Celebrity Homes That Are Super Weird

Although in their more philosophical moments, many celebrities may consider themselves a breed apart from us mere mortals, they are nevertheless cut from the same primal cloth as the rest of humanity — albeit with a little bit more silicon and Botox thrown in for good measure. To paraphrase Shakespeare, if you tickle them, do they not laugh, and if you prick them do they not bleed? Like everyone else, celebrities need somewhere to eat, sleep, live, and love, far removed from the world's prying and judgmental eyes. They need walls to surround them, a roof to protect them, and a statement dwelling to reflect their status.

As of yet, no celebrity has worked out how to build a bungalow on Mount Olympus, erect a mansion on the Rainbow Bridge, or pitch a tent in Valhalla; but as a hard and fast rule, they certainly live in houses that are a lot weirder than everyone else. How weird? Well, that ladies and gentleman is the million-dollar question. Fortunately, we've got a road-map, a compass, a flashlight, some sensible footwear, and the answer. So saddle up, pack an open mind, and be prepared for the unexpected. The road ahead leads into outlandish territory, so watch your footing as we bravely venture forth into the world of celebrity homes that are super weird.

When John Travolta was a small child he had a dream. You may be forgiven in thinking it was to dress up in a dazzling white suit and dance like the world wasn't watching, but you'd be wrong. The man who once put the fever into Saturday night wanted to be a sky lord, or as we refer to them in the modern era, air-pilots. According to Today, ever since Travolta was little he wanted to take to the skies. The mile-high thespian explained, "I was 5 years old when I fell in love with aviation. ... This is something in my blood." Yet Travolta's dream wasn't just to be master and commander of the cockpit — he wanted to live in a house that had plane runways leading directly to its doormat!

And so it came to pass that Travolta would not only become a certified pilot, he would go on to own a house in Florida with a 7,500-foot runway leading to his front door. Travolta designed the residential airpark himself after purchasing land on the Jumbolair Aviation Estates (via Aerotime). The opportunity to simply walk out of the house, and fly for a bite to eat in his Boeing 707 proved irresistible to the aviation addict. As an ambassador for airline Qantas, the runway is perfect for Travolta who explained, "I've been really able to operate out of the house for business and personal reasons."

When you're famous for playing a playboy genius billionaire who dresses up in colorful armor suits and saves the world from intergalactic warlords with a few witty one-liners and some serious weaponry, you're going to need somewhere to chill in your downtime that is pretty far removed from the urban sophistication and high-tech world of Tony Stark. A cave perhaps? Maybe, a monastery? How about a windmill? Fancy Pants reports that Robert Downey Jr. lives in a late-19th century windmill folly situated in the Hamptons with his wife, producer Susan Downey. The windmill began its life as a playhouse and has never been used to grind grain, pump water, or generate electricity, but it does make for a quirky residence.

Architectural Digest was invited on a tour of Downey's windmill house and the weirdness pretty much stops at the eye-catching turbine blades which guard the residence like a calm and collected god of agriculture. The interior of the windmill house is described as "whimsical and fun," but there are no bags of corn, or ancient and crooked one-eyed men warning us of the approaching plague and pestilence that will ruin this year's crop. There are, however, cats, a big chilling couch, a wraparound fireplace wall, and a sense that Downey and his wife are really happy in the place they call home.

Castles were never built to be welcoming. These fortified and imposing structures initially had one purpose, and that's to keep people out. Yet times change and castles are no longer symbolic of an occupying force looking to subjugate the natives with its power writ large in stone, drawbridge, and moat. Nowadays, castles are fine places to picnic and spend the day loitering as you roam through the U.K. and Europe. And if you're a reclusive millionaire who's tired of the limelight, they also make perfect boltholes. The Sun reports that Irish songbird Enya lives in a sprawling Victorian castle near Dublin, Enya, whose next-door neighbor is U2 frontman Bono. It's said to be worth $132 million (per a report from Love Cats World), and was purchased for nearly $3 million in 1997.

