Since: 2017
Total Area: Three-bedroom home
Initial Value: $1.5 million*

Everyone’s favorite mathematician Carol Vorderman had to knock a few hundred thousand off the price of her three-bedroom luxury house after it failed to sell. The house is worth $3.40 million, but she had trouble finding a buyer, despite the help of elite estate agents Knight and Frank.

Carol Vorderman’s Somerset Pad @TheSunOnline / Pinterest.com

Vorderman’s North Somerset home, named Sloblock, was originally worth $1.5 million. Thanks to Carol’s efforts, it more than doubled in price, despite Vorderman having to lower her offer. The home has a gym, bar, and heated pool.