Celebrity Homes of the Hamptons
Hollywood’s “A-Listers” spend a great deal of time in the Hamptons. For many it’s their home away from home. Whether they choose to vacation, own or rent, the Hamptons offers unbridled beauty and tranquility, with all the finer things in life.
The East End is an escape for many and a playground for the wealthy, but overall it’s a place for anyone who wishes to appreciate and take advantage of its exceptionality. Of course we all know the traffic can be a problem because the masses pile out on the weekends, but once you arrive, it seems like all your troubles go away. At least for the weekend, that is. And let’s be honest, the rich and famous avoid traffic altogether by flying in style. Yes, it’s only 45 minutes from New York by helicopter and the convenience is a luxury they can afford.
In general, celebrities like the feeling of anonymity. Yes, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos spend time shopping locally with their family, and yes, Alec and Hilaria Baldwin are out and about at many charitable events, and yes, Christie Brinkley really looks as beautiful in person as she does in photos, but no one really bothers them and that is the attraction and the hidden beauty underneath the obvious splendor of the Hamptons.
Jennifer Lopez has stepped out on her own and has not stopped making solid real estate investments. The hefty salary she earned from being a judge on “American Idol” has afforded her an even grander lifestyle. The recent purchase of an $18M, 14,000 square foot home in Watermill is the perfect setting for Lopez to catch a little well-deserved rest and relaxation. This waterfront beauty sits on two acres and offers heated marble floors, seven fireplaces, a media room, pool, guest quarters and much more. When Lopez is not lounging at home, she enjoys spending time at one of the many beautiful beaches in the Hamptons.
The Hiltons enjoy spending time at their Southampton mansion during the off season. Anyone interested in renting their elegant estate for the season can do so for a meager $400,000. This luxurious escape from the hustle and bustle of the city will guarantee serenity and comfort. And no worries about the paparazzi, I don’t think Paris will drop in unannounced; she’s quite busy making music and acting these days.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin enjoy the seclusion of their five-bedroom, 7 ½ bath sprawling home located in East Hampton, purchased for $5.4M a few years back. They have added to the estate and created a world of their own. Paltrow has always loved the beauty of the Hamptons, and what better way to spend quality time with her musician husband and their two children than at this lavish property. It has everything you could ever dream of ,including a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen where Gwyneth indulges in creating masterful dinners for family and friends.
It was a logical choice for Jerry Seinfeld to purchase Billy Joel’s former ocean front mansion in 2000. Purchased for a mere $32M, the 12-acre estate includes a spacious guest house, a baseball diamond (we know Seinfeld loves baseball) and a 22-car garage, to highlight only a few amenities. After all, let’s not forget, Seinfeld needed enough space to hold a few of his 46 collectible Porsches, or almost half of them.
Madonna’s Hamptons home is an English-style six-bedroom estate located nearby the $10M 30-acre horse farm she also owns. Martha Stewart, Calvin Klein and Renee Zellweger settled on East Hampton as did Donna Karan and Sean Combs AKA Puff Daddy, P. Diddy or just Diddy (perhaps he owns a home for each stage name?). Famed author J.K. Rowling enjoys summers in the Hamptons as well. One of the many opulent properties Rowling has rented cost a modest $120,000 per week. I think she can afford it. Rowling, recently noted as one of Britain’s wealthiest women, is said to be worth more than the Queen!
The Hamptons will always be associated with wealth and indulgence, but the Hamptons are also a place where everyone can just be themselves.