Expensive Mansions Owned By The Rich & Famous That Are Nearly Worthless Today

On the Market Since: 2015
Total Area: 11,000 square feet 
Initial Value: $9.8 million*

Can you imagine waking up and looking at the same view Eva Longoria had? We can dream. In fact, Eva’s LA mansion was home to another famous face beforehand: none other than Tom Cruise. The actress bought the 11,000 square feet property from Cruise in 2015. 

Eva Longoria’s LA Mansion – Los Angeles, California @Eva Longoria Baston/Facebook | @@Architectural Digest /Pinterest

Not only is it completely private but it’s also ideally located just a stone’s throw away from Mulholland Drive. The star power of the four-bedroom mansion wasn’t enough to lure buyers in though. Eva shelled out $14 million on buying it herself, but ended up dropping the asking price to $9.8 million. Ouch. 

On the Market Since: 2017
Total Area: 20,000 square feet
Initial Value: $8.75 million*

Kelly Clarkson has had a ton of success over the years as one of reality TV’s biggest triumphs. The songstress owns an enormous 20,000 square foot estate in Hendersonville, Tennessee, but Kelly has been trying to get rid of it since 2017. 

Kelly Clarkson’s Estate - Hendersonville, Tennessee @goodful/facebook.com | @Kam Tetley/Pinterest.com

It’s a lot of house for anyone to take on, with seven bedrooms and ten bathrooms. Perhaps that’s why the home is still on the market. The price has since been dropped from $8.75 to $7.5 million as of May 2020, but as of yet there are still no takers. 

On the Market Since: 2018
Total Area: 5,572 square feet
Initial Value: $11.5 million*

Chelsea Handler doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to wealth and popularity. The straight-talking host and comedian didn’t mess around in 2018 when she put her Bel Air home on the market for a very respectable $11.5 million. 

Chelsea Handler’s LA Estate - Los Angeles, California @crystalknows.com/pinterest.com | @domino magazine/Pinterest.com

The modern property has plenty of outdoor entertaining space, making it the perfect pad for LA’s elite, but something about it just hasn’t struck the right chord. After a year of no takers the price was lowered to $10.95 million. As of 2020, the property is still looking for its new family. 

On the Market Since: 2018
Total Area: 31,000 square feet 
Initial Value: $28 million*

Shaquille O’Neal knows that bigger is better. The NBA personality bought his enormous Windermere, Florida property back in 1993 for just $4 million, but Shaq really made it his own. He added a 17-car garage and a private dock, which gave it that extra magic. 

Shaquille O’Neal’s Mansion - Windermere, Florida @r/MSI/reddit.com | @la regina67 s/Pinterest.com

All of the extensive renovations helped to bump up the price tag on this otherworldly estate, which isn’t necessarily a blessing. The home hit the market in 2018 for $28 million but there were no takers. Despite dropping the price to $19.5 million in September 2020, O’Neal is still waiting for the perfect buyer.  

On the Market Since: 2015 
Total Area: 17,129 square feet 
Initial Value: $17 million*

Jennifer Lopez’ palatial, gorgeous California mansion has everything that a pop star would ever want—including a dressing room to get ready for Hollywood events. The singer listed the 17,000-square-foot Hidden Hills mansion for $17 million in 2015. In addition to the dressing room, the home also has nine bedrooms, a dance studio, twenty-seat theater, gym, and a huge recording studio.

Jennifer Lopez’s Mansion – Los Angeles, California @AmrWadea | @BazaarUK/Twitter.com

Despite all this luxury, Lopez had trouble selling the place. She had to drop the price down $4.5 million, listing it for $12.5 million. Lopez also has residences in New York, Miami, and Bel Air—but those, she’s planning to keep.

You might think that California, the home of mega-companies like Apple and the state known for being almost as expensive as New York, and its property taxes are why the home didn’t sell, but that isn’t likely the case. The property tax rate in Cali is lower than even Ohio’s. A median home in the state ($385,000 value) raises just $3,104 in taxes.

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 @RIP Peaches Geldof /facebook.com | @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: 2019
Total Area: 11,173 square feet
Initial Value: $44.5 million*

When it comes to Hollywood couples, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston really had it all. Not long after they tied the knot in 2000 they bought an incredible 11,173 square foot mansion in Beverly Hills. Of course, they added their own touches like a guest house and a tennis court which only added to the value. 

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s Former Estate – Beverly Hills, California @THE KIT | @Cosmopolitan/Pinterest.com

After the split the house was sold to an executive who later put it back on the market in 2019. You may think that it would’ve sold like lemonade in a drought, but that wasn’t the case. It took over a year for a suitable buyer to seal the deal – though the same buyer has reportedly put the house on the market again.

On the Market Since: 2017 
Total Area: 4,000 square feet
Initial Value: $10*

No, we’re not kidding. This house was originally $10 when it was put on the market, and it has remained at $10 to this day The home is a historic New Jersey house that measures 4,000 square feet. It is not, however, the bargain of the century for one major reason.

The $10 New Jersey Mansion - New Jersey @GrandaLawMiami / Twitter.com

As a FOX article said when it was initially listed, there’s a catch: any buyer would be contractually obligated to physically move the actual house itself off the land. The New Jersey town’s planning board approved a subdivision for the land the house is on, which means that the second you bought it, you’d have to move it. Since that’s humanly impossible, you’d have to buy the land under it back from the city, which wouldn’t be cheap. 

