Celebrities often have larger-than-life personalities. It comes with the territory when you’ve reached a certain level of fame. The personas and public image become a major part of who they are. Many of the most famous and celebrated superstars aren’t content to just purchase a home and leave it as is. These unique figures often completely change the spaces they inhabit, customizing them in their own likeness.
From rap stars to sports legends, fashion icons to business magnates, let’s take a look at five incredible homes that were heavily customized by the famed superstars who reside within them.
Michael Jordan’s Memorabilia Mansion
Michael Jordan is one of the most famous athletes of all time, a global icon who transcended the limits of the game and built a multi-billion dollar shoe empire in the process. While he’s had success in many aspects of his life, one area he hasn’t succeeded in is selling his unique Highland Park home. This uniquely decorated property has been on the market since 2012, with numerous price chops over its run. The home has incredible custom features: a gate emblazoned with Jordan’s iconic numbers, an indoor Air Jordan basketball court, a custom card room for the famed poker shark, and a massive gym. It is a massive, one-of-a-kind estate designed by His Airness himself.
Drake’s Custom Toronto Estate
Drake is a global sensation who has blended pop, rap, and R&B to become a genre-defining superstar. From humble beginnings in Toronto, Drake now inhabits a custom-built and designed property on the Bridle Path, Toronto’s Billionaire Row. This opulent 35,000-square foot home has all the luxury you’d expect from a musician of Drake’s stature. It has an indoor and outdoor pool, a custom indoor basketball court, dangling chandeliers and marble flooring, and, of course, a 3,200-square foot primary bedroom. It also comes with a toilet that plays soothing music, a hot tub, and a massive kitchen. The plot for the home was purchased for $6 million, and the custom-designed and built house reportedly cost Drake over $100 million.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Superman Home
Shaquille O’Neal, or Shaq, was affectionately dubbed by his fans as Superman throughout his career. His unrivaled strength and speed made him an NBA legend, and it seems he took that nickname quite seriously. Shaq’s Windermere, Florida, home is a sprawling estate with 28-room, and many of them are complete with Superman-themed décor. The superhero’s famed logo is emblazoned in areas across the house, and you can even find a life-sized sculpture of the classic hero on the home’s waterfront dock. The house is truly one of a kind. It has an Egyptian-themed room with a saltwater aquarium and hieroglyphic-adorned walls. There is also a three-dimensional wall mural with part of a tractor-trailer emblazoned with the Superman logo emerging from the wall. And for a big man like Shaq, there is a custom 15-foot round bed complete, of course, with a Superman logo.
Ralph Lauren’s Double RL Ranch
Ralph Lauren is one of the iconic American designers, a businessman who launched the Ralph Lauren Corporation, a multi-billion-dollar empire that has made Lauren an extremely wealthy man. He has dedicated some of that wealth to the famed Double RL Ranch. This is a massive property encompassing over 17,000-acres in Telluride, Colorado. Originally purchased by Lauren in 1982, this home has many custom flourishes. Lauren and his wife built and hand-painted five teepees on the property, which serve as guesthouses. The home has numerous Southwestern design flairs, all implemented by the Laurens. There is a custom saloon complete with a full bar, a Southwestern-themed movie theater, and an outdoor dining space.
Bill Gates’ Quirky Seattle Home
Bill Gates is one of the world’s richest men, the founder of international tech giant Microsoft. Microsoft was founded in Seattle, and Gates resides within the city’s boundaries in a one-of-a-kind home that is worth a reported $127 million. Set along the edge of Lake Washington, this stunning home has some truly jaw-dropping custom features that make it both a luxurious and strange property. There is an artificial beach with imported Caribbean sand, an indoor swimming pool with underwater speakers, a 2,100-square foot library that houses the authentic version of Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, and more. It is a massively extravagant home built with wood from 500-year-old Douglas fir trees, and its most famous feature may be the trampoline room, which is filled with trampolines and a massively high ceiling.
