Ye’s unusual property story just got stranger
jn2005 / Stockimo / Alamy Stock Photo ; Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has come a long way from his modest childhood home in Chicago. With a stellar career as a successful musician, fashion designer and businessman, it’s no surprise that he has some impressive real estate under his belt. Yet controversy—ranging from anti-Semitic comments to claims of bullying and intimidation from his Yeezy team—threatens to destroy the empire he has fought so hard to build. Most recently, in a surprising turn of events, Ye appears to have tied the knot again just two months after his divorce from Kim Kardashian was finalised. However, all is not as it seems…
Kanye’s shock ‘marriage’
Bianca Censori / LinkedIn
Ye kicked off 2023 by “getting hitched” to Yeezy designer Bianca Censori in a private ceremony, reports the Daily Mail. The pair were spotted wearing matching rings, which sources say are “a symbol of their commitment together”, but the marriage isn’t said to be legal because they do not appear to have filed a marriage certificate. The 27-year-old Australian, who bears a striking resemblance to Kim, joined Yeezy in November 2020 and is now listed as the Head of Architecture. With an intense new romance on the books, it begs the question, will Kanye be on the hunt for a new home to share with Bianca?
Honeymoon in Utah
Cavan Images / Alamy Stock Photo
The Daily Mail also reported that Kanye swept Bianca away to a five-star luxury resort in Utah in early January 2023. Could this have been the couple’s honeymoon after their unofficial nuptials? The hotel they’re rumoured to have stayed in is the Amangiri, an upscale resort with 34 suites and one four-bedroom retreat. Spread over 600 acres in Utah’s Grand Circle of National Parks and Monuments, it looks like the perfect remote spot for a private getaway.
Censori Overload
jn2005 / Stockimo / Alamy Stock Photo
West seems to have hinted at the relationship in his new song ‘Censori Overload’, released in December 2022. Whether they are hitched or not, the pair must have enjoyed their stay at the Amangiri with its stunning pool, seen here, as well as the 25,000-square-foot spa. And the luxuries don’t come cheap either, with room rates at the five-star resort ranging from $3,300 (£2.7k) to $6,400 (£5.2k). News of Ye and Bianca’s commitment ceremony comes just two months after his divorce from Kim Kardashian was finalised.
Kim and Kanye divorce finalised
Allen Berezovsky / Contributor / Getty Images
Ye and Kim finally reached a settlement in their divorce in November 2022, averting a trial that was due to take place in December. While news that Kim was taking ownership of their main Hidden Hills home broke some time ago, court documents do reveal that Kim has been awarded the neighbouring house that the couple bought together in 2019 according to TMZ. They will share joint custody of their four children, Ye will pay Kim $200,000 (£164k) a month in child support and they will split the cost of their children’s security, schooling and university fees. Neither will pay the other spousal support and they will each pay their own debts. However, while the rapper may have tied up loose ends in his private life, Ye continues to establish himself as a divisive figure…
Courting controversy
MEGA / Contributor / Getty Images
Kanye has always courted controversy but his growing extremism—including promoting clothing with the much-criticised slogan ‘White Lives Matter’—prompted Adidas and other companies to cut ties with him, with Ye claiming he lost $2 billion (£1.6bn) overnight. In late 2022, he announced that he intends to run in the 2024 presidential election. Shortly after, he found himself suspended from Twitter for a second time for inciting violence, according to the BBC.
Running mate Trump?
Ron Sachs / Consolidated News Pictures / Getty Images
Kanye is known to have been a big supporter of Trump in the past—he’s seen here at the White House in 2018. He even paid a visit to Mar-a-Lago in November 2022, with white nationalist Nick Fuentes in tow, to ask the former president to be his running mate, a request which did not go down well. Kanye said that Trump screamed at him, a claim the former president denied. Posting on his Truth Social account, Trump dismissed Ye as “a seriously troubled man” and advised him not to run for office.