Reportedly prone to a reclusive lifestyle, Enya is rarely sighted outside of her fortress, and her uncle Noel Duggan revealed, "We don't see much of her. She lives like a queen. She is a recluse." Yet, although Enya may be alone, she's not lonely. Alongside a few tried and trusted members of staff, the "Sail Away" singer lives with an adopted family of cats. Seemingly preferring the company of felines to people and life in a castle over life on the celebrity treadmill, Enya explained, "My private lifestyle bothers a lot of people. It's not a hanging offense not wanting to go to nightclubs. What happened to choice?"

Life on the open road has a lure and a romance that's almost impossible to resist. Yet after a certain age, the thought of sleeping in a run-down car or beaten-up tent, whilst eating beans out of a can, is enough to quickly and discretely abandon the spirit of adventure in its moldy sleeping bag, and book into a five-star hotel. However, if you're a celebrity, the same rules don't apply. When Will Smith feels the call of the wild, his answer is to hop into his $2.5 million motorhome and travel in style. Autoevolution reports that Smith chose to bring a bit of class to the nomadic life of an actor and invest in a luxury mansion on wheels, nicknamed "The Heat."

With 22 wheels, and 111.5-square-meters of living space, this two-story monster doubles up as Smith's movie trailer. And when the big man is not in residence, he rents it out for a reported fee of $9,000 per week. "The Heat" pushes the boundaries of what an RV should be; it boasts a full kitchen, a dining room, two lounges, an office, and a sauna shower. It has a total of 14 TVs, real leather couches, and granite countertops — and best of all, automatic doors that make a "Star Trek"-like sound when they open and close. Whoosh!

There's nothing quite like splashing about in the water when the sun is high and the temperatures soar. Who doesn't like a bit of wild and wet fun? Celine Dion certainly does. The Canadian songbird once spent several million dollars having a waterpark constructed on the grounds of her Florida mansion. The Daily Mail reports that the singer's aquatic wonderland included a pair of swimming pools, two water slides, and for those who like the current to wash them around like driftwood, a lazy river. All that park needs a lot of water, and Dion used a staggering 500,000 gallons of H20. Spare a thought for the poor pool boy!

Dion's uber-rich neighbors on Jupiter Island were allegedly less impressed with Dion's aquatic addition because it was rumored to have drained the island's freshwater supply dry, leading to droughts and water restrictions. Mirror reports that in 2007, Dion was allegedly fined for using 6.5 million gallons of water. To put that figure in perspective, most homes in Marin County, California use 10,000 gallons of water a month. Dion's representatives hit back against the excessive claim and according to Female First, they claimed their client's usage was higher than any resident in the U.S. because of a burst water pipe situated underneath the property. Perhaps deciding enough was enough, Curbed reported that Dion eventually sold the 20,000-square-foot estate, which ironically is only a stone's throw away from the ocean, for $28 million.

Bob Hope was a man with a great sense of humor, but he was deadly serious about building a house that resembled a spaceship in California's Palm Springs. And let's be honest, creating a home inspired solely by UFOs is not something a man can be half-hearted about. Nestled in the exclusive Palm Springs' hillside neighborhood on Southridge Drive, the Bob Hope house as it's more commonly known, is a 24,000-square-foot feat of circular weirdness that looks like a tourist from the Cosmos just decided to park up their spaceship on the nearest Californian hill whilst they reroute the SatNav for a galaxy far, far away, per the Los Angeles Times. Designed by famous Los Angeles architect John Lautner, when Hope first saw Lautner's model he exclaimed, "Well, at least when they come down from Mars they'll know where to go." The late, great comedian had a point.

With a roof that appears to defy the laws of gravity, Hope's UFO house looks like the Starship Enterprise would if it was designed for Hollywood royalty instead of Captain Kirk. Upon its completion in 1980, Lautner was disappointed with the finished article because the Hopes had ignored his vision for an interior defined by desert light and mountain views, and opted to employ the services of a Beverly Hills society decorator. Needless to say, showbiz interior trends of the day held sway over Lautner's more natural and timeless design.

