You might know Reese Witherspoon as the talented actress behind such hits as Legally Blonde and Wild, but the successful silver screen star is also a pretty savvy property magnate. One of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, she’s invested her money wisely in properties around the US, from Nashville to Bel Air and Brentwood. Let's take a tour of her impressive property portfolio...

Reese began her property portfolio with former husband Ryan Phillippe, purchasing a mansion in Bel Air. The pair divorced in 2007, by which time they'd already sold the home, and in 2011 Reese married talent agent Jim Toth (pictured). Like many celebrities who buy and sell property, Reese was about to get the house buying bug...

When they married, Toth already had a home of his own and over the years the pair have sold and expanded their joint portfolio, buying properties in Reese's hometown of Nashville, as well as in California, where they're bringing up their family.

Reese's childhood home in Nashville had a big influence on the kind of home and home life she went on to create for herself and family. She was strongly influenced by her grandparents, and shared this snap of herself at the home where they spent many years, remembering her happy evenings after school spent there.

Bought with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe for $3.3 million (£2.77m) in 2001, this Bel Air mansion was sold by the former couple in 2004 for $4.5 million (£3.78m). It returned to the market again for a cool $16 million (£13.4m) in 2017. 

The home has a historic feel, despite only being built in 1969, boasting plenty of amazing architectural features. Designed by respected architect Gerard Colcord, it features oak floors, cathedral-style ceilings, skylights, and open fireplaces throughout.

The house is part of a one-acre plot with a garden, patio and barbecue area, as well as its own swimming pool and spa, a garage and a separate guest house.

It also has a stunning outdoor pool, with Greek-style columns tucked in amongst mature oak and sycamore trees. An atmospheric garden lighting scheme sets the scene for a tranquil evening swim.

For much of the 2000s, Reese was steadily buying up real estate and adding to what would become known as her 'mega-mansion' in Brentwood Circle, a private gated community in a fashionable part of the Bay Area in California, near to Bel Air. The star eventually bought three neighbouring properties, including this single-storey ranch for $3 million (£2.52m).

Reese bought the main property in her Brentwood collection in 2003 for $4.7 million (£3.95m). In 2009 she added the adjacent property to her estate, picking up the home next door for $3.3 million (£2.7m). She demolished the existing residence and re-landscaped the land into a new backyard for the first house.

The final piece of the puzzle came when she bought this third and final property, bringing her total spend to $11 million (£9.2m) on the combined 1.32 acres.

But perhaps surprisingly, she and Toth put the entire estate up for sale in 2014, for $14 million (£11.76m). Ultimately they ended up splitting the properties up again, selling the side plot first, then unloading the rest of the compound for just over $10 million (£8.4m).

Additionally, in August 2010 Reese bought a ranch house from actor Steven Seagal for $6.9 million (£5.79m). The 2.53-acre estate in the Mandeville Canyon area of LA also previously belonged to actor Tom Selleck. Reese had the existing house and outbuildings razed but later sold on the vacant plot in September 2012 with an asking price of $8 million (£6.72m).

In a stunning spread on the property in Elle Decor, Reese said: "It's meditative and restorative. As soon as I drive through the gate, I relax. The air is fresh, the phone isn't ringing, you can't access email. Time slows down. Within an hour I'm lying on that couch taking a big fat nap. It's like having a little bit of Tennessee in California."

Reese bought the rustic retreat for $4 million (£3.3m) in 2006 and she originally wanted  $10 million (£8.4m) for it, but dropped the price after over a year on the market to $5.9 million (£4.95m), eventually selling up at the end of 2013 for $5 million (£4.2m). 

Built by acclaimed architect Wallace Neff as a farmhouse for industrialist Edward Drummond Libbey, it was later transformed into a family home. Reese bought it from interior designer Kathryn Ireland and added a few modern accessories of her own. No stranger to interior design herself, she kept its century-old fixtures, hardware and original stonework intact.

As Reese and Jim quietly sold off their Cali properties, it was expected that they would move back to Tennessee and return to Reese's southern roots. Adding fuel to the fire, the pair purchased this magnificent fixer-upper mansion in Nashville in 2014.

Reese and Jim bought the four-bedroom property for $2 million (£1.68m) and went on to sell it in 2019 for $2.5 million (£2.1m). It sits at the end of a long driveway and includes more than six acres of land in the upscale Oak Hill area.

There’s a small poolside guesthouse on the estate, separated from the main property by a stream. While it might look beautiful, the structure needed significant renovations to bring it up to usable standards.