Going it alone
X17Online / YouTube
Ye may do well to focus on his business interests, which have taken a hit following recent scandals. After big corporations cut ties with the rapper, he announced plans to sell repurposed and rebranded Balenciaga, Adidas, and Gap hoodies for $20 (£16) direct to his fans. Meanwhile, he is facing claims of bullying from employees, who accuse him of creating a “toxic and chaotic environment” at work, according to a Rolling Stone report. It’s a major derailment in what has been a stratospheric rise to the top. But where did Kanye start out and how did we get here?
Read on and let’s take a look back at Kanye’s rags-to-riches story and the properties he owns…
Mike Coppola / Getty Images
Having split from Kim Kardashian in January 2021, Ye went on a bit of a property spree the following year, purchasing a new Brutalist-inspired home in Malibu in September 2021 and a Hidden Hills home across the street from his ex-wife in December of the same year, as well as reportedly snapping up a home in Antwerp Belgium. However, he hasn’t always had so many palatial properties to choose from…
Kanye West’s childhood
@kanyewest / Twitter
Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta, Georgia on 8 June 1977. When his parents, Donda and Ray, divorced when he was just three, the young star and his mother moved to Chicago, Illinois. At the age of 10, Kanye moved to China (pictured) for a year with Donda, where she taught at Nanjing University as part of an exchange programme.
Where is Kanye West from?
Realtor
After returning to the US, Kanye and Donda moved back to Chicago and the pair lived in this modest timber home in the middle-class South Shore neighbourhood of the Windy City. Recently, the rapper recreated his childhood home inside Chicago’s Soldier Field Stadium for the third and final listening event of his latest album, Donda. His mother, who was an English professor at Chicago State University and also the star’s manager, sadly passed away in November 2007.
Kanye West’s childhood home in Chicago
Realtor
Spread over 1,673 square feet, the latest listing pictures show that the once-loved home has been empty for some time and is in a state of disrepair. Inside, the family home features a living room, dining space, kitchen, four bedrooms and one bathroom.
Kanye West’s childhood home in Chicago
Realtor
Built in 1900, the home sits on a 7,000-square-foot plot and is awash with period features that are in dire need of renovation. From the vaulted ceilings to the hardwood floors and carved wooden doors, the forlorn structure could easily become a beautiful home again once the old house is restored to its former glory.
Kanye West’s childhood home in Chicago
Realtor
After moving back to Chicago, Kanye become interested in the music scene and eventually managed to gain a mentor in DJ and producer No I.D. West graduated from Polaris High School and won a scholarship to study at the American Academy of Art in Chicago in 1997, before transferring to Chicago State University to study English. However, he soon dropped out of college to pursue his music career.
Kanye West’s childhood home in Chicago
Realtor
His childhood home was sold in 2003, but the property has been on and off the market several times over the years at varying price tags. Then in January 2019, Kanye bought the home back for $225,000 (£182k) under a limited liability company he set up under his mother’s name, Donda Services. According to the New York Post, it’s thought that he’s now renovating the house.
The start of Kanye West’s career
Roc-A-Fella Records / Def Jam Recordings
After working with local artists in Chicago, Kanye upped sticks to New York in 2001 and got his big break working on the production of the hit track ‘This Can’t Be Life’ by Jay-Z, as well as the star’s later album Blueprint. Determined to pursue his own music career, Kanye signed with Roc-A-Fella Records, but shortly after, he shattered his jaw in a car crash. Not one to pass up on an opportunity, he decided to record a song about the experience—’Through The Wire’, which he rapped with his jaw still wired closed. West’s first album was released in February 2004 and sold 2.6 million copies, finally making West a star in his own right.
Kanye West’s first home
Zillow
In 2003, just as West emerged as a solo rap artist and producer, collaborating with Jamie Foxx on the single ‘Slow Jamz’, his very first chart-topping single, he took his first steps on the property ladder and splashed out on this minimalist home in the Hollywood Hills for just shy of $1.8 million (£1.5m). The sleek home was just the start of Kanye’s property journey, but it set the scene for the minimalist and sophisticated interior style that he has since become known for.
Kanye West’s first home
Zillow
Inside, the 4,200-square-foot home boasts hardwood floors, stunning high ceilings and sliding glass doors that bring in an abundance of light. Built in 2002, Kanye was the first owner of the lavish house, and with a spacious open floor plan and balcony, it would have been the perfect space for him to pen his first album.
