No stranger to real estate investment and development, Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas began his real estate sideline at age 21. With the first money he ever made, working on one of his father’s films in 1966, he bought 70 acres of raw land in Vermont – which he still owns. Unlike many celebrity house flippers, Douglas holds on to his properties for decades. Now at the age of 74, Douglas and Academy Award-winning wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, have been spending their time between their homes in New York and Bermuda and rarely have the opportunity to visit their Mediterranean estate, S’Estaca, on the Spanish island of Majorca, which Douglas has owned for 30 years. It is listed at $32.7 million.

From 1838 when Chopin spent his winters there, Majorca has been the place to be seen for celebrities from the arts to politics. In Hollywood’s heyday, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor vacationed at Hotel Formentor, which was also where Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier had their honeymoon. In more recent times that person who looks so familiar could be Gwyneth Paltrow, Harrison Ford, Noel Gallagher or Sting checking out the day’s catch in the local fish market. Douglas hosted many of his Hollywood friends at S’Estaca over the years, which is set up to sleep 20.

Filled with romantic history, and completely private on its almost 200 acres spanning the mountains to the sea, S’Estaca was purchased by Archduke Ludwig Salvator ofHabsburg in 1867 as a place where he could hide his paramours away from prying eyes and would transport them to the island via his steam-yacht the Nixe. For his cousin Archduchess Mathilde, his one great love, he had steps carved out of the rock so she could walk into the sea to swim. Michael Douglas purchased the estate in 1990 and upgraded the seven separate buildings and grounds by pouring millions into the property. With a total of 10,764-square-feet of living space, there are 10 bedrooms and 10 baths modernized to today’s luxury standards. Included are large formal rooms, a library, gym, multimedia room, and a master suite with fireplace, terrace and sea views. The exceptional grounds overlook the sea and contain a swimming pool, ancient olive trees, vineyard, terraces and Moorish pavilion. A large wine cellar contains casks and bottle storage for wines that have been produced on the property. With the estate abutting the port of S’Estaca, there is also a private pier and dock for yachts.

Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones are selling their stunning Majorca estate at the edge of the Mediterranean surrounded by almost 200 acres of mountainside woodland and privacy. Priced at $32.7 million, the listing agent is Eddy Barrera of Engel Voelkers, Majorca Westcoast. Visit Toptenrealestatedeals.com for more information.

Photo credit: Engel Voelkers, Majorca Westcoast

Source: engelvoelkers.com

Bruce Willis Home To Die For!

Die Hard star Bruce Willis has been actively buying and selling real estate across the country for years while still managing his other business ventures and a tight film schedule.  With the goal of returning to California to be close to family and friends and having just sold his Sun Valley ski home, Bruce’s focus has now turned to the sale of his pastoral New York estate that has served as his East Coast family residence since 2014.  It is listed at $12.95 million.

Located only 40 minutes from midtown Manhattan, the gated 22-acre estate in Bedford Corners, New York comes with views over the Croton Reservoir and lush countryside.  Grounds contain a total of four houses, two garages, a saltwater pool, pool house and tennis court. There is also a vegetable garden much loved by the couple’s young children.  With a total of 12 bedrooms between the four houses, it is convenient to entertain stayover guests who can enjoy their own separate, fully-contained living space. The Craftsman-style main house at 8,958 open-and-airy square feet has five bedrooms and multiple fireplaces including one in the kitchen and master suite.  There is also a playroom, media room, wine cellar and an octagonal room above the roofline for viewing the countryside and the reservoir. The house is filled with light from large windows that offer superb views and ultimate privacy.

Westchester County is well known for its celebrities who enjoy living in the countryside but also its proximity to Manhattan.  The area is home to Oscar-winning actors, Broadway stars, musicians and billionaires including Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chevy Chase, David Letterman and Richard Gere.  Billionaires Nelson Peltz, businessman and investor and Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan CEO also live in Bedford.

Photo Credit: Rob Lowell Photography

Source: Top Ten Real Estate Deals

From 18th-century Spain to modern-day rocket silos, Santa Barbara’s Gaviota Coast is overflowing with history, beautiful quiet beaches, and the state’s most expensive ranch. Originally farmed by the Chumash Indians, El Rancho Tajiguas was part of the great rancho development of Spain’s King Carlos, III. And in modern celebrity history, a portion was once owned by John Travolta. Purchased in the early 1980s by the TAG Group Limited as a corporate retreat, the 3,500-acre ranch with its recently built two ocean-facing, Spanish-style villas is for sale, priced at $110 million.

TAG Group, former owner of the luxury watch brand TAG Heuer, bought the original land in the 1980s and continued to add parcels, including buying 16 acres with an historic hacienda from John Travolta in 1988 (which portion is not included in the current offering). After maxing their acreage purchases at 3,500 acres and agriculturally developing some of the land, they built two villas in 2014 and 2015 keeping in the Spanish style of architecture and sited with unobstructed panoramic views of the Pacific. With so much acreage, room to roam and inspiring views, it was a perfect retreat location for TAG’s harried executives and subsidiaries. After reevaluating some years later, TAG finds they are not using the ranch as much as anticipated and have put it on the market.
With an interest in sustainable agriculture, the Group has cultivated the land to the highest standards. The two estate homes measure 10,000 square feet and 12,000 square feet and each includes five bedrooms, guest houses, swimming pools, theaters, wine cellars and helipads. Other improvements include an additional 20 structures: a ranch managers house, staff and farming equipment, hundreds of acres of avocado groves, a persimmon orchard and grazing land for a herd of 120 head of cattle.

El Rancho Tajiguas is a largely undeveloped ranch with some of the most stunning ocean views in the state. Considering the vastness of its 3,500 acre size, it is surprisingly close to the cultural centers of Montecito and Santa Barbara and only a hop from one of the two helicopter pads to the Santa Barbara airport. Priced at $110 million, the listing agents are Marco Naggar and Aaron Kirman of Compass, Los Angeles and Randy Solakian of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, Montecito.

Photo Credit: Matthew Momberger

Source: Top Ten Real Estate Deals