Revealed: the property secrets of the super-rich

What life's really like in the lap of luxury

We all know that money can't buy you everything—but it can certainly get you a lot. If you've ever wanted to know the house-hunting wish lists of multi-millionaires and just how they while away their days living in the lap of luxury then you've come to the right place.

From demanding divas to opulent freebies, crazy collections and lavish basements, we've uncovered the real estate secrets of the super-rich.

Show me the money

Have you ever considered taking a tour of a celebrity-owned home that's just hit the market? Well, you might be out of luck. According to Dolly Lenz, who has been in luxury real estate for 30 years, people have to prove their wealth before viewing certain homes. "We are the gatekeepers, so we have to be very careful who we let into a home,” she told Cosmopolitan in 2016. Unless your name is Jennifer Lopez, a reference letter or bank statement is usually required.

Crazy requests

Before a VIP even takes a look inside a property, they'll likely have a long list of requests that their patient real estate agent must meet. Lenz revealed to Cosmopolitan that over the years her clients have requested everything from perfume refrigerators, to rooftop beehives and bedroom kitchens. Celebrities usually see a house last, too. Instead, their team is given the job of looking, so they don't have to. "We've had celebrities buy homes they've never seen," Lenz confirmed.

Secret home acquisitions

With privacy a top priority for many, some members of the VIP club prefer to keep their house purchases on the down-low, and there are numerous ways they achieve it. While child stars like Daniel Radcliffe set up trusts, other low-key celebs like Jennifer Aniston organise Limited Liability Companies before purchasing their homes. By doing this, ultra-private A-listers can avoid signing their names on real estate documents, thus keeping their new digs a secret.

Deal sweeteners

In 2017 we spoke to Martin Bikhit, MD of luxury property agents Kay & Co. He revealed some of the surprising extras that have come with high-end house deals over the years. One of Martin's clients offered his $460,000 (£354k) Rolls-Royce Phantom as a sweetener when selling his home, plus everything from helicopters to club memberships have been used as sales incentives too. Meanwhile, buy your home from a property flipper like Scott Disick and you'll also gain everything from the furniture to the art on the walls.

Customisation is key

Once a purchase has been made, a VIP will spend time customising every inch to suit their own unique needs—sparing no expense. When transforming his new mansion in Calabasas, French Montana turned a dusty old lounge into a $135,000 (£110k) jungle-themed movie theatre, while P. Diddy is said to have once turned one of his bedrooms into a mirror-clad wet bar. And that's not all...

Interior design intervention

While some celebrities also happen to be fantastic interior designers, others call in the experts to finish their homes off to perfection. Martyn Lawrence Bullard has decorated the homes of Elton, Cher and the Kardashian clan, while Kelly Wearstler names Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller and Gwen Stefani amongst her clients. Kris Jenner, whose chic kitchen is pictured here, even calls in florist-to-the-stars, Jeff Leatham, to help her deck the halls every Christmas.

Mega closets

From gilded champagne vaults to shoe closets, the mega-rich like having somewhere spectacular to store their favourite things. This walk-in wardrobe can be found in Kylie Jenner's first home and was dedicated to shoes. Other celebs with enviable mega-closets include Khloe Kardashian and Reese Witherspoon, who both turned to organisation experts The Home Edit to beautify their storage.

Enviable collections

Of course, there are plenty of other ways the wealthy spend their cash. From ridiculous handbag hoards to fine art, many VIPs are known for their enviable collections. Simon Cowell reportedly owns 25 luxury cars, Elton has a closet of sunglasses, Tom Hanks collects typewriters and Leonardo DiCaprio has an action figure collection. Plus, entrepreneur and Bling Empire star, Kane Lim, has over 200 pairs of Gucci loafers, all displayed on special illuminated shelving. Who Knew?

Luxury safes

When you own such important (and pricey) collections, you may want somewhere to store them securely. While some opt for regular safes that can fit into their closets, others go all out. This walk-in safe from Agresti is aimed at high-profile buyers. Each bespoke room is entirely designed to suit the needs of the individual client and comes equipped with cutting-edge technology, including biometric recognition opening. We're sure plenty of powerful people own one of these...

Supercar garages

When you're rich, one car simply doesn't suffice. So, when you have an entourage of vehicles to accommodate, you need to create a special place to store them. Pictured here, South Africa's most expensive house, the Casablanca Estate, hit the market back in 2015 for $35 million (£28m) and features one of the swankiest car galleries we've ever seen. A-list celebrities with enviable garages include Travis Scott and social media influencer Jeffree Star, who once had an underground facility where his pink Lamborghini took pride of place.

Luxury bunkers and panic rooms

And it's not just their possessions that they want to keep safe. Luxury panic rooms and high-end security systems are all the rage right now. In fact, in 2019 it was revealed that Kylie Jenner spends around $400,000 (£291k) a month on private protection alone. This custom-made, impenetrable sanctuary has bullet-proof walls, a king-sized bed and a plush bathroom—perfect for any security-conscious homeowners.