Kanye West’s first home
Zillow
The ideal place for candlelit dinners, the dining room features picture windows that look out over the Los Angeles skyline. The pad would have been perfect for Kanye’s bachelor lifestyle before he began dating former friend Kim Kardashian in 2011.
Kanye West’s first home
Zillow
Spread over three storeys, the home also offers luxury amenities such as a media room and a bar space, making it excellent for entertaining. Sitting behind private gates in the Nichols Canyon area of Los Angeles, the home was an obvious choice for the privacy-loving rapper.
Kanye West’s first home
Zillow
Elsewhere there are three bedrooms, including the master suite which boasts an ensuite bathroom complete with a bath that sits next to the picture window. After 15 years, Kanye sold the home for just shy of $3 million (£2.4m) in 2017.
Kanye West’s Soho bachelor pad
City Realty
As his debut album hit the airwaves in 2004, Kanye decided to purchase an apartment on the fourth floor of this apartment block in the trendy Soho area of New York. In 2004 he reportedly bought a 1,500-square-foot unit for just shy of $1.9 million (£1.5m), and in 2006 went on to buy the apartment next door for just under $1.3 million (£1m).
Kanye West’s Soho bachelor pad
Core NYC
The rapper then hired Italian architect Claudio Silvestrin to combine and transform the spaces to suit the minimalist aesthetic that West has become known for. Transformed into a stunning 2,400-square-foot home, the apartment and its décor were also said to have inspired West’s Yeezy Season 2 clothing collection.
Kanye West’s Soho bachelor pad
Core NYC
Streamlined and neutral, the apartment boasts a window-lined living room and dining room in one corner, while the other is home to a small, compact kitchen with high-end appliances, pearwood cabinets and a stone centre island. The sophisticated space would’ve been the perfect base for Kanye to enjoy life in the Big Apple.
Kanye West’s Soho bachelor pad
Core NYC
With two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms, the city pad squeezes lots of luxury finishes into its compact floor plan. The spacious master suite has a hallway lined with full-height wardrobes, a bathroom with heated flooring and a stone island that includes a bath and a sink. In 2011, having been friends since the late 2000s, Kanye started dating reality star Kim Kardashian and the two went on to spend plenty of time together in the Soho loft.
Kanye West’s Soho bachelor pad
Core NYC
Kanye also had access to two private storage units, laundry facilities, a home automation system and custom lighting and audio technology. The star eventually sold on the apartment for a reported $3 million (£2.4m) in May 2018 in an off-market deal.
Kim and Kanye’s first home in Bel Air
Realtor
In January 2013, not long after Kanye announced that Kim was pregnant with their first child during a New Year’s Eve performance in Atlantic City, the couple purchased their first piece of real estate together. They chose to spend their money on this Bel Air mansion, which cost them $9 million (£7.3m). The celebrity couple renovated the property to match their minimalist style and then went on to sell it at a much higher price in 2017 for $17.8 million (£14.5m).
Kim and Kanye’s first home in Bel Air
Realtor
Hidden away in the guard-gated community of Bel Air Crest, the home was the perfect retreat for Kim and Kanye to start their family. The spacious living room features a concrete fireplace and a wall of glass that looks out over the stunning Los Angeles skyline.
Kim and Kanye’s first home in Bel Air
Realtor
The kitchen is just as minimal in its style with sleek stainless steel appliances and a long slim centre island. Perfect for their growing brood, elsewhere there are six bedrooms and eight bathrooms spread over 9,000 square feet of space.
Kim and Kanye’s first home in Bel Air
Realtor
With a luxurious swimming pool, a sheltered patio and an outside dining table, the grounds easily compete with other billionaire backyards in the notoriously high-end area. It’s definitely an alfresco spread worthy of a Kardashian dinner party!
Kim and Kanye’s custom Hidden Hills mansion
Trulia
After marrying Kim in an extravagant ceremony in Italy in 2014, the newlyweds snapped up their Hidden Hills mansion. The pair splashed out $20 million (£17m) on the home, plus an additional $20 million (£16.3m) on extensive renovations to meet Kanye’s minimal aesthetic. The renovations took a whopping three years, so Kim and Kanye set up home at Kris Jenner’s mansion across the street until they could move in.
