Actor Mark Wahlberg emerged as the top earner among celebrities in real estate profits in 2023, securing an impressive $46.7 million.
Real estate experts Agent Advice analyzed more than 130 celebrity-involved property sales in the United States since January. The study aimed to determine which celebrities achieved the highest profits by comparing their original purchase prices to the final transaction amounts.
In February, Wahlberg successfully sold his 30,500-square-foot mansion in Beverley Park, California, for $55 million – realizing the $46.7 million profit.
The celebrity scoring the second-highest profit this year was Brad Pitt. In April, reports surfaced of the Oscar-winning actor selling his long-held Los Feliz, California, compound, where he raised his six children with Angelina Jolie, for $33 million, a 1,840% profit.
Singer Celine Dion made headlines by selling her 31,000-square-foot Las Vegas mansion this May, fetching $30 million – triple what she paid for it in 2017.
Fourth on the list is broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer, who sold her coastal Massachusetts vineyard to health-care investor David Malm for $23.9 million, a profit of $18.6 million.
Retired Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz set records for the $10.55 million deal of his Florida residence this year, making more than $9 million.
Director-producer Judd Apatow made $9 million on the $27 million sale of his Brentwood, California, property in what has been described as a “discreet, off-market transaction.”
Adding another Brentwood property to the list is English actor-singer-comedian James Corden. With a net worth exceeding $70 million, Corden found himself $7.3 million wealthier after his all-cash deal of $17 million in July for his 8,600-square-foot home.
Following in the rankings is Oprah Winfrey. The host and television presenter recently bid farewell to her ranch house in Montecito, California, priced at $14.2 million, realizing a profit of $7.2 million. (Last September, she sold another Montecito compound to actress Jennifer Aniston for $14 million.)
Having dropped his original asking price more than 40%, Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder still managed to secure a profit of $6.8 million for his 12,000-square-foot Salt Lake City, Utah mansion.
And despite his home sale falling short of his initial expectations by 60%, Rockstar Energy Drink founder Russ Weiner concludes the list with a $6.4 million profit on his 10,575-square-foot residence, which is near the former Walhberg property in Beverly Park.
Chris Heller, co-founder of Agent Advice, said, “In a year marked by noteworthy and record-breaking real estate maneuvers, the impressive profits generated by these celebrities, from Mark Wahlberg to Russ Weiner, emphasize the resilience and allure of the luxury property market.
“Celebrities are not only making substantial profits but also strategically timing their sales. This in-depth analysis also revealed fascinating patterns, such as February, April and August yielding the highest profits, with January delivering the lowest. These findings are invaluable for both celebrities and aspiring property investors, offering strategic cues on optimal selling times.”
