Quick Answer: Celebrity and billionaire real estate in 2026 concentrates in four key markets: the Hamptons (estates from $20M-$150M+), Manhattan penthouses ($30M-$238M), coastal California ($25M-$150M), and Miami/Palm Beach ($20M-$100M+). The most expensive celebrity home transaction of 2025 was Len Blavatnik’s $115 million purchase of Terry Semel’s Further Lane estate in East Hampton.

Real estate is the ultimate status symbol for the ultra-wealthy. Unlike art that hangs in private galleries or cars that sit in climate-controlled garages, a trophy property announces your arrival to an exclusive community every time you pull into the driveway.

This guide examines where celebrities and billionaires buy, what they pay, and why certain addresses command premiums that defy conventional real estate logic.

$238M
Record US Home Sale
$115M
2025 Hamptons Record
70%
Ultra-Luxury Off-Market
$50M+
Ultra-Prime Entry

The Four Trophy Markets

Celebrity real estate concentrates in four distinct markets, each serving different lifestyle needs:

Market Price Range Primary Use Key Buyers
The Hamptons $10M-$150M+ Summer retreat Finance, media, entertainment
Manhattan Penthouses $20M-$238M Primary/pied-à-terre Global billionaires, celebrities
Coastal California $25M-$150M Primary residence Entertainment, tech
Miami/Palm Beach $20M-$100M+ Winter retreat/primary Finance, new money, international

The Hamptons: America’s Premier Summer Colony

📍 The Hamptons at a Glance

Location: Eastern Long Island, NY (90 miles from Manhattan)

Season: Memorial Day to Labor Day (peak)

Entry Point: $3M (modest); $20M+ (celebrity tier); $50M+ (billionaire tier)

Record Sale: $147M (Barry Rosenstein, Further Lane, 2014)

The Hamptons remain the definitive summer destination for America’s financial and entertainment elite. Within its villages and hamlets, distinct micro-markets serve different wealth tiers:

Billionaire Addresses

  • Meadow Lane, Southampton: “Billionaires Row” — Ken Griffin, Leon Black, David Koch’s widow
  • Further Lane, East Hampton: Highest transaction prices; Barry Rosenstein, Len Blavatnik
  • Gin Lane, Southampton: Historic oceanfront; La Dune sold for $88.5M at auction

Celebrity Favorites

  • Georgica Pond, East Hampton: Beyoncé & Jay-Z ($25M), Steven Spielberg, Martha Stewart
  • Lily Pond Lane, East Hampton: Entertainment industry concentration
  • Sagaponack: Drew Barrymore, Ina Garten, Kelly Ripa

For complete coverage, see our Celebrity Hamptons Homes guide and Most Expensive Houses in the Hamptons.

Manhattan: The Global Billionaire Destination

📍 Manhattan Ultra-Luxury

Key Areas: Billionaires’ Row (57th St), Tribeca, Upper East Side

Entry Point: $10M (luxury); $30M+ (ultra-prime); $100M+ (trophy)

Record Sale: $238M (Ken Griffin, 220 Central Park South)

Manhattan’s supertall luxury towers have created a new category of ultra-premium real estate, with prices per square foot exceeding $10,000 in trophy buildings.

Billionaires’ Row

The stretch of 57th Street between Park Avenue and Columbus Circle now hosts the world’s most expensive residential addresses:

Building Record Sale Notable Residents
220 Central Park South $238M (Griffin) Ken Griffin, Sting
One57 $100.5M Michael Dell, Bill Ackman
432 Park Avenue $87.7M Saudi royal family, Jennifer Lopez
Central Park Tower $100M+ (asking) Various international buyers

See our complete guide to Celebrity NYC Penthouses.

Coastal California: Entertainment’s Home Base

📍 LA Luxury Markets

Key Areas: Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Montecito

Entry Point: $15M (luxury); $50M+ (ultra-prime)

Record Sale: $165M (Marc Andreessen, Malibu)

Los Angeles luxury real estate serves entertainment industry professionals who need proximity to studios while maintaining privacy impossible in Manhattan.