Kim and Kanye’s custom Hidden Hills mansion
@kimkardashian / Instagram
While Kanye imposed a filming ban in the mansion during the production of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the pair gave us glimpses inside the home through their social media channels. Described as a ‘futuristic monastery’, Kanye spent time working with Belgian architect Axel Vervoordt on the new design. The living room, which features a plush cream carpet, minimalist fireplace and soft white sofas, was said to be one of Kim’s favourite rooms.
Kim and Kanye’s custom Hidden Hills mansion
@kimkardashian / Instagram
With not one, but two kitchens, there was plenty of space for mealtimes with their four children; North, Chicago, Pslam and Saint. Fitted out with a walk-in pantry complete with a frozen yoghurt machine, we’re sure that the home is a big hit with the kids. Spotted on Kim’s Instagram, this picture shows the family having breakfast—shortly after it was posted, the power couple announced that they would be going their separate ways.
Kim and Kanye’s custom Hidden Hills mansion
@kimkardashian / Instagram
Whilst their divorce played out, Kim stayed in the mansion with the children and has since bought Kanye out for a reported $23 million (£18.8m), to make her the sole owner of the family home valued at around $60 million (£49m).
Kanye’s Wyoming ranch retreat
DBW Realty
After news of his divorce broke in February 2021, Kanye fled to his private Wyoming ranch to escape the spotlight. Following in the footsteps of a number of celebrities who own farms and ranches, he snapped up the rural retreat back in September 2019. Known as Monster Lake Ranch, the property was said to be a peaceful place for the rapper to unwind away from the bright lights of LA.
Kanye’s Wyoming ranch retreat
J.P King Auction Company
Kanye listed the sprawling property for $11 million (£9m) with DBW Realty in October 2021, two years after purchasing it. He then removed it from the market in September 2022, due to insufficient offers—though some say the move was in response to Kim’s split from comedian Pete Davidson, which occurred around the same time. Kanye had hoped that Kim would move to the 3,888-acre ranch full-time during their marriage, so maybe he held out hopes of getting back together.
Kanye’s Wyoming ranch retreat
J.P King Auction Company
The ranch, which is also known as ‘Yeezy Campus’, is flanked by the dramatic Absaroka Range mountains and tranquil shorelines, making it the ultimate escape from the world’s media. Before their split, it was reported that Kanye and Kim planned to build a brand new 52,000-square-foot home and two underground garages on the land. Sadly, a project that never happened.
Kanye’s Wyoming ranch retreat
J.P King Auction Company
It’s not hard to see why Kanye was enchanted by this blissful rural oasis in the remote northwest town of Cody. The ranch itself contains two large fully stocked freshwater lakes, ideal for trophy trout fishing. With plenty of development potential, the lot could make an ideal holiday destination for city dwellers longing for a slice of the good life, or perhaps the land could be farmed commercially once more.
Kanye’s Wyoming ranch retreat
DBW Realty
The ranch was originally on the market for $14 million (£11m), and it is thought the superstar paid $8 million (£6.5m) for the property. However, with several cabins and outbuildings, a restaurant with a commercial kitchen, a ranch-style venue, a maintenance shop and equestrian facilities, it wouldn’t have come cheap.
Kanye’s Wyoming ranch retreat
@kimkardashian / InstagramIn happier times, Monster Lake Ranch was also the scene of many holidays for West and his family. Kanye, Kim and the kids were pictured enjoying the wilderness retreat in June 2020 as part of their daughter North’s seventh birthday celebrations. From exploring the rugged terrain to horseback riding, no doubt many bittersweet memories linger on the acreage.Kanye’s Wyoming ranch retreat
@KimKardashian / Twitter
During the same trip in June, the Wests along with members of the extended Kardashian clan tested out the ranch’s go-karting track, which seemed to prove a particular hit with the younger generation. However, in the months following his separation from his ex-wife, Kanye sought solitude in the wilds of Wyoming, where he wrote his album, Donda, named after his late mother.
