Acting legend John Travolta, who's been gracing our screens since the 1970s, has just sold his stunning waterfront retreat in Clearwater, Florida, for $4 million (£2.8m). Situated just down the road from the Church of Scientology's Flag building, the plush pad would have been ideally placed for one of the religion's most famous members. Click or scroll through and let's take a look around the Pulp Fiction star's jaw-dropping pad, as well as his other luxurious homes...
John Travolta bought this unique property in November 2017 for $3 million (£2.2m), with his late wife, Kelly Preston, who tragically lost her battle with cancer in July 2020. The crib can be found in the city of Clearwater, Florida, a place that has long attracted celebrities, thanks to its climate, exclusivity and proximity to the Church of Scientology. Now, just a year after losing Kelly, the Grease star has waved goodbye to the waterfront estate.
Despite its mid-century modern-style exterior, the gated home was actually built in 1988 and has plenty of curb appeal thanks to its rounded walls and vibrant orange accents. While the garden spans a substantial 1.2 acres, the home's interior benefits from a generous 4,346 square feet of space, making it perfect for John and his whole family.
Described by listing agents Coldwell Banker Residential as an "impeccably streamlined contemporary manse", this pad has serious wow-factor. Step through the front door and you're greeted by a wall of glass, offering unobstructed views across the garden and Clearwater Harbor beyond. The spacious entrance gallery leads down to the main open-plan living space that sits at the heart of the home.
The spacious split-level retreat has a striking and contemporary interior after John undertook extensive renovations over the four years that he owned the home. The pad now offers plenty of top-grade materials and finishes, including extra-wide French oak floorboards, sleek plaster walls and Swedish slate tiles.
Every single space has been meticulously maintained and its simple colour palette of white paint, concrete accents and sleek timber allows the colours of the surroundings to do all the talking. Interior design highlights include the home's panelled ceilings, statement fireplaces and walls of glass.
The two-storey family home is filled with natural light and has an easy, airy flow that makes it perfect for hosting. There's a large living room, a dining zone, a contemporary kitchen, a snug family room and plenty of indoor-outdoor spaces that will enable the lucky new owner to really make the most of Florida's enviable climate.
The living area leads into the large, bespoke kitchen, which benefits from an L-shaped snack bar, Poggenpohl cabinetry imported from Germany and plenty of countertop space. There's also a sizeable breakfast room that spills out to the backyard, thanks to floor-to-ceiling sliding doors.
The coastal home comes equipped with five bathrooms and five bedrooms, each with harbourside views. The master suite opens up to the garden and benefits from a luxurious quartz-clad ensuite bathroom and an idyllic outdoor terrace.
Outside, the estate is just as dreamy. With direct access to the water, the grounds also offer a dining zone, swimming pool, cabana and dock for a speedy getaway. The house lies in close proximity to the homes of other famous Scientologists Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley, who is one of John's oldest friends. John originally listed the pad in March 2021 for just under $4.7 million (£3.4m) and it sold in July for $4 million (£2.9m).
Aside from his dreamy waterfront enclave, John Travolta has collected his fair share of homes over the years. Born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, the Oscar-nominated actor had fairly humble beginnings but rose to stardom playing Tony Manero in the 1977 hit Saturday Night Fever. Thought to be worth a staggering $250 million (£179m), he's snapped up an array of stunning residences during his career, from a sprawling island retreat in Maine, to a custom-built house with its very own airport. Let's take a look...
In February 2021, John Travolta placed his traditional island home on the market. The extensive hideaway, off the coast of Maine, belonged to the legendary actor for 20 years. John and Kelly, who were newlyweds when they purchased the property in 1991, knew the retreat would be the perfect place to escape the hubbub of Hollywood.
The private island paradise was John and Kelly's first purchase as a married couple. They met during the filming of the 1989 comedy The Experts, in which they both starred. John proposed to Kelly on New Year's Eve in 1991 and they tied the knot nine months later in Paris, under the Church of Scientology. They remained together for 30 years, making them one of Hollywood's most enduring couples.
Inside, the 10,830-square-foot retreat is colourful and cosy. Though the sum they paid for the property is a mystery, the couple openly discussed transforming it from dark and sombre, to bright and beautiful. For the overhaul they played interior designers, browsing magazines for inspiration. They settled on an English country house theme and spent a few months camping out in a small farmhouse on the estate while they carried out the work. In May 1999, the house featured in Architectural Digest.
Built in 1903 by architects Peabody and Stearns, the house benefits from plenty of classic architectural details, including rustic stone fireplaces, gilded light fixtures, Tudor Revival sash windows and characterful timber trims. Every room offers linen draperies and damask and velvet upholstery, as well as cottage décor that was partly influenced by the home's coastal setting. Travolta told Architectural Digest that he had always wanted a house big enough for hosting at Christmastime...
So, as the holidays approached in 1991, the couple worked tirelessly to get the place in shape before all 50 members of their joint family arrived – and with 42 rooms, the home had more than enough space to accommodate them. John revealed that back in 1991 they were “delirious” by Christmas week, but as the family began arriving, they knew their hard work had been worth it. John took to social media in July 2019 to share a snap of his family enjoying dinner at the property.
