Heidi Klum's property ladder: from small-town home to supermodel mansions

The life and homes of Germany's top model

One of the world’s most successful supermodels, Heidi Klum has had a truly illustrious modelling and TV career becoming a household name across the world in the process. A mother to four children and the owner of some incredible homes, we follow her life and journey up the property ladder from her humble hometown roots to her latest New York penthouse project.

Still got it at 50

Appearing at the Oscars 2024 with husband Tom Kaulitz, Heidi turned 50 in June 2023, but shows no signs of slowing down her career.

The America’s Got Talent judge, who has amassed a personal fortune of $160 million (£124m), retired from her role as a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2010, but proudly donned her angel wings for a Glamour Germany shoot and posted a selection of images of herself wearing a bikini and some figure-hugging outfits to Instagram, commenting: "This is 50." She's also been busy doing up her NYC penthouse and preparing for her next, now famous, Halloween event.

Where does Heidi Klum live?

Klum currently spends most of her time in an expansive gated mansion in Bel Air with her husband, rock guitarist Tom Kaulitz, and her four children.

Klum had a daughter, Leni, with ex-boyfriend, Flavio Briatore, while ex-husband Seal fathered sons Henry and Johan, and daughter Lou. Heidi purchased the 11,000-square-foot property for nearly $10 million (£7.8m) in 2014. But where did it all begin?

Where is Heidi Klum from?

Born June 1, 1973, Heidi grew up in Bergisch Gladbach, a city in the Cologne/Bonn region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Her father, Günther Klum, was an executive for a cosmetics company and her mother Erna, seen here in this adorable picture Heidi shared on her Instagram, was a hairdresser. Heidi has one brother, Michael, who still lives in Germany.

Heidi Klum’s childhood home

Giving fans a rare insight into her early life, Heidi posted a photo of her childhood home in Bergisch Gladbach on her Instagram, having visited in May 2022 with her husband Tom.

The couple were pictured smiling in front of the charming home, with its tall gable roof, white painted exterior and pretty window boxes full of flowers.

Where did Heidi go to school?

Klum attended the local high school (the Integrierte Gesamtschule Paffrath in Bergisch Gladbach, pictured) and admitted she was "the pretty girl" among her classmates. Speaking to Forbes in 2012, she said: "We weren't poor, but we didn't have a lot of stuff."

She initially had ambitions to become a dancer until she came to the conclusion that she "wasn't good enough to make it a career". After graduating, Heidi had planned to study fashion design in Düsseldorf but switched her sights to modelling when a golden opportunity came along...

Germany's next top model gets her big break

Klum's career began after she won a TV modelling competition at the age of 18. Speaking to Forbes she said she would watch the show and "laughed at how silly it all seemed with all of these dolled-up girls answering dumb questions" but decided to enter on a whim and sent in some photos.

Klum beat 30,000 girls to claim the prize, a $300,000 modelling contract (more than $660k in today's money), in April 1992. She went on to sign with German modelling agency Metropolitan, working across Europe with limited success before making the big move to the United States in 1993. Here she is pictured with her father Günther Klum in 1997.

Heidi moves to New York

Upon arriving in Miami, she found herself amidst "an ocean of girls just like me," she told Forbes in 2012. However, she didn't find much success there either so she relocated to New York, living in a rundown apartment on the Lower East Side alongside fellow models. Her routine involved staying in at night and attending any casting call available during the day. "I cried a few nights a week," she admits. "But I was determined not to return home a failure."

According to the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, she lived in this red building during the 1990s with her first husband Ric Pipino who had a hair salon downstairs. A Facebook post from 2021 said: "Props to Heidi, this place is not and was not a 'nice' apartment and hasn't been renovated since 1974 when my landlord's father bought it. Heidi gave the wood trim a 'shabby chic' sanding job which survives to this day. I kind of hate it."

Heidi Klum’s modelling career kicks off

Initially modelling for catalogues, she was advised her looks would be better suited for lingerie modelling so she pushed her agent to get her seen by the bookers for Victoria's Secret. True to her word, Heidi was booked as an 'angel' and her career went from strength to strength. She gained wide recognition when she appeared on the 1998 cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and is seen here on the right at the launch party in 1999. The supermodel went on to launch her own signature lines of jewellery, perfume and clothing.

Heidi Klum’s TV career

From 2004, Heidi was a host and judge on the hit modelling TV show Project Runway and stayed for an impressive 16 seasons before leaving in 2017.

Since 2006 she's been a judge on Germany’s Next Top Model, and judged America’s Got Talent from 2013 to 2019, before leaving to host Prime Video's Making the Cut. She returns for season 19 of America's Got Talent however, in summer 2024.

