17 Celebs Who Bought Homes With Weird Histories
Most celebrities want homes with pristine reputations and sparkling clean histories. But some stars march to the beat of a different drum, actively seeking out properties with dark pasts, ghostly residents, or downright bizarre backstories. From murder houses to former torture chambers, these famous folks either didn’t mind the baggage or actually found it appealing.
Sometimes the weird history comes as a surprise after the purchase, while other times these celebrities knew exactly what they were getting into. Here is a list of 17 celebrities who bought homes with seriously strange and often disturbing histories.
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage purchased the infamous LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans for $3.45 million in 2007. This wasn’t just any old house – it was the site where wealthy socialite Madame Marie Delphine LaLaurie tortured and murdered enslaved people in the 1830s.
Cage admitted he bought it because he ‘always wanted to own a haunted house,’ inspired by his childhood visits to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. Unfortunately, his supernatural real estate adventure didn’t last long when he lost the property to foreclosure in 2009.
Jay Sebring
Celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring had a taste for properties with tragic pasts. In 1963, he purchased a Bavarian-style house in Benedict Canyon that had previously been owned by movie star Jean Harlow and her husband Paul Bern.
The house came with a grim history – Paul Bern had taken his own life while standing in front of a mirror in 1932. Tragically, Sebring himself would meet a violent end when he was murdered alongside Sharon Tate by the Manson Family in 1969.
Trent Reznor
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor took living with dark history to another level. In 1992, he rented the house at 10050 Cielo Drive – the exact location where Sharon Tate and four others were brutally murdered by the Manson Family in 1969.
Reznor set up a recording studio there and nicknamed it ‘Le Pig,’ referencing the word written in blood on the door during the murders. He lived there until 1993, later admitting the experience was unsettling and that meeting Sharon Tate’s sister influenced his decision to leave.
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Madonna
The Queen of Pop’s Beverly Hills mansion apparently comes with some uninvited guests. According to her staff, they’ve experienced strange occurrences like doors opening and closing on their own, and some have even seen apparitions.
The supernatural activity has been consistent enough that Madonna has reportedly looked into exorcism sessions. For someone who built a career on pushing boundaries, living with ghosts might just be another day at the office.
Kristen Stewart
The ‘Twilight’ actress seems drawn to the dark and mysterious in real life too. Stewart reportedly purchased a haunted mansion in Los Feliz that was previously connected to a notorious murder case.
Given her obsession with the paranormal, the property’s spooky reputation likely made it more attractive rather than serving as a deterrent. Sometimes life imitates art, and Stewart’s fascination with supernatural themes extends beyond her vampire movie days.
Lady Gaga
Even pop superstars aren’t immune to ghostly roommates. Lady Gaga moved into her $22.5 million Malibu mansion only to discover it’s reportedly haunted by a former owner who passed away in the house.
The spectral presence doesn’t seem to faze the singer known for her theatrical performances and bold fashion choices. After all, when you’re used to dramatic stage productions, a resident ghost might feel like just another part of the show.
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Jack Nicholson
The legendary actor has never shied away from acknowledging the supernatural. Nicholson has claimed that his Beverly Hills home is haunted and that he has seen ghosts several times.
His matter-of-fact acceptance of paranormal activity fits perfectly with his reputation for embracing life’s stranger aspects. For an actor who’s played some truly unsettling characters, sharing space with spirits probably feels like method acting taken to its logical conclusion.
Salma Hayek
The actress discovered her London estate came with more residents than expected. When Hayek and her family started experiencing paranormal phenomena, she brought in an expert who identified the presence of numerous spirits, including an old lady and a child.
While most spirits were encouraged to leave, one entity – believed to be a nun – refused to depart, and the expert explained she had good vibes and had been there longer than Salma. The family now peacefully coexists with their ghostly nun roommate.
