Home Sweet Bob: 7 Celebrities Who Named Their Houses

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For many, it may have never occurred to us to name our house, similar to how our car-loving uncle names each of his vehicles. On the other hand, if you own several properties and those properties are so large, they warrant a name that ends in “farm” or “estate”, having a name for your home might make sense.

Regardless of the reason, celebrities, journalists, musicians and authors have been naming their houses for decades.

Here’s a list of some of the most well-known (and a few that may have been kept under wraps).

Oprah – The Promised Land

The media mogul has a total of six homes and spends the majority of her time at the Montecito, CA property according to Popsugar. The homes name, “The Promised Land” is pretty self-explanatory as it boasts 70 acres with rose gardens and fountains. The 23,000 square foot mansion has several living rooms, a library, kitchen, two home theatres, wine cellar, office, six bedrooms and 14 bathrooms.

Michael Jackson – Neverland

Perhaps the most famous named celebrity mansion in the world, Jackson’s Santa Barbara County ranch featured an outdoor amusement park, petting zoo and large statues across 2,700 acres. The name was a reflection of the icon’s desire to stay young forever. The 12,600 square foot mansion included a movie theater, Disney-themed train station, a dance studio, five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. In 2015, Neverland was rebranded and named Sycamore Valley Ranch. After years on the market, it finally sold last fall to Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner, Ron Burkle.

Bill Gates – The Ecology House or Xanadu 2.0

The Microsoft founder and wife Melinda spent seven years building their Medina, Washington home worth $60 million. The mansion is the most expensive and expansive Gates home at 66,000 square feet and features several technology forward details. The house includes an estate-wide server system, a 60-foot swimming pool with underwater music system and a trampoline room with a 20-foot ceiling. Aside from the mansion, ten other buildings sit on the property, including a guest house, security offices, a mail room, greenhouse and outdoor spa.

George Harrison – Friar Park

The Beatles lead guitarist purchased the 35-acre garden oasis in 1970 and lived there still his death in 2001. The Victorian mansion included 120 rooms but the recording studio Harrison installed and the sprawling gardens were most well-known by fans. The recording studio, named Friar Park Studio, Hendley-on-Thames or F.P.S.H.O.T. was the scene of Harrison’s own albums, “Living in the Material World”, “Dark Horse” and “Cloud Nine” among others. The Beatles’ 1995 “Anthology” project was recorded at F.P.S.H.O.T. as was several documentaries filmed after his death. According to Harrison’s son, Dhani, the superstar would tend to the gardens each night as the sun went down and cared for the plants personally till the end of his life.

Roald Dahl – Gipsy House

The family home in Great Missenden, England provided the inspiration for Dahl’s classics such as “The BFG” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. According to House and Garden, Dahl purchased the home in 1953 after his son was injured in an accident and the family moved to England for medical treatment. His family has recalled memories over the years of waking up to find their names spelled in weedkiller on the lawn for a birthday treat or finding a long hunting horn in their window, blowing dreams in their bedroom. What began as a small, five-windowed home was renovated by Dahl and Wally Saunders (the employee in which Dahl based his BFG character), building a guest house, a two-floor addition and a writing “hut”. The garden path leading to the front door was laid by Dahl personally and the bird house on the property was built by Dahl and Saunders, including a window ledge lined with “dreamcatchers”.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban – Bunya Hill

In Southern Highlands, Australia, a group of celebrities have found an oasis of rolling hills, set in the countryside of Australia and away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney. Mr. and Mrs. Urban purchased their 1878 mansion sitting on 45 acres for $6.5 million in 2008. According to Realestate.com, the property boasts a carved cedar staircase, 10 marble fireplaces and wide sandstone verandas. The angus beef and alpaca farm includes a separate cottage surrounded by beautiful gardens and tall trees for privacy. After moving in, the couple built a tennis court, swimming pool and new gym.

Drake – YOLO Estate

The rapper purchased one of his several mansions, dubbed YOLO Estate back in 2012, due to the reportedly large entertaining spaces on the property. The space boasts tennis and basketball courts, stables, a movie theater and grotto, complete with 80-foot slide and several waterfalls. Despite the entertainment aspects of the property, the icon has established private quarters in the 12,500 square foot home behind a secret bookshelf that opens into an entirely different section of the mansion. If that wasn’t enough, he purchased the home next door shortly after.

Sources: PopSugar, House and Garden, RealEstate.com