A bulletproof home in the desert is usually the stuff of James Bond villains or doomsday preppers. However, American actor, screenwriter and martial artist Steven Seagal's mansion is exactly that.
When the star listed the sprawling estate in Scottsdale, Arizona, for $3.4 million (£2.6m) in 2021, he offered us a peek through the keyhole of this curious, fortress-like property.
Click or scroll on to uncover the secrets of the actor's clandestine compound...
Nestled in the rugged shrublands of the Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, the low-profile property is tucked into the hillside, making it almost invisible from the road above. The perfect private spot for the star to escape the limelight, the residence sits within the gated community of Carefree Ranch Homesteads.
Purchased by Seagal in 2010 for $3.4 million (£2.6m), the remote estate encompasses just under 12 acres (4.8ha) of desert. Its elevated position, some 3,000 feet above sea level, offers no end of awe-inspiring views from the property, extending across the valley and over the exclusive enclave of Desert Mountain.
The residence is decked out with rustic stone columns, copper detailing and neutral hues; however, it's those vast walls of glass that are the star of the show. Remarkably, the floor-to-ceiling glazing that envelops the property is completely bulletproof. A fitting touch for the action movie veteran, who's no stranger to an on-screen shoot-out.
The estate encompasses a generous 9,000 square feet (836sqm) of accommodation, including five bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms and a guesthouse. Airy, open living spaces pepper the interior and the main kitchen flows seamlessly into a light-filled lounge and dining zone.
Throughout the living spaces, the rolling desert landscape takes centre stage – the custom-built home has been carefully planned to celebrate the dramatic terrain. A breathtaking dinner party backdrop, this informal dining nook frames the unparalleled vistas to perfection.
Seagal tried to shift the modern residence more than a few times over the past few years, and the property was previously listed for just shy of $3.8 million (£2.9m) in 2019.
At the heart of the home, the two-storey atrium is an architectural marvel. Characterful stone pillars are interspersed with swathes of glass that blur into skylights, drawing the great outdoors inside.
If the home's extensive walls of bulletproof glazing look like a privacy concern, fear not, because the glass is tinted to keep out prying eyes.
Even the bathrooms haven't been overlooked in Seagal's statement home. This impressive spa-like space includes a stone-clad bathtub set against a dramatic marble feature wall that resembles ribbons of molten lava.
His-and-hers sinks and built-in cabinetry complete the luxurious scheme.
Rather appropriately for the action film legend, who has starred in classics such as Hard to Kill, Under Siege, and the 2019 mobster flick Beyond the Law, the mansion also includes a plush private movie theatre.
With three-tiered rows of cushioned seats, there would've been plenty of space for Seagal to host movie marathons with his A-list friends.
As well as the four sizeable bedrooms in the main house, the luxury desert estate also includes a one-bedroom guesthouse for hosting visitors in style. The self-contained apartment features a full kitchen, a lounge and a plush suite for slumbering.
Outside, the sprawling mansion is flanked by scenic stone terraces that flow out from most of the main living areas. This covered patio is a picturesque place for alfresco dining thanks to its breathtaking views down into the valley.
However, the home's pièce de résistance has to be this incredible deck, complete with an outdoor kitchen and an infinity-edge pool that seems to blur into the desert terrain like a mirage.
Sliding glass doors allow the main lounge to spill onto the terrace, creating the ideal indoor-outdoor living space for the arid Arizona climate.
Elsewhere, there's also a hot tub set into the stone patio, perfect for unwinding after a long day exploring the desert.
When the property was on the market, the sale included membership to the nearby Desert Mountain Club, which granted the new owner access to its six championship-level Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses.
A three-car garage offers ample space to store prized vehicles, while entry to the complex is through guarded gates, ensuring the idyllic spot is super-secure too.
It's hard to imagine why Seagal would have wanted to leave this luxurious desert fortress. However, in July 2021, the mansion changed hands for more than its asking price at just under $3.6 million (£2.7m), giving Seagal a reasonable return on his investment.
Read on to tour the most impenetrable homes on the planet, from a nuclear bomb-proof mansion to a converted missile silo...
Forget security cameras and impressive locks, these homeowners have gone above and beyond to protect their properties.
These impregnable residences use the latest technology and defensive design to ensure they can withstand anything. Let's take a look through the reinforced steel doors...
Once an Atlas nuclear missile silo built by the Army Corps of Engineers, this bunker has been transformed into a remarkable underground home.
Called the Survival Condo, the multi-unit residential complex is located in rural Kansas and offers an impressive 20,000 square feet (1858sqm) of secure subterranean space.
Extremely resilient, the silo is protected by two armoured doors and nine-foot-thick epoxy-hardened concrete walls.
The structure can withstand a direct nuclear hit, as well as severe flooding and tornado winds.
Should nuclear, biological or chemical gases be leaked inside, a state-of-the-art air filtration system will protect residents.
The underground complex has all the necessary facilities to sustain 75 people for more than five years. There's a hydroponic farm that produces fresh fruit and vegetables, while 75,000-gallon (283,905 litre) reserve tanks provide fresh drinking water.
The bunker has plenty of amenities to help pass the time too, from a swimming pool, snooker tables, a rock climbing wall, a library and movie theatre, to a dog park for any four-legged friends.
What's more, virtual LED windows create the illusion of the outdoors by simulating picturesque scenes of the countryside.
Condo prices start from $1.3 million (£900k) for a half-floor unit, according to the Boston Globe. Meanwhile, $2.4 million (£1.8m) will get you a full-floor unit with 1,820 square feet (169sqm) to stretch out.
Each condo offers biometric keyless access, five years' worth of food per person, a 50-inch LED TV and a high-end kitchen with stainless-steel appliances.