Loretta Lynn
The country music legend’s Tennessee plantation came with its own supernatural soundtrack. After purchasing her plantation home in 1966, Lynn reported several eerie incidents, including a misty figure pacing the balcony and an encounter where a spirit attempted to forcibly remove her son’s boots.
For someone who sang about life’s hardships, dealing with restless spirits was just another challenge to face head-on.
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Marilyn Monroe
The iconic blonde bombshell’s final home has become as famous as she was. Monroe died from a drug overdose in her Brentwood Spanish-style residence in 1962, and it’s believed that she haunts the exact place where she died.
Some say the cries of her beloved poodle Maf have been heard from the outdoor courtyard and pool area. The mystery surrounding her death has only added to the property’s eerie reputation.
Clint Eastwood
The ‘Man with No Name’ had some supernatural encounters of his own. Eastwood claimed that his former home in Carmel, California, was haunted by the ghost of a former owner and even had a séance to communicate with the spirit.
True to form, the tough-guy actor approached ghost communication with the same direct style he brought to his Western roles. If anyone could successfully negotiate with the undead, it would be Dirty Harry himself.
Robert Downey Jr.
Iron Man dealt with more than just fictional villains in his real estate choices. According to reports, Downey Jr. has had experiences with paranormal activity in his properties.
The actor’s journey from troubled past to superhero status might have prepared him for handling supernatural challenges with the same resilience he showed in rebuilding his career.
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The Kardashian-Jenner Family
Reality TV’s first family discovered their Calabasas mansion came with an unexpected cast member. According to reports, their mansion is haunted by the ghost of a man who drowned in their pool.
For a family that’s made careers out of being constantly on camera, having a ghostly presence lurking around probably feels like just another day of filming, though this particular guest never signed a release form.
Jean Harlow
The platinum blonde movie star’s Beverly Hills home would later claim another celebrity victim. In 1932, Harlow lived in the Bavarian-style home with her abusive husband Paul Bern, who took his own life while standing in front of a mirror.
The circumstances were suspicious enough that many suspected it wasn’t actually what it appeared to be, especially when Bern’s ex-girlfriend jumped off a boat to her death days later. The house’s dark energy would later affect Jay Sebring, who bought the property decades later.
Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks
Hollywood’s original power couple built their dream home on land with a disturbing past. Silent film actress Mary Pickford and partner Douglas Fairbanks purchased property in Beverly Hills where an eerie old cabin once stood.
Their Pickfair Estate became legendary, but the land beneath it carried the weight of whatever happened in that mysterious cabin before. Even Hollywood royalty couldn’t escape the shadows of the past.
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Jeff Franklin
The ‘Full House’ creator made a choice that was anything but family-friendly when it came to real estate. Franklin bought a mansion built on the exact site where Sharon Tate and four others were murdered by the Manson Family in 1969.
The original house at 10050 Cielo Drive was completely demolished and replaced with Villa Bella, but the location’s dark history remains. Creating wholesome family entertainment while living on the site of one of America’s most notorious murders creates quite the contrast.
Michael Whalen
The Houston energy trader took a gamble on one of New Orleans’ most notorious properties. Whalen purchased Nicolas Cage’s former LaLaurie Mansion for $2.1 million in 2010.
The 200-year-old mansion’s history of torture and murder didn’t deter the businessman, who saw past the supernatural rumors to the property’s potential. Sometimes the best real estate deals come with the most interesting backstories, even if those stories involve vengeful spirits and centuries-old curses.
Beyond the Stars
These celebrity stories prove that fame and fortune don’t necessarily buy you peace of mind when it comes to real estate. Whether drawn by curiosity, artistic inspiration, or simply good deals, these stars discovered that some houses come with more than just square footage and premium locations.
From murder scenes to ghostly encounters, these properties remind us that history has a way of lingering long after the original occupants have moved on. Sometimes the most interesting homes are the ones with the most unsettling pasts, though living with that history requires a special kind of courage – or perhaps just a really good security system and an understanding cleaning crew.
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