On the Market Since: 2011 
Total Area: 4,195 square feet  
Initial Value: $14.8 million*

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are one of the few Hollywood couples that have been together for ages and show no signs of breaking up. The pair, in addition to joint income from movies like Overboard, Private Benjamin, The Thing, and more, also have a side hustle: their valuable Malibu beach house property.

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn’s Beach Mansion – Malibu, California @people.com | @Propsavvy/Pinterest.com

The house, which is Balinese-inspired and located on Broad Beach, went on the market in 2011 for $14.8 million. For nearly three decades before that, the Hollywood couple had been renting it for $95,000 a month. Though renting was profitable, they had trouble selling the beachy retreat.

The Broad Beach estate was built during the seventies, when companies like GM and Exxon were having their heydays. One of the prettiest features of the estate is the flagstone courtyard, which leads you into the tropical-themed home. There is also a remodeled chef’s kitchen, two story great room, and foyer with a huge chandelier.

On the Market Since: 2020
Total Area: 13,344 square feet 
Initial Value: $48 million*

This is one of the newer list mega-mansions to hit the market. Fashion designer and millionaire Tommy Hilfiger is selling his Greenwich, Connecticut mansion for $47.5 million via Sotheby’s International. This continues the 2020 trend of affluent New Yorkers fleeing to nearby rural destinations and states, as opposed to staying in the city limits.

Tommy Hilfiger’s Mansion - Greenwich, Connecticut @bangsomniaa /twitter | @sandramorrisonsellsrealestate/Facebook

Hilfiger’s castle was originally called Chateau Paterno, and it was built for Charles Paterno in 1939. The real estate magnate hired Greville Rickard, a superstar graduate from Yale to build it. Twenty years later, Joseph Hirshhorn, an art collector, bought the property and used it to house 6,000 19th- and 20th-century sculptures and paintings. 

He decided to try to sell his mansion after hearing that the real estate market was “strong,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Hilfiger and his wife are relocating to Palm Beach, Florida. His residence measures 13,344 square feet and was built in 1939. It has water and rose gardens, as well as a four-bay garage, greenhouse, and guest cottage. The home has had no takers so far, which has surprised agents.

On the Market Since: 2020
Total Area: 13,377 square feet
Initial Value: $15.995 million*

In 2016, Kathy Griffin gave People a tour of her beautiful LA home, calling it her “dream house, for sure.” In September of 2020, news broke that the comedian was selling her dream house for almost $16 million. Griffin’s home has eight bedrooms, twelve bathrooms, a wine cellar, and a private theater.

Kathy Griffin's Bel Air Home @people.com/pinterest | @Local12/Twitter.com

In the backyard, you’ll find an infinity pool, pavilion, and lounge space. The master suite of Griffin’s LA mansion has a balcony, two walk-in closets, and a fireplace. Griffin has listed her mansion with Douglas Elliman’s Josh and Matt Altman, the stars of Million Dollar Listing LA, which is a very accurate title in this case.

On the Market Since: 2021
Total Area: 4,000 acres
Initial Value: $14 million*

Kanye West’s Wyoming ranch is one of Hollywood’s most famous properties. It was the inspiration for his album and fashion label, and it’s nearly impossible to read a news story about the rapper without hearing about his 4,000-acre ranch in Wyoming.

Kanye West’s Wyoming Ranch @ioid/ twitter.com | @okmagazine/Pinterest.com

Apparently, Yeezy is over owning a ranch in Wyoming, and he’s selling the property for $11 million. This represents a $3 million loss, as the property initially cost $14 million. The designer must have wanted to offload the property quickly, and it’s likely to find a buyer, as it’s just fifty-two miles away from Yellowstone. Also, the ranch boasts beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains. 

On the Market Since: 2019 
Total Area: 19,000 square feet
Initial Value: $44.8 million*

Former NBC anchor Matt Lauer listed his waterfront estate for $65 million in 2019. The former journalist had initially purchased it from actor Richard Gere for $36.8 million. But today, the six-acre estate isn’t the only property Lauer is selling. He’s also leaving his North Haven, New York mansion, named Strongheart Manor.

Matt Lauer’s Waterfront Estate - The Hamptons, New York @celebitchy.com/ pinterest.com | @Page Six/Youtube.com

The former NBC host is asking for $44.8 million for the property. The locale is picturesque, with a private beach, pond with a bridge, deepwater dock, island-inspired tea house, and two guest cottages, in addition to the main home. The home has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, as well as a huge screened-in porch.

Matt Lauer has had issues even getting his home onto listings because of issues that plagued his NBC career. Corcoran, a real estate firm, removed his home from its website after the 2017 news broke. While there’s no doubt that the property is beautiful, there’s no way that it’s changing hands anytime soon. 

On the Market Since: 2014
Total Area: 10,000 square feet
Initial Value: $59 million*

Tom Cruise put this home on the market for a whopping $59 million in 2014, and he has only re-listed it once so far. The property spans nearly 300 acres, with hiking trails, horse stables, and a private helipad. The scenic home is located twelve minutes from Telluride, a historic resort town.

Tom Cruise's Colorado House @PropertyWala / Facebook.com @eonline.com/Pinterest

The Mission Impossible actor is finding that selling this home is, well, “Mission Impossible.” Cruise’s 10,000-square-foot property is scenic and beautiful (especially in the autumn). It has nine bathrooms and seven bedrooms, and much of the interior is covered in expensive hardwood. In 2016, Cruise took the home off the market, but it remains to be seen if he’ll put it back on.