Kanye’s Wyoming ranch retreat
@kanyewest / Twitter
In July 2020, Kanye revealed models for his low-cost housing project on the ranch. Captured under construction, the unfinished structures feature curved floor plans and domed metalwork. Described as YZY shelters, they were the latest prototypes of his prefabricated affordable housing, although according to a recent report in TMZ, homeless shelter LA Mission says Ye is yet to follow through on his promises on the project.
Kanye’s second Wyoming ranch
Lands of America
Not content with just one ranch, in November 2019, the billionaire bought a second ranch for $14.5 million (£11.8m) to extend his already huge property portfolio. Located near Greybull, Wyoming and located around an hour away from his first ranch, the new property is surrounded by stunning landscapes. Described as ‘Kanye’s therapy ranch’ by the New York Post, it’s where he spent time holed up writing lyrics in the wake of his split from Kim.
Kanye’s second Wyoming ranch
Lands of America
The ranch’s main rustic residence is a house called The Lodge at Bald Ridge. With room for all the family, the cosy log cabin has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. There are also three smaller cabins at Bald Ridge.
Kanye’s second Wyoming ranch
Lands of America
Offering respite from the bright lights of Hollywood, the ranch has access to hiking, skiing, hunting and climbing, and with White Creek running through the rolling hills it’s ideal for fishing. The expansive grounds are also perfect for keeping wild stock, of which Kanye is said to have plenty of on the ranch, including 14 Friesian horses, which are reportedly worth $20,000 (£16k) upwards.
Kanye’s second Wyoming ranch
@kimkardashian / Instagram
Both ranches were rumoured to be earmarked as sites for his technology, design and innovation epicentre, but it’s unclear if these plans will go ahead in the wake of his divorce settlement. Kanye and Kim were announced officially single in March 2022, agreeing financial and custodial matters in November 2022. According to Rolling Stone, a two-day trial was set to begin on 14 December 2022, but the former couple reached a settlement, averting the trial.
Kanye’s Calabasas hideout
Zillow
As well as spending time at his Wyoming ranches, Kanye has been laying low at his charming Los Angeles ranch. The rapper has used the home as a base and HQ for his Sunday Service since buying it in 2018 for $2.2 million (£1.8m).
Kanye’s Calabasas hideout
Zillow
For now, it’s the perfect place for Kanye to be close to his children while they live with Kim in their Hidden Hills mansion. Inside, the home boasts four bedrooms and a cosy living room with a floor-to-ceiling stacked fireplace. More rustic than Kanye’s usual taste, the décor also features hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings and walls of windows that overlook the back garden.
Kanye’s Calabasas hideout
Zillow
Here, the spacious kitchen features white cupboards and a marble island with a dramatic high domed roof. With the listing pictures showing the interior as it was when Kanye made his purchase back in 2018, we can only imagine that it has been renovated to match his minimalist style.
Kanye’s Calabasas hideout
Zillow
Set on just over one acre of land, there are also two guesthouses on the property, with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms overall. The notoriously private rapper has made sure to keep trespassers and the world’s press away by putting up a white tarpaulin perimeter around the home.
Kanye’s Calabasas hideout
Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
The Calabasas house was also where Kanye first tried his hand at affordable housing. The designer built four low-cost domed homes in 2019, however, after failing to secure a building permit, they were torn down in September of that year after they were found to have violated building codes. West reportedly suggested that the structures were temporary, but having been built on concrete foundations, he was asked to secure a building permit or face demolition.
Kanye’s concrete bunker in Malibu
Google Earth
The same month, Kanye made headlines when he reportedly paid $57.3 million (£47m) in an off-market deal for this home in Malibu. West is said to have snapped up the home through his company, Shore Drive Holdings, which is registered to the same address as his clothing line. Part house, part sculpture, it was designed by Tadao Ando. Kanye has reportedly been obsessed with the award-winning architect since visiting Naoshima, also known as ‘art island’ in Japan, which was designed by Ando.