Heidi Klum and Seal's marriage

In 2004, the same year she began hosting Project Runway, Klum met British musician Seal in New York; the celebrity couple were engaged that December. They married on a beach in Mexico in May 2005 and had three children together.

They went on to renew their marriage vows eight times before eventually separating, with Heidi filing for divorce in 2012. But where did the stars live while they were together?

Heidi Klum’s luxury Brentwood villa

Seal and Heidi purchased this gorgeous eight-bedroom mansion in the gated community of Brentwood, Los Angeles for a reported $13.4 million (£10.5m) in 2010.

The 12,300-square-foot home was built in 1999 and reportedly had stood empty for some time.

Heidi Klum’s luxury Brentwood villa

Iron gates at the entrance open out onto a central motor court seen here, with a dramatically-lit fountain.

While a $13.4 million Brentwood estate might be out of most people's price range, Heidi Klum is said to have earned $3.8 million (£2.9m) as a model and spokesperson for Victoria's Secret in 2008 alone. That same year she became an American citizen.

Heidi Klum’s luxury Brentwood villa

With eight bedrooms and ten bathrooms and located off bucolic Mandeville Canyon, the Italian-style villa was spacious enough for the couple and their growing family. 

It is said that Klum hired a restoration team to tidy up the building, spending six months replacing every window, upgrading appliances, expanding the garden and re-staining the woodwork throughout.

Heidi Klum’s luxury Brentwood villa

The double-height entrance hall leads to the main living areas, including an elaborate living room with a beautiful stone fireplace and a formal dining room with wood panelling imported from a Paris hotel.

Heidi Klum’s luxury Brentwood villa

Elsewhere, an ornate library is fitted out with extravagant back-lit bookshelves made from sumptuous ornate ebonized wood from Napoleon’s former country home in France.

A beautiful wood-surround fireplace sits between a leather sofa and velvet sofa, perfect for curling up with a good book on a rare rainy day in LA.

Heidi Klum’s luxury Brentwood villa

You’ll also find a covetable eat-in chef's kitchen, butler’s pantry and temperature-controlled wine room within the front-row ocean view estate, alongside a sound-proofed home movie theatre, seen here with cosy sofas and handsome wood flooring.

Heidi Klum’s luxury Brentwood villa

Across the 8.5-acreage sit multiple terraces and patios for dining with VIP friends in the Californian sun, as well as an infinity-edged swimming pool and spa, a koi pond, formal rose garden, fountains and rolling green lawns. A dream home for the A-List duo.

In 2014, however, following finalisation of their divorce, Heidi and Seal sold the Brentwood estate, which was listed with The Agency, for an impressive $24 million (£18.8m), according to Forbes.

Heidi Klum’s Bel Air mega-mansion

That same year, after selling up her Brentwood marital estate, the supermodel snapped up this stunning Bel Air mansion for nearly $10 million (£7.8m).

The Californian residence, as filmed for a Post Rain TV video, spans 11,600 square feet and sits within Bel Air's coveted Stone Ridge guard-gated community. A dramatic two-storey entranceway with sweeping staircase greets you upon arrival into the spectacular Georgian estate, built in 2000.

Heidi Klum’s Bel Air mega-mansion

And just to prove the mansion is big enough for all the family, Heidi posted a photo of herself enjoying breakfast in bed to her Instagram, accompanied by three kids and two dogs for good measure.

Next to an oversized plush headboard, children’s artwork sits proudly on the wall, presumably created by Heidi’s kids.

Heidi Klum’s Bel Air mega-mansion

The house has changed quite a bit since she bought it in 2014. The supermodel is passionate about art and has filled the sprawling mansion with a treasure trove of unique art pieces, as seen here on her Instagram.

Art was one of her majors when she was at college near Cologne and she studied oil painting when she first moved to New York, report artnet. She has a studio at her Bel Air home and became quite prolific during the pandemic.

Heidi Klum’s Bel Air mega-mansionTitle

In this intimate shot, the supermodel takes a photo from a bedroom window of the spectacular Californian sunset, taking in the view alongside one of her dogs and the cat, who seems determined to take centre stage.

The property sits on five acres of land, with a backyard said to boast a trampoline, a pizza oven and a playground.

Heidi Klum’s Bel Air mega-mansion

There's also a gym/dance studio on the third floor, a tennis court on the grounds for exercise and a resort-sized swimming pool, which features heavily on Klum's Instagram. Here, husband Tom (more on him in a moment) pours some bubbly with the pool in the background.

You'll notice the view is pretty impressive, but there's something a little unusual sitting on the right of Heidi's pool...