It can be great to have friendly neighbors to turn to in times of need, such as when your goldfish needs feeding or you've run out of vodka, but neighbors can also be a source of excruciating annoyance. That surprise knock on the door, the inquisitive head peeping over the hedge, the unwelcome chicken casserole, the high-pitched laugh that triggers an overwhelming and irrational rage, all can be laid firmly at the foot of the friendly and over-bearing neighbor. So what's a soul to do? Take out a restraining order? Or if you're as rich as Virgin boss Richard Branson, you could buy an island and live there in regal isolation instead. Evening Standard reports that a 28-year-old Branson purchased the 78 acres of Necker Island for a modest $245,000 in 1978. It was a shrewd investment, as today the tropical paradise that time forgot is worth $122 million.

The island's palm trees, crystal blue waters, exotic wildlife, and hot tubs that can cater to an entire football team are all overlooked by Branson's hilltop house. Modestly entitled the Great House, this 11 bedroom mecca with its prowling red-shell tortoises can only be described as jungle chic. Branson explained, "It's the most exquisite place in the world and simply too beautiful not to share with others." It costs $100,000 a night for a party of 40 in case you're interested.

Regrets? He's had a few, but when it came to creating the house of his dreams, Frank Sinatra certainly believed in doing things his way. The New York Post reports that Villa Maggio was commissioned in 1967 and named after Sinatra's "From Here to Eternity" character, Angelo Maggio. Described as a "James Bond lair-like compound" and a rustic retreat, Villa Maggio is unusual in that it's in the middle of nowhere. Or as you might know it, Palm Desert. It was one of old blue eyes' preferred hideaways and you can easily see why, with a tennis court, a pool house, parking for up to 24 cars, and a helipad. It's the perfect base for any self-respecting member of the rat pack looking for some time away from the spotlight.

Angelo Maggio also boasts postcard-perfect views of the San Bernardino mountains. It's easy to visualize Sinatra and Dean Martin lounging in deck chairs and toasting the setting sun with a cocktail or 20, whilst singing a duet of "Let's Get Away From It All." Unfortunately, this little piece of showbiz glamor situated in the remote Coachella Valley has been on the market for a long time, and there don't seem many high-rollers all that interested in splashing out $4.25 million on its 6,428 square feet and living like a king amongst the sand, rocks, cacti, and lizards. Yet as Sinatra would be the first to point out, "That's life!"

Playing pirates and going on swashbuckling adventures is all well and good, but every sailor boy needs a port they can call home — and in Johnny Depp's case it's an entire village. According to Top Ten Real Estate Deals, the Jack Sparrow actor purchased the village compound 17 miles north of St. Tropez in 2001. Although the exact price is unknown, you can bet your wooden leg he didn't pay for it with pieces of eight. Owning your own village has a unique charm and in Depp's case, it includes 37 acres of sprawling wonder. Built during the 1800s, Depp decorated each of the 12 stone structures himself and they include the 12-bedroom main dwelling, a staff house, a restaurant and bar, a chapel, a skate park, two swimming pools, and a workshop/garage. As is fitting for the most famous thespian of the high seas, there is also a pirate-themed wine cellar.

Although Depp spent millions and 15 years lovingly restoring the buildings, when he split up with his French wife Vanessa Paradis in 2012, he decided to sell up and say goodbye to the good life. He pulled up the anchor, left the South of France, and set sail on stranger tides for distant shores. With a price tag of $25.76 million and some of Depp's old books, DVDs, furniture, and works of art thrown in, someone is going to get a real pirate's bounty.

Who amongst us hasn't dreamed of a home where the buffaloes roam and the deer and the antelope play? Tom Ford did, and he had the means and momentum to make it a reality. Ideal Home reports that the filmmaker's Mexican ranch not only has a flavor of the Wild West, but it also comes complete with its very own movie set. Surrounded by desert sands on all sides, the ranch isn't exactly the beaten up and ramshackle kind of dwelling you can imagine Clint Eastwood riding into, squinting into the sun and looking like he's about to unleash seven different shades of hell. It's a ranch, but it's incredibly modern and stark. Its cubist contours were designed by award-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando, and it was named Cerro Pelon after the regal mountain that overlooks it. Ford's pad may look as out of place on the plains as a ballerina in a rodeo, but the movie set sure is the real deal, pilgrim.