Kanye’s concrete bunker in Malibu
Williams & Williams Estates Group / Facebook
The home was originally on the market for $75 million (£61m) in 2020, but Kanye managed to shave almost $18 million (£15m) off the old asking price. However, the discounted sale is also the second-highest price paid for a Malibu home this year. Art dealer Richard Sachs snapped up the land way back in 2003 for just $1.9 million (£1.5m) and spent millions transforming it into a three-storey house.
Kanye’s concrete bunker in Malibu
Williams & Williams Estates Group / Facebook
Not as private as Kanye’s other retreats, the 3,665-square-foot concrete bunker-style home sits on a busy street, just feet away from neighbouring homes. Inside, the lower floor features three ensuite bedrooms, while the middle level is home to the main living areas, which include the lounge, kitchen and a bathroom.
Kanye’s concrete bunker in Malibu
Zillow
However, the best part of the modern property is the top floor, which is reserved entirely for the owner’s suite. Perfect for Kanye’s new bachelor lifestyle, it features a lavish bedroom and a rooftop terrace with breathtaking views out over the tranquil ocean. However, since moving in five months ago, the home has been seen surrounded by tarpaulin while the interior is being gutted. We can’t wait to see what he does with the place!
Kanye’s concrete bunker in Malibu
Williams & Williams Estates Group / Facebook
With its modernist lines and crisp, clean architecture, the home fits into Kanye’s aesthetic perfectly, and best of all, it’s near the Malibu mansion his ex-wife bought a year later. Kim paid $70.4 million (£57m) for Cindy Crawford’s former oceanfront estate in September 2022—so seeing the kids during the holidays just got a whole lot easier.
Kanye’s Hidden Hills home near Kim
Compass / The MLS
Kanye raised eyebrows when he snapped up this mid-century Hidden Hills estate right across the street from Kim Kardashian in December 2021. Purchased for $4.5 million (£3.7m) just 19 days after it hit the market, its proximity to Kim and the children was supposed to make co-parenting easier.
Kanye’s Hidden Hills home near Kim
Compass / The MLS
Inside, the living room features a brick fireplace. A source close to the Kardashians revealed to HollywoodLife that while Kim was okay with the prospect of Ye living across the street at the time, her family thought it was weird. Dirt reported West made a surprise announcement in November 2021, saying he planned to ‘get his family back together’, adding that if he couldn’t live ‘in the house’ with his family, he would buy ‘the home right next door’.
Kanye’s Hidden Hills home near Kim
Compass / The MLS
The single-storey estate was built in 1955 and is a far cry from Kim or Ye’s minimalist aesthetic, with a country-style kitchen that was last updated in 2005. The property is in need of extensive renovation, unless of course, Kanye decides to sell it on in the not-so-distant future.
Kanye’s Hidden Hills home near Kim
Compass / The MLS
The wood-panelled family room features a traditional fireplace and sliding doors overlooking the one-acre estate. Meanwhile, his ex-wife has also been getting rid of property in the area, including a Hidden Hills ranch the couple shared in happier times. The 1950s pad, which was bought for $1.6 million (£1.3m) in 2019 was listed for $5.3 million (£4.3m) in September 2022.
Kanye’s Hidden Hills home near Kim
Compass / The MLS
Ye’s presence in the neighbourhood may be unnerving for Kim, who has recently distanced herself from Ye following his racist rant and was keen to finalise their divorce. The settlement reached in November 2022 will hopefully mark the start of a more harmonious, if separate, relationship between the two.
Ye 24
X17Online / YouTube
West meanwhile confirmed he is running for president again in 2024 in a video for X17Online, where he is seen taking right-wing political provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos—his new campaign manager— around his studio in Crenshaw. The star, who launched an ill-fated bid for the presidency in 2020, posted a video of his campaign logo to social media, alongside the caption Ye 24.
What’s next for Kanye West?
MEGA / GC IMAGES / GETTY IMAGES
It remains to be seen if his latest ‘marriage’, just two months after his divorce from Kim was finalised, can stay the course. The rapper has had a tumultuous year, during which he has been condemned by celebrities and politicians alike for his anti-semitic stance. So, let’s see what’s in store in 2023. One thing’s for sure: whether it’s property, politics or his personal life, it looks like it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride.
source: loveproperty.com