Uninvited guests would have a hard time getting inside this fortified home in the village of Berry, in Australia's New South Wales region. Believe it or not, behind this unassuming brick structure hides a secure and surprisingly stylish home.
Built by architectural firm Modscape, the incredible modular home was designed to be a secret haven from the outside world.
Visitors have to pass through a secret pivoting door in the brick wall to gain access to the hidden property.
A timber-lined inner walkway leads to the main living areas, which feature double-height ceilings and warm wood across the floor and walls.
At the heart of the home's floor plan, you'll find a spacious open-plan kitchen and dining area. A palette of timber, concrete and zinc creates a sleek, streamlined finish to the airy scheme.
These simple, utilitarian materials are transformed into warm and welcoming surfaces in this pared-back family home.
If you need to hunker down, you'll be well cared for here. Should energy supplies dwindle, the house runs on solar power and uses hydronic heating.
The interior spills out into a private north-facing courtyard, shielded from view by the fortified walls.
The outdoor living space includes a heated swimming pool and a decked terrace for soaking up the sunshine. If the end of the world rolls around, we know where we'd want to be!
Talk about an affordable hideout! Sold for $153,000 (£117k) in 2018, this First World War sea fort would make the most unique hideout.
Positioned in the Humber Estuary off the coast of Lincolnshire in the UK, the historic property lies undetected from the shoreline, meaning no one would discover your whereabouts.
Known as Haile Sand Fort, the unique piece of naval history was built in 1919 to protect Britain’s east coast from a German invasion.
The secure ocean property is made from 40,000 tons of concrete and steel, making it completely impenetrable.
Captured via this aerial footage, the former military building features a circular tower offering the perfect lookout point. A balcony sits at sea level, offering an ideal means of escape via boat.
While obtaining water and provisions may be tricky when you're marooned in the middle of an estuary, the platform offers plenty of room for fishing, plus you could even set up a hydroponic garden to grow your own food offshore.
Dubbed the world's ultimate doomsday escape, Vivos Europa One will be one of the largest private shelters on earth when it's completed. Located in Rothenstein, Germany, the survival bunker was the brainchild of Vivos CEO Robert Vicino.
Originally valued at $1.1 billion (£836m) when it was first launched, Vivos Europa One will lie inside a converted Cold War bunker carved out of solid bedrock.
Positioned deep inside a limestone mountain, the shelter will be able to survive a close-range nuclear explosion, direct airline crash, severe flooding, earthquakes and both biological and chemical attacks.
The elite Noah's Ark-like space will include an impressive 227,904 square feet (21,172sqm) of accommodation. Each resident will be allocated up to 5,000 square feet (464.5sqm) of living space in either a private apartment or suite, with the former costing a hefty $5 million (£3.8m).
Acceptance into the exclusive bunker was previously by application only; however, the complex has now announced that it's closed to new applicants.
Those lucky enough to get a coveted space in the survival shelter will have access to a fully customisable living space modelled on the inside of a luxury yacht. The interior will feature plenty of marble, leather and polished wood, as well as a private movie theatre and a gym.
Communal spaces will include a sizable swimming pool and an underground garden lit by simulated sunshine. If you're going to spend a zombie attack hiding, why not do it in style?
While it may look like a craggy cliff, this swathe of rock is actually the façade of a clandestine cave home built right into the rock face. This secretive residence is definitely one for someone who wants to live off the beaten track...
The one-of-a-kind property sits inside a 260-acre (105ha) cavern, high up on a ledge overlooking the valley of Beckham Creek in the Ozark Mountains.
The perfect luxury hideaway for an apocalypse or invasion, the pad is entirely hidden from the outside and sits so high up that no one would really know that the house is there.
Inside, the home is shaped by its rugged rock walls. Featuring four bedrooms and four bathrooms, the cave can sleep up to 16 people at any one time, offering the ideal space for a family to hide out.
The house offers 6,000 square feet (557sqm) of interior space, so you'll never feel overcrowded in this spacious shelter.
As well as an indoor waterfall fed by an underground spring, the cave features a geothermal heating system so you'll always have a reliable supply of hot water.
Outside, there's also a helicopter landing pad, so you and your friends can make a quick getaway should trouble find you.
In 2017, the property sold for $2.8 million (£2.1m) and has since been turned into a luxury self-catering property that's available for rent.
Replete with luxurious features, the L'Heritage line of luxury bespoke bunkers from design company Oppidum is a fortified underground residence that can be constructed beneath existing mansions. In case of a catastrophe, the plush shelters help residents maintain a "super-luxury everyday lifestyle" under the earth.
The structures descend 49 feet (17.9m) below ground and are built to NATO-standard ballistic and blast protection levels, using the same formulation of high-density concrete used to build nuclear power plants.
Design features throughout the bunker have been engineered to offset the sense of being underground, so all rooms feature plenty of ‘natural’ light from large simulated windows and skylights.
There’s even a seemingly depth-defying indoor garden, in which a range of flowers, plants and trees flourish year-round, courtesy of a sophisticated automatic irrigation system.
Other special features that can be added to your bunker include a luxurious swimming pool, gym and home theatre.
Buyers can also opt to install a gallery space, constructed to the same anti-intrusion standards as commercial bank vaults, complete with top-of-the-line fire protection, ventilation, temperature and humidity control systems to keep everything in perfect condition.
While the furnishings and décor throughout the bunker create the illusion of luxurious above-ground living, advanced technology is at work behind the scenes to make the Oppidum bunker suitable for long-term living.
NASA-level technology allows food stocks to be stored for months or even years, while an infirmary comes equipped with essential medical supplies. There is also the option to install an armoury, should the buyer wish.
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