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Topline
George Clooney is said to be keeping his famous Lake Como villa after a series of reports said the luxurious home was hitting the market—a sale that could have been one of the largest celebrity real estate transactions of all time.
A view of George Clooney’s Italian house, Villa Oleandra, situated on Lake Como’s south-western … [+]
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Key Facts
The New York Post’s Page Six earlier this month reported George and Amal Clooney would be selling the Lake Como villa for $107 million in favor of living at the Domaine du Canadel estate in France the couple purchased in 2021, but the Post on Sunday said the star has denied he’s letting go of estate.
The Page Six report, which was picked up by several large news outlets, was the first Clooney had heard of the rumored sale, he told the Post through a representative Sunday, adding “it’s not true.”
Clooney first bought Villa Oleandra in Northern Italy from the Heinz family in 2002, Architectural Digest reported, and has since hosted stars like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Jennifer Aniston and Matt Damon.
Parts of Ocean’s 12 were shot at the estate, which has 25 rooms, tennis courts, a gym, a garage full of vintage motorcycles, a movie room, pool, basketball court and two docks on Lake Como.
The Wall Street Journal last year said the home, which Clooney bought for about $14 million, has since inflated in value to be worth more than $100 million in a rise Como realtors call “the Clooney effect.”
Clooney is said to have met his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, at a dinner party at the house, which is part of the couple’s extensive real estate portfolio that also includes a villa in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, a home on the English island of Sonning Eye on the Thames, a Manhattan condo and the French estate, per Architectural Digest.
A picture taken March 17, 2006 of George Clooney’s Italian home, Villa Oleandra.
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Big Number
$21.2 million. That’s the most expensive Lake Como home currently listed for sale by Sotheby’s Realty. The 12,701-square-foot hilltop villa has 10 bedrooms, five bathrooms and views of the Alps.
Surprising Fact
Lake Como is a favorite destination and residence of celebrities and the ultra-wealthy. A-listers who have homes in the region are said to include billionaire Richard Branson, Sting, Madonna and Sylvester Stallone, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen married there 10 years ago and renewed their vows earlier this month. Others who tied the knot on the water include Emily Blunt and John Krasinski and Lautaro Martinez and Agustina Gandolfo.
Tangent
If true, the Clooney real estate sale would have ranked as one of the largest celebrity sales ever. Only two sales surpassed the $100 million mark last year, per AD—Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel and model Miranda Kerr bought a $120 million mansion in Los Angeles with an adjacent piece of property for $145 million, and tech billionaire Larry Ellison bought a $173 million Palm Beach County mansion. Other massive transactions include the 2016 sale of the Playboy Mansion for $100 million and 2020 purchase of a $165 million estate by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey also own homes estimated to be worth more than $100 million.
Actor George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin on September 28, 2014 in Venice, Italy.
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Further Reading
George Clooney’s Lake Como villa may have a buyer: ‘Very interested’ (New York Post)
Messi Closes On $10.75 Million Mansion In Florida: Take A Look Inside (Forbes)
Forbes Favorites 2022: The Year’s Best Luxury Real Estate Stories (Forbes)
A Guide To Italy’s Amazing Lake Como (Forbes)