In addition to properties Reese owned before their marriage, Jim owned a swanky bachelor pad. In 2015 after making renovations, he put the house up for sale. Jim had owned the house for nearly 10 years, purchasing it in 2006 for $2 million (£1.68m).

The two-bedroom house was modernised before hitting the market, with grey oak floors added and modern fittings and fixtures. It makes for a secluded escape, with large windows for plenty of natural light, and roomy terraces that overlook the small but private backyard with built-in firepit and spa.

The pair refreshed the house and put it on the market for $1.6 million (£1.34m) – notably less than he originally paid for it and not taking into account the spend on improvements and additions.

In 2014, the couple spent $12.7 million (£10.6m) on a property in Pacific Palisades, a high-end neighbourhood tucked between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in California.

Bought in the same month as her Nashville mansion, the house décor here also seemed in need of Reese's magic touch. However, the five-bedroom, five-bathroom house was far less of a project to undertake and the family remained here in California for some years.

The home was previously purchased in December 2012 for $4.9 million (£4.1m) by an award-winning architect Ken Ungar.

Ken worked his magic on the property and created an estate worthy of an A-lister, taking the outdated buildings and turning them into something worthy of the cool $12.7 million (£10.6m) price tag. Not a bad little profit there.

An imposing navy door, offset by intricate white window detailing creates quite the entrance. 

Inside, the entrance hall is a calming palette of soft neutral tones. A large blue-grey rug offers a warm welcome, while grey patterned wallpaper adds character to the space.

The blue-grey scheme is continued throughout the house and into the luxurious kitchen. Cabinetry in the same fresh tone is accessorised with gold handles for a luxurious finish. Reese uses large glass jars with woven lids as stylish storage solutions for pasta, sugar and flour.

White subway tiles add a crisp, contemporary touch, while a large range cooker is set into an alcove in the cabinetry.

Reese's living room is unsurprisingly chic, with blue-grey patterned cushions, knitted throws and rose gold accessories. We particularly love the ornate clock, which has been raised on a makeshift plinth made from art books.

A keen promoter of books and reading, Reese has designed the living area with an entire bookcase wall. The room also has a grand piano and two large, comfy sofas where she liked to curl up with a blanket and a good read.

A roaring fire is an essential addition to any family home and paired with a large patterned rug you just can't go wrong. The ornate fireguard mirrors the striking window detailing around the door, creating a sense of continuity throughout the house.

Reese's taste in all things seems to be impeccable – including interior design! She often posts images on her Instagram feed of gorgeous furnishings from her own homeware and lifestyle company, Draper James, in situ in her own properties.

Her bedroom is nothing short of dreamy, with a light wood headboard inlaid with blue and white patterned fabric channelling a breezy seaside aesthetic. Crisp bedsheets boarded with a funky Celtic motif add a cool twist to the classic coastal scheme.

Befitting of a Hollywood star, Reese's walk-in wardrobe is nothing short of fabulous. Teal and light grey wallpaper in a bold botanical print is the perfect backdrop to showcase her many awards gowns, while an upholstered sofa in the same palette offers an ideal spot to kick back and contemplate her clothing options. 

Outside, the elegant estate has a tranquil swimming pool and plenty of lush green grounds for the family to enjoy. It provided an idyllic setting for the star's 4th July party, where she hung cute holiday banners from the trees and donned a patriotic red, white and blue outfit.

Without listing it on the market, Witherspoon was able to sell their home in April 2020 for $17 million (£14.2m) in an all-cash deal to a buyer who required no mortgage – making a nice profit against the $12.7 million (£10.6m) she originally purchased it for. Cheers to that!

For family getaways, Witherspoon bought this charming farm in the foothills above Zuma Beach in Malibu for $6.3 million (£5.2m) in August 2019.

The stylish estate boasts the ultimate in privacy and includes two acres of land hidden behind secure gates. Inside, the main farmhouse, which was built in 1949, boasts open-plan living spaces with a designer galley kitchen. Decorated in a boho-chic style, the home has wood floors throughout and soaring ceilings.  

Adjacent to the farmhouse sits a rustic barn, which is fitted out as a guest house. There's also a stylish on-site studio and screening room which has a striking monochrome design compared to the rest of the house. 

As well as the guest house, set amongst the estate's ancient sycamores, fruit trees and vegetable gardens are equestrian facilities including a stable block and a number of other outbuildings. In another off-market deal, she sold the family vacation spot in November 2020 for an impressive $6.7 million (£5.63m).

