Tuesday, August 25, 2009

More Brad and Angelina Real Estate Hoo-Ha

According to the, uh, always reliable Mirror in the U.K., American super stars Brad Pitt and his ladee-mate Angelina Jolie are gearing up to settle down in the French countryside. The global citizens and parents of a posse of multi-cultural children have reportedly completed the purchase of Chateau Miraval, the 1,000 acre estate in a pretty part of Provence known as the Var where they've been periodically hiding out and shacking up since the birth of twins Vivienne and Knox in July of 2008.

There have been many and myriad conflicting reports over the last 12 or 15 months about whether the Jolie-Pitts leased or purchased the sprawling 17th century estate near Correns. If the latest reports are to be believed, the good looking do-gooder movie stars forked over a staggering £35,000,000 for the sprawling spread and have applied for permits to do another £10,000,000 in renovations. According to our bejeweled abacus those amounts convert into a brain bending and bewildering $74,161,800 (US) at today's rates.

The planned renovations would, allegedly, include doing up all 35 bedrooms (some sources say there are only 10 bedrooms) to have a more modern vibe, adding a bunch of jacuzzis, steam rooms and a spa as well as expanding the wine cellar, adding a gym, improving the helicopter landing facilities, carving out a motorbike track and beefing up the security systems with a surveillance center, spy cameras, alarms and infra-red sensors.

The report in the Mirror includes several quotes by neighbors and locals including one from the mayor of Correns who confirmed that applications for renovations to Chateau Miraval have been submitted and that the community is planning to hold a "civic reception" to welcome and "honor" them. Well, isn't that nice?

In addition to multiple structures that form the residential accommodations of Chateau Miraval, the property includes a 3-mile long driveway, forested areas, multiple fountains and aqueducts, extensive olive groves with 13 varieties of olives, a commercial vineyard, a lake, a swimming pool, and a moat. That's right, a moat. Also on the property is a recording studio where musicians including Pink Floyd, The Cure, Sting, Sade and the Cranberries have all recorded.

Nearby property owners are reported to include Johnny Depp and Vanesa Paradis and U2s Bono and The Edge. Imagine that backyard barbecue?

photo: Studio Miraval

20 comments:

A Sneer N. Provence said...

There goes the neighborhood.......kids peeing in the pool, Pitt and Depp hiding out behind a tree smoking cigarettes....motorcycles instead of truffle hunting. Missouri ho(e)downs instead of picturesque impressionist picnics. Well, at least there are a thousand acres to shield the real froggies who live there.

StPaulSnowman said...

Millions of dolleuros for a beautiful piece of land littered with nondescript outbuildings. Sorry, I don't see it. Give me the beautiful Yester House of the late Giancarlo Menotti any day. Maybe other photos would prove me wrong, but, to my eye, this place is completely lacking in architectural integrity. Even the vinyards look like a bar code. Jealous of being able to buy something magnificent, yes.........of this place, no.

angie said...

omg, they actually bought the estate, assuming the reports which appear to be true are correct. This property is one serious compound with one very serious price, so serious that I never imagined they'd actually purchase it. Gwyneth and Chris who? lol

Anonymous said...

Can you imagine the upkeep on this estate? I am sure they will have all sorts of help, but guess what happens when you have "help"? You have to spend a ton of time managing this help... I doubt they will have time to relax, although with six kids, not like they will get to relax soon anyway.

Anonymous said...

But it's in France...

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have an educated guess as to how much wealth someone must have in order to not only buy, but maintain a property like this?

Anonymous said...

"But it's in France..."

Which I'd take over the U.S anyday!

Anonymous said...

I have a hard time believing they could really afford $70m. How many movies would you have to make? It doesn't seem possible.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure with their requirements it will cost well over $15 Million a year to maintain this property so you have earn a considerable amount of money per year to run this. I'm sure they will be fine paying for all of it but many they should consider selling off their lesser used properties. Their accountants would probably appreciate that!

Anonymous said...

I can't decide if I would buy this or La Belvedere in Bel Air!!

Anonymous said...

Mama; How many comments have you eliminated since the new regime started?

Anonymous said...

One can hope that these overrewarded numbskulls squander all their loot before they die. Let's hope it goes to lots of hard working employees along with some shady financial "advisers" and other assorted riff raff who are to be congratulated for ripping off the worthless superrich.

Mr T said...

I know theyre both very successful, but do they REALLY have the cash for this?
Besides the initial outlay of insane $$, add the staff of 50 and all of the other expenses their brood must have? They'll be working non-stop until theyre 90.

Anonymous said...

I predict one or both will grow bored with this property/lifestyle and will move on within two years.

Unknown said...

Other are saying it, so I will too. You have to be billionaire status to afford and maintain something like this. Brad and Angie are mere working people.

Anonymous said...

They got the money. Have you seen all the movies Pitt has lined up in the bull pen the next few years.

And did anyone tell Pitt and Depp that Bush is no longer prez? They could come back and get one heck of a U.S. estate, in these hard times, with 75 mil.

Anonymous said...

Last year Brangelina made around $60M combined, before taxes, management fees, charitable donations, expenses for traveling the world with a staff of people, etc. That $60M income figure is probably the very top of their professional earning power. Jolie only has another 5-6 years left in her before she hits the 40 year old leading lady wall (streep she ain't). Brad will be 50 in 5 years so nearing the end of his leading man era (deniro he ain't). They are certainly rich, but not rich enough to afford this Chateau Miraval!

Anonymous said...

Thanks to those who have posted and given us an idea of what income and upkeep are necessary for a joint like this. There is a working vineyard on the property. Is that leased to the winery? I wonder how much income that brings in? It could help offset maintenance expenses, even by a small margin. This place is a dream, though. And yes, I would like very much to be invited to that backyard bbq! I'll bring the Cheetos.

Anonymous said...

I hope Brad does not gut the place like he has done previous other properties and turn it into an art deco/contemporary mess. Fear not, people, they will have the place up for sell before it becomes burdernsome. They do not have roots. (Those poor kids, what kinda mess will they turn out to be).

Dreamer said...

Well here is my comment, I agree that the house can generate income with the recording studio and the vineyard, guess it could even be a bed and breakfast, lol. It WOULD take a fortune to upkeep, what about taxes???? They also have a pad in Malibu, and don't they have one in New Orleans as well? Seems to me like they are always buying houses, every time they go on vacation or to where they are working on a film they buy a house there to stay in while the other is on the set. Maybe they buy them, turn around and sell em, and they probably do sell as the new owner can say " this place used to belong to "Brangie" lol (bragging rights). Seems as if that is how it goes around here anyhow, a star owns a place for 2 years and it sells for double what they paid just because they owned it.
Bottom line is THEY are 2 very talented, gifted, and highly intelligent people, they know what their doing........ :)