Heidi Klum’s Bel Air mega-mansion

That's right, it's a giant blue snail. Back in 2016, Heidi's then-boyfriend Vito Schnabel bought her the unusual sculpture at the 7th annual Milan amfAR auction. The amfAR charity raises money for AIDS research.

Heidi was chairing the event and had her heart set on the plastic blue snail, with PageSix reporting she said: "Vito, I thought you were going to buy me the snail!" A few bids later, the 11-foot piece by the Europe-based Cracking Art Group sold to Schnabel for €20,000 ($22,000/£17,000). It's now enjoying a new life in Bel Air!

Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz

On Christmas Eve, 2018, the Project Runway host announced her engagement to German guitarist, songwriter and producer Tom Kaulitz. The pair secretly married in February 2019 and have been together ever since, living with the kids in Heidi's Bel Air mansion.

Heidi often posts images of the loved-up couple at the house looking very cosy. In this shot, you can make out the crimson Murano glass chandelier in the hallway. Just another example of Heidi's decorative flair!

Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz

Love seems constantly in the air since the couple got together. Heidi posted an image of herself relaxing in the bath on Valentine's Day, with an enormous arrangement of red roses on display. "Feeling very lucky and thankful for this love that I have been given," she says.

We love the blue and white painting on the wall. Wonder if it's one of Heidi's?

Heidi Klum’s epic Halloween parties in New York City

Another favourite holiday in the year is Halloween when Heidi throws huge star-studded parties for the occasion. Guests go all out with their elaborate costumes, but none can outdo the Queen of Halloween herself.

From a grotesque alien to Princess Fiona from Shrek, Heidi Klum has been the spookiest host since the parties began in 2000.

Heidi Klum's home-style Halloween

The 2020 lockdown might have thwarted most people's Halloween celebrations, but Klum was not to be deterred and still found ways to celebrate her favourite spooky season to the fullest.

Posting a self-made ‘horror film’ to Instagram that year, she shows the family dressed as mummies at home, having bought "so much [toilet paper] in March".

Heidi Klum’s fixer-upper penthouse in NYC

Having kicked off her career in New York, the model-turned-fashion designer and TV star likes to keep a foothold in the city and bought her own place in the Big Apple in 2018, purchasing a penthouse in New York City’s Soho neighbourhood for $5.1 million (£4m).

The so-called "fixer-upper" residence takes up the loft of an imposing, six-storey Queen Anne-style building dating back to the late 1800s.

Heidi Klum’s fixer-upper penthouse in NYC

Used as an artist’s studio for decades, the 4,772-square-foot apartment, listed with Compass, boasts tall ceilings and an expanse of space stretching 125 feet, lengthwise.

Seen here before renovations took place, the former art studio is bolstered via ten exposed support columns.

Heidi Klum’s fixer-upper penthouse in NYC

Beautiful honey-toned hardwood flooring has been laid at a 45-degree angle, illuminated via huge sash windows that look out over New York's rooftops and the so-called 'Jenga Tower’ designed by Herzog de Meuron.

Heidi Klum’s fixer-upper penthouse in NYC

Virtual photo renderings of the apartment give an idea of how the loft might look post-renovation, complete with skylights.

According to Architectural Digest, the penthouse also features a glass-enclosed Zen garden on a terrace with panoramic views of the city.

Heidi Klum’s fixer-upper penthouse in NYC

The light-filled apartment with its fresh white walls must be just the ticket when the model is in New York for work or for her annual Halloween party.

Alongside the America's Got Talent judge, other famous inhabitants of the three-building complex include photographer Cindy Sherman, The Simpsons star Hank Azaria, and New York acting royalty Meg Ryan.

Heidi's home makeover for her housekeeper

She must have caught the decorating bug when she did her New York renovation because in 2023 Heidi teamed up with Drew and Jonathan Scott from HGTV’s Celebrity IOU to transform the home of her housekeeper of 17 years Lucia, reports House Beautiful.

Heidi removed the walls of the Californian home to create an open-plan concept better suited to Lucia’s family needs. "She's become part of our family," said Heidi.

Heidi's home makeover for her housekeeper

Heidi opted for Lucia’s home to be far brighter, so original dark hardwood cabinetry and flooring was replaced with light European oak flooring.

Clearly proud of her work, Heidi posed in the new kitchen-diner space, filled with warm and welcoming shades. A before shot can be seen on the drewandjonathanshow.com.

Where next for Heidi Klum?

In 2008, Heidi became an American citizen and has certainly laid down roots in the US since then.

Seen here enjoying the concrete jungle, as she describes New York in her Instagram caption, the beloved supermodel and entrepreneur shows no signs of stopping. We wonder where she’ll invest in next…