After their first Christmas in the house, the couple hired esteemed interior designer Christopher Boshears to perfect their work. The renowned decorator added plenty of colour to the house, opting for a palette of yellows, pinks and greens throughout. The kitchen, which was one of the first rooms that John and Kelly changed, is perhaps the home's most appealing space thanks to its seemingly endless windows, chic light fixtures, stainless steel appliances and wooden accents.
The Shingle-style house boasts 20 bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The master suite, with its vibrant colour scheme and opulent furnishings, certainly offers a unique cosiness. As well as a wall of windows, it comes with an ensuite, walk-in wardrobe, fireplace and jaw-dropping views. The home is filled with eclectic furnishings that John and Kelly acquired when they bought the place. “The house was already full of English antiques,” John told Architectural Digest in the 90s. “Thirty percent of which we refurbished and still use.”
The home's exterior is just as impressive. Nestled on over 48 acres of land, the estate is mere moments from the water and features a deep water dock on Sabbathday Harbor, idyllic woodland trails, a swimming pool and beach access. There's also a detached barn where John once stored all of his favourite cars. From drab to dream, John Travolta's life-long home could now be yours, provided you have $4.25 million (£3m) in the bank. Sotheby's International Realty has all the details you need.
After purchasing their Maine retreat in 1991, John Travolta and Kelly Preston set about tracking down a home in the heart of Los Angeles. The couple finally picked up this two-acre estate in 1997, paying about $3.5 million (£2.5m) for the privilege. Located in the prestigious celebrity hotspot of Brentwood, where the likes of LeBron James and Gwyneth Paltrow live, the pad was perfect for a Hollywood power couple.
Built in 1949, the home typifies the architecture of the area and although we can't step inside, we can reveal a few facts about the palatial spread. The Spanish-style home features 10 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and a gym, as well as two garages, a tennis court and a lagoon-style swimming pool. According to the Los Angeles Times, it also has beamed ceilings and tiled floors, much in keeping with the couple's other purchases.
In January 2020, the couple quietly sold the estate for a whopping $18 million (£13m), meaning they made an absolute killing on their initial investment. The new owner was none other than Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber's millionaire talent manager. Scooter reportedly also owns the 11,100-square-foot property directly next door, which suggests he could be snapping up land to create a private mega-estate.
In 2001, 10 years after buying their first home together, John and Kelly purchased a sizable lot in Jumbolair Aviation Estates, an exclusive fly-in community in Anthony, Florida. They set about building themselves a 6,600-square-foot concrete and glass home with a mid-century influence. For airplane fanatic John, this luxurious estate had plenty of benefits...
You might already be aware that John Travolta is an experienced pilot. He's even the Ambassador-at-Large for Qantas Airways and regularly flies planes for them. A serious bonus, the fly-in estate offered the Gotti actor several private runways, as well as plenty of storage for his beloved Boeing 707.
Living at Jumbolair gave John access to a 7,545-foot-long runway that cost a reported $10 million (£7.2m) to build, as well as a separate 3,599-foot-long lighted grass runway. During another interview with Architectural Digest in 2004, John and Kelly showed off their mid-century-style home and in some of the images you can see his numerous airplanes sitting comfortably in the front yard. It's clear there are some home features that only money can buy...
Then, in 2019, 10 years after John Travolta and Kelly Preston lost their eldest son, Jett, who suffered a fatal seizure while the family was holidaying in the Bahamas, the couple purchased yet another home. This time they bought in the sought-after Californian city of Calabasas, a celebrity hotspot where the likes of Will Smith and the Kardashians live. Tragically, Kelly passed away only a year later in 2020, though John continues to spend time at the property with his family.
The sprawling Mediterranean-style villa set the Face/Off star back just shy of $2.7 million (£1.9m) and offers 7,500 square feet of inside space. Built in the mid-1990s, the property sits on a secluded community estate with 24-hour guarded gates. Spanning two floors, it offers six bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as spacious and free-flowing living areas that boast dazzlingly high ceilings. Many of the rooms also benefit from cross-canyon mountain views.
John and his family saw lockdown out in the pad too. In January 2021, he took to Instagram to share a sweet snap with his new puppy, Jinx, whom he introduced to his fans in a New Year's post just days before. During the restrictions, the movie mega-star also took to social media to share funny dance videos with his children, Ella and Benjamin Travolta, giving us insight into how one of our favourite celebrities has been spending lockdown.
The perfect place to see out a global pandemic, the stylish villa is light-filled, airy and wonderfully homely. Much like John's long-time Maine vacation home, his Calabasas villa is traditional and laid-back, with plenty of soft furnishings and classical architectural details, such as full-height fireplaces, tiled floors and timber built-in cabinetry.
Many of the property's beautiful rooms also come equipped with stunning vaulted ceilings decorated with natural wood beams – there's no chance of feeling claustrophobic here. In total, the villa offers six bedrooms and six bathrooms, plus parking for eight cars, but sadly no airplanes!
Outside, there’s plenty to keep an A-lister occupied during quarantine. The leafy landscaped garden spans half an acre and comes equipped with an array of outdoor living spaces, including a covered patio with a fireplace and grilling station. There’s also an infinity-edge swimming pool and spa, where lazy days in the sun can be savoured. While he seems in no hurry to up sticks from this dreamy pad, we can't wait to see what John Travolta snaps up next!
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