The Platinum Triangle

  • Bel Air: Tech billionaires, entertainment moguls; “The One” listed at $500M
  • Beverly Hills: Traditional celebrity enclave; historic estates
  • Holmby Hills: Playboy Mansion, Spelling Manor

Malibu: Beach Meets Privacy

  • Carbon Beach (“Billionaire’s Beach”): David Geffen, Larry Ellison, Eli Broad
  • Point Dume: More space, slightly lower prices
  • Serra Retreat: Gated community favored by A-list

Montecito: The New Celebrity Enclave

Once a quiet Santa Barbara suburb, Montecito has become Hollywood’s preferred escape:

  • Oprah Winfrey: “The Promised Land” — 70+ acres, estimated $100M+ value
  • Ellen DeGeneres: Serial buyer/seller, now relocated to UK
  • Prince Harry & Meghan Markle: $14.7M estate
  • Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom: Multiple properties

For oceanfront estates across all markets, see Billionaire Beach Houses.

Miami & Palm Beach: The New Money Magnet

📍 South Florida Luxury

Key Areas: Palm Beach, Miami Beach, Fisher Island, Indian Creek

5-Year Price Growth: +117% (Palm Beach)

Draw: No state income tax, weather, new construction

South Florida has transformed from winter retreat to year-round destination, driven by tax migration from New York and California:

Palm Beach

  • The Estate Section: Old money, hedge fund managers
  • North End: Newer construction, tech wealth
  • Notable Residents: Ken Griffin (multiple properties), Stephen Schwarzman

Miami

  • Indian Creek Island: “Billionaire Bunker” — Jared Kushner, Tom Brady, Jeff Bezos
  • Fisher Island: Private island, most exclusive zip code
  • Faena District: New ultra-luxury development

Record-Breaking Transactions

Year Property Price Buyer
2019 220 Central Park South, NYC $238M Ken Griffin
2014 Further Lane compound, East Hampton $147M Barry Rosenstein
2025 408 Further Lane, East Hampton $115M Len Blavatnik
2023 Jule Pond Drive, Southampton $105M Undisclosed (Ford estate)
2022 Carbon Beach, Malibu $165M Marc Andreessen

The Off-Market Reality

Approximately 70% of ultra-luxury transactions ($50M+) occur off-market. This creates a shadow inventory visible only to family offices, private banks, and elite brokerages.

Why sellers prefer off-market: Discretion, avoiding “stale listing” perception, controlling narrative

Why buyers prefer off-market: Exclusive access, reduced competition, privacy

Celebrity Real Estate Patterns

Analyzing hundreds of celebrity transactions reveals distinct patterns:

By Industry

  • Finance: Hamptons + Palm Beach + Manhattan pied-à-terre
  • Entertainment: LA primary + Hamptons summer + NYC pied-à-terre
  • Tech: Bay Area + Hawaii or Aspen + emerging markets
  • Sports: Team city + Miami + low-tax states

By Net Worth Tier

Net Worth Typical Portfolio Annual Real Estate Spend
$50-100M 2-3 properties $2-5M maintenance
$100-500M 3-5 properties $5-15M maintenance + acquisitions
$500M-1B 5-10 properties $15-30M+ all-in
$1B+ 10+ properties globally $50M+ including staff/security

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where do most celebrities buy homes?

Most celebrities maintain a primary residence in Los Angeles (Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Malibu, or Montecito) with secondary homes in the Hamptons, Manhattan, and/or Miami. The specific combination depends on industry: entertainment favors LA, finance favors NYC/Hamptons, and tech increasingly favors Miami for tax benefits.

What is the most expensive celebrity home?

The most expensive home purchase by a single buyer is Ken Griffin’s $238 million penthouse at 220 Central Park South in Manhattan. Griffin, founder of Citadel, also owns extensive properties in Palm Beach, Chicago, and London, with a combined real estate portfolio exceeding $1 billion.

Why do celebrities buy in the Hamptons?

The Hamptons offers proximity to New York City (90 miles), established social infrastructure (charity galas, polo, beach clubs), peer community (other celebrities and billionaires), and relative privacy compared to LA. The summer season creates a concentrated social calendar that facilitates networking and entertainment.

How much do celebrities spend on real estate?

Celebrity real estate purchases typically range from $10-50 million per property, with ultra-wealthy individuals ($500M+ net worth) maintaining portfolios of 5-10+ properties valued collectively at $100-500 million. Annual maintenance, staff, and security costs can exceed $5-15 million for extensive portfolios.

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