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Not just another McMansion: 5 unique celebrity homes, from Robert Downey Jr’s Hamptons windmill home to Enya’s Irish castle, and Alicia Keys’ ultra-modern Razor House

Robert Downey Jr’s windmill house and Alicia Keys’ Razor House. Photos: AP, Brown Harris Stevens, Realtor, AFP
Robert Downey Jr’s windmill house and Alicia Keys’ Razor House. Photos: AP, Brown Harris Stevens, Realtor, AFP

  • Marvel superstar Robert Downey Jr lives in an eccentric windmill home while Tom Ford’s ranch was used for the 1985 Western classic Silverado with Kevin Costner
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea channels futuristic chic with a heptagon-shaped home, and Alicia Keys’ stunning hilltop house with Swizz Beatz is worth fawning over

Upon achieving fame and fortune, celebrities are known to splash out on a host of pricey purchases. Alongside their designer labels and flashy wheels, high-profile, well-off personalities spend arguably the most amount of their money on property. Buying a grand place can even be one of the first things they do once they start earning big.

These homes can often feel same-same though, in terms of furnishings and architecture. From the ubiquitous infinity pool to the marble chef’s kitchen, it often seems that if you’ve seen one swanky celeb home, you’ve seen them all.

There are, however, some celebrities who have chosen to break the McMansion mould and settle down in something different. Take a tour with us below of some of the most one-of-a-kind properties that celebs call home – or have called home in the past.

Robert Downey Jr’s historic windmill

Robert Downey Jr, one of the highest-paid actors in the world, arrives at the premiere of Avengers: Infinity War in Los Angeles, in April 2018. Photo: Invision/AP
Robert Downey Jr, one of the highest-paid actors in the world, arrives at the premiere of Avengers: Infinity War in Los Angeles, in April 2018. Photo: Invision/AP
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When he’s not shooting a Hollywood blockbuster, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr is likely spending time in his unique Hamptons family home. The catch? It’s in a large windmill with a history dating back to the 1880s.

According to Downey’s interview with Architectural Digest, the windmill was originally built as a playhouse, but was later repurposed into a liveable residence. “We wanted something we haven’t seen a million times,” he told the publication.

Robert Downey Jr’s windmill house in East Hampton. Photo: Brown Harris Stevens
Robert Downey Jr’s windmill house in East Hampton. Photo: Brown Harris Stevens

After purchasing the property, the Hollywood A-lister worked with designers and architects to update and personalise the space. Additional highlights include a sunken living room with a wraparound fireplace wall, an inviting pool area and beautifully manicured gardens. Seems fitting for the eccentric Tony Stark.

Tom Ford’s part-ranch, part-movie-set home