Back in 2020, Witherspoon returned to her Brentwood stomping ground, this time receiving the keys to one of the most private properties in western Los Angeles. The home is nestled in a canyon and shrouded by nature, accessed only via a private road. It then lies behind a huge gate, meaning the three-acre property is a completely shielded private oasis.

2020 was a busy year for Witherspoon. Not only did she star in and executive produce the smash hit mini-series Little Fires Everywhere, she also produced the box office record-breaking movie The Dry. These 'before' pictures show how the house would have looked when she bought it – the third property that Witherspoon exchanged on that year. It looks like she’s just as set on conquering the property market just as she has Hollywood!

And look at it now! Judging by these new listing images, Reese did a dazzling job with the renovations and successfully converted the property into an estate any A-lister would be proud to call home. The living room has been given a fresh coat of white paint, making it a light and bright space, and the dark wood floors have been swapped out for a much warmer blonde wood. Art Deco-style lighting, beautiful panelling and a mix of old and new furniture gives the room an elegant yet relaxed feel.

Other exquisite additions made to the property include the white oak staircase with custom steel and brass handrails, atop the black and white marble and limestone tile floor. The property also boasts a new blue makeover on the library, and a revamp of the chef’s kitchen, including new countertops. 

Witherspoon also gave the exterior a modern whitewash. With perfectly manicured lawns, a saltwater swimming pool with spa functionalities and an outdoor cooking area complete with a large outdoor fireplace – it's ideal for California evenings! Yet, in March 2022, Reese put the home on the market for a whopping $25 million (£21m). 

Less than two months later, the renovated estate home was snapped up by Sabrina Merage Naim, the heiress to the Hot Pockets fortune, for a discounted $21.5 million (£18m), as reported by Dirt. The final sale may have been a few million short of the original asking price, but it’s still a very decent profit given Reese bought the property for just shy of $16 million (£13.4m) around two years ago.

Once the iconic ‘bend and snap’ star sold up her Brentwood estate, she went on to quickly replenish that impressive real estate portfolio with husband Jim Toth. Throughout the first half of 2022, Witherspoon reportedly set to work snapping up four properties in Nashville and Brentwood to the tune of $28 million (£23.5m) according to Dirt.

Custom-built in 2020 by the previous owners, this four-acre parcel of land resides within a gated estate in a covetable area of Nashville. According to reports, the property spans nearly 15,000 square feet of living space in the main house, with a separate pool house, spoon-shaped swimming pool (fitting), full-sized tennis court and covered viewing pavilion. Witherspoon paid a cool $18 million (£15m) for the leafy estate, in an off-market deal which means we’ll have to wait patiently for interior shots via the Hollywood star’s social media…

Approximately two months later, the Big Little Lies actress splashed out on a considerably smaller, yet still rather expensive ranch house in her beloved Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Sitting close by to her previous Mandeville Canyon abode, the four-bedroom residence was built in 1959 and designed by renowned architect, Cliff May. Witherspoon reportedly paid a handsome $5 million (£4.2m) for the single-story house, covering 2,600-square-feet of living space complete with a dark-bottomed swimming pool.

In another off-market deal, the Sweet Home Alabama star invested in this 1870s red brick property, reportedly zoned for both retail and residential use. Reports suggest the clothing range mogul and producer may use the recently renovated 3,000-square-foot building as an office. Situated in downtown Nashville, the historic property reportedly cost Witherspoon $4.2 million (£3.5m), adding to her incredible real estate roster. But she didn't stop there...

The seven-bedroom, one-bathroom abode features rather imposing interiors, as seen via the dark stained wooden flooring, doorways and imposing curved stairway with ornate wallpapered background. According to the listing, a rear building can also be found, encompassing approximately 1,300-square-feet on the alley. A ‘true historic gem’, the building is in need of renovation and was sold "as is.” But that’s not the last of the properties Witherspoon had her eye on…

Witherspoon’s most recent real estate investment is this freshly painted brick-sided house found in the leafy suburb of Franklin, Nashville. Nestled at the end of a sleepy cul-de-sac and backing on to golf course greens, the 2,200-square-foot home was built in 1987 and cost a relatively modest $672,000 (£564k) for the Hollywood property queen. Rumours swirl that the residence was purchased as an investment or to gift to a member of her family. We certainly wouldn’t turn it down.

With her impressive property portfolio and impeccable eye for interior design, we doubt this is the last we'll hear of Reese's real estate dealings. Become quite the property flipper, we wonder what she will snap up in the second half of 2022... 

Love this? Like and follow us on Facebook for more celebrity home tours