Going by the name of Silverado after the 1985 Kevin Costner movie it was purpose-built for, Ford's movie set has appeared in such blockbusters as "3:10 to Yuma," "Thor: The Dark World," and "Cowboys & Aliens." Ford revealed to The Talks in 2011, "I am happier at my ranch in the middle of nowhere, listening to silence, riding my horse, and being in open space." Yet that all changed in 2017 when Ford decided to sell up.

Buying a memorable birthday present for a designer dress sporting, diamond-wearing, jet-setting supermodel is a tough ask, but Russian billionaire Vladislav Doronin reportedly pulled it out of the hat when he gifted his then-girlfriend, Naomi Campbell a luxury home on Turkey's Cleopatra Island for her 41st birthday, per CNBC. The home was designed by Spanish architect Luis de Garrido in the shape of the Egyptian Eye of Horus, which in ancient Egypt was symbolic of protection, good health, and royal power. Billed as a self-sustaining masterpiece, the glass-domed house with its 25 bedrooms and five lounges was said to be completely energy and water self-sufficient. According to Luxuo, Anthony and Cleopatra once swam on the island's beaches, making Doronin's gift so romantic it needed its own film.

Yet here's the rub, and it's a big one. Campbell's Horus Eye house may not even exist. All online reports celebrating Doronin's gift show a mere rendering of the house and not actual photos. Surely something so epic deserves to be celebrated endlessly on countless Instagram accounts? Luxury Property Turkey did a little digging and a little sailing in the Gulf of Gokova where the island is situated — and spotted nothing except Roman and Byzantine ruins. The Turkish government later confirmed that the house didn't exist. As the saying goes, "The house that is built on sand will crumble at the first sign of a windstorm."

According to Rolling Stone, Drake is a man who appreciates swimming pools. He explained to the magazine, "I'm obsessed with, like residential pools. One of my goals in life is to have the biggest residential pool on the planet." It's an outlandish ambition for sure, but one Drake is well on his way to realizing, judging by the colossal waterworks at his Yolo Estate compound. Situated in the gated community of Hidden Hills, California, Drake's three-acre watery paradise is everything you'd expect and more. The supersize pool contains two gigantic statues of bikini-clad women kneeling in the rippling water. His estate also contains an 80-foot waterslide and a huge waterfall which gives way to a custom-made grotto housing a wet bar. It's extravagant with a capital E, and even has a bookshelf which with a flip of a switch leads to a secret bedroom.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Drake put the Yolo Estate on the market in 2017 for $20 million, but he must have had a change of mind as the listing was quickly removed. Maybe he couldn't bear the thought of parting with his beloved water features, not to mention the beach volleyball court, 25-seat theater, spa/massage game room, and the sprawling wine cellar equipped with its own tasting room. Perhaps it was the mechanical bull that sits within the grounds of the English Tudor-style house that decided it. As the acronym Yolo suggests, you only live once!

Renowned as America's oldest teenager, it's only natural that Dick Clark would have lived in a home that looked like something straight out of a cartoon. According to Curbed, the television and radio legend's Malibu retreat resembles a stone-age dwelling fit for the likes of Fred Flintstone or his sidekick, Barney Rubble. Now whilst living in a cold cave, eating raw meat, and being threatened daily by other barely articulate homo-sapiens lacks a certain appeal, Clark's house only looks like a cave — and that's where the similarities end. It has electricity, running water, and its odd-shaped windows offer a 360-degree view of the ocean, mountains, and city. The rock is just cleverly disguised concrete and the interiors are refreshingly irregular. Minimalist lighting conjures up shadows in every corner and gives the Flintstone house a prehistoric authenticity.

According to Home Design Lover, the house was the brainchild of architect Philip Jon Brown, who wanted to design a house that looked like it was carved from the mountains by a forgotten race of industrious elves. It has a rock-like tabletop, a stone-age effect kitchen, and cave-like irregular columns everywhere. Even the garden is inspired by the era when cavemen walked the earth. The finished effect is one of Paleolithic chic and gives a dazzling new definition to the term man-cave. As Freddy Flintstone would say, "Yabba Dabba Doo!"