High-end security measures

Many exclusive homes also lie inside gated communities, or behind secure gates with 24-hour guards. Considered America's safest home, this colossal mansion can be found in Hollywood and was kitted out by security expert Al Corbi. His dream was to create an impenetrable property – and he succeeded. The LA estate offers bullet-proof windows, an underground bunker, two panic rooms, ballistics-proof bedrooms, a rooftop helipad and a fog system designed to disorientate intruders.

Billionaire basements

Most people have junk, dust and a whole lot of nothing in their basements, but the rich and famous know how to turn redundant space into something magical. Basketball legend Lebron James has his very own subterranean sports bar, complete with pool tables, a movie theatre and a two-lane bowling alley, while rapper 50 Cent is said to have once had a basement nightclub and casino. This luxurious basement can be found in a luxury home in Surrey, UK, and boasts marble floors, a gym, a wine room and a showstopping swimming pool.

OTT luxury

When money is no object, why settle for basic? This bathtub, for example, was carved from rock crystal sourced from the Amazon rainforest and comes with a $1 million (£814k) price tag. Other jaw-dropping home features we've seen include carat gold finishes, Bentley throw cushions, car elevators and Louis Vuitton fire extinguishers.

Artwork collections

Having a seemingly endless budget means there's plenty of cash going spare for art. There are ample celebs out there with vast (and expensive) collections, including the likes of Pharrell Williams, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay-Z and Beyoncé. It's unlikely that you'll see your favourite A-lister at the local auction house, though. Many have a team dealing with their acquisitions, such as celebrity art dealers like Jean David-Malat.

Luxury freebies

From the latest smart tech to high-end kitchenware, celebrities are gifted plenty of items to decorate their homes with. In fact, according to Finance Buzz, brands will pay up to $10 (£8) per thousand followers for a sponsored social media post. After noticing the influencer gift trend, Australian comedian Andy Lee set up a PO Box for freebies and took to social media to highlight the mind-boggling extent of promotional gifting.

Secret tunnels

Many mega-mansions also come with escape routes or secret tunnels hiding in plain sight, allowing the lucky occupier to flee their home at short notice—and entirely undetected. In fact, in 2015 Playboy revealed that in the 70s the likes of Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson and Kirk Douglas may have had secret underground tunnels that led from their front doors straight to the Playboy Mansion.

Buying up land for privacy

Since security and privacy go hand-in-hand, it's no wonder that the mega-rich are keen to separate themselves from others—including their VIP neighbours. Oprah Winfrey is perhaps the Queen of keeping the outside world at a distance. In 2001, the talk show star bought an estate in Montecito for $52 million (£42m) and set about buying up the surrounding properties, including Jeff Bridges' former home. Today the property encompasses an enormous 70 acres.

Celebrity house swaps

Why buy any old house, when you can buy one with celebrity pedigree? When it comes to VIP house swapping, you’d be amazed by who has shared the same four walls. Notable swappers include Vince Vaughn and Kate Bosworth, Eva Longoria and Tom Cruise, and Khloe Kardashian and Justin Bieber. Luxury real estate agent Dolly Lenz told Cosmopolitan that Mariah Carey once specifically wanted to buy Barbra Streisand's penthouse. "Barbra Streisand was her idol. It does happen — even celebs are starstruck," she said.

Insider secrets

Celebs need never lift a finger when they can pay people to do everything for them, but they don't always make the best bosses. Despite her "Be kind to one another'" slogan (she even has a merchandise line based around the phrase), Ellen DeGeneres has had her fair share of bad publicity about the way she treats her staff. In 2020, a former employee told Mail Online that Ellen runs her house "like a military-style boot camp". The chat show host was also accused of taking pleasure in firing people and setting traps to catch staff out. "She treated you like you were nothing," the source claimed.

Bad bosses

And DeGeneres isn’t alone. Supermodel Naomi Campbell has received plenty of publicity over the years after eight of her former employees accused her of assault. Mariah Carey, pictured here with her current staff entourage, is another high-profile celeb that gets her fair share of attention for being a diva. While her former nanny, Simonette DaCosta (not pictured), sued the singer in 2015, claiming she was forced to work 24 hours a day, others have suggested that the 'Fantasy' singer reportedly demands white roses and a three-seater couch wherever she goes.

Appreciative A-listers

Yet there are some good celebrity bosses out there. Oprah, for example, is said to be a generous giver and once paid for a Mediterranean cruise for her staff, while Jennifer Hudson once reportedly bought her assistant a house for Christmas. Rihanna also took to social media to show the display her staff had created for Boss Appreciation Day, proving that not all multi-millionaires are demanding.