Sure, famous musicians usually own fabulous homes—that’s one of the points of being famous, isn’t it? But some properties are so iconic that they become synonymous with the celebrity themselves. Take Elvis Presley’s Graceland, the second most-visited home in America (after the White House). Or Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island compound, which, at this point, is an Instagram star in its own right.
Below, seven of the most magnificent and memorable homes of Grammy winners over the decades.
Elvis Presley: Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee
Graceland isn’t just a mansion, it’s a monument: The government declared it a National Historic Landmark in 2006. The 17,552-square-foot house has 23 rooms, including a “music room” with a grand piano and stained glass peacocks, a “jungle room” with green shag carpets, and a whole building dedicated to racquetball. Hey, they didn’t call him the “King” for nothing.
John Lennon: The Dakota, New York City
“The most famous apartment building in the world” has had its fair share of creative celebrity occupants, such as Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, and Gilda Radner. But John Lennon is most associated with the co-op because he was tragically assassinated outside its south entrance in 1980.
Prince: Paisley Park, Chanhassen, Minnesota
The late singer’s compound, known for its block-like exterior, is part private residence, part production studio, part “spiritual center.” And, as one would expect, there’s plenty of purple—including a painted grand piano in the Park’s famous atrium.
Michael Jackson: Neverland Ranch, Santa Barbara, California
At one point, Jackson’s 2,700-acre Southern California property had a 50-seat movie theater; a hunting lodge; a petting zoo; and an amusement park with two railroads, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and bumper cars. (Sadly, when the home went up for sale in 2016, it seemed that the zoo and amusement park had been dismantled.)
David Bowie: Mandalay, Mustique
The music legend’s Mustique retreat, Mandalay, is comprised of a series of ornate pavilions, including a Japanese dining pavilion and a guest pavilion with bamboo ceilings. Bowie told Architectural Digest in 1992: “It’s a whim personified . . . I love a good cliché, and this house for me is just the most delightful cliché.”
Taylor Swift: Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Taylor Swift owns homes in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville, but thanks to her Instagrammable Fourth of July parties, it’s her Rhode Island one that’s most in the limelight. The scenic spot has more than 700 feet of coastline on Little Narragansett Bay, eight bedrooms, eight fireplaces, and, seasonally, a giant red white and blue slide in the backyard.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z: Bel-Air, California
Last summer, Jay-Z and Beyoncé bought a massive Bel-Air estate with four pools, a wellness facility, bulletproof windows, staff quarters, and a slew of other A-list amenities spread out over its six large structures. It’s designed by famous architect Paul McClean, known for his über-sleek and modernist homes.