Jump directly to the content
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

How celebs’ mega mansions compare to their humble childhood homes, from Beyoncé to Ellie Goulding

CELEBS are often flaunting their luxurious lifestyles and sprawling mansions on social media for us regular folk to lust over, but, like us, most came from humble beginnings with smaller childhood homes.

After finding fame as an award-winning pop star, Ellie Goulding, 33, swapped her council home in Lyonshall, just a stone's throw away from the Welsh border, for a dreamy central London pad, which she recently sold for a whopping £5.9 million.

Ellie Goulding recently sold her central London home for £5.95 million
19
Ellie Goulding recently sold her central London home for £5.95 millionCredit: Getty Images
The 33-yer-old songstress grew up in a humble council home in Lyonshall, a small English town close to the Welsh boarder
19
The 33-yer-old songstress grew up in a humble council home in Lyonshall, a small English town close to the Welsh boarderCredit: Damien McFadden

The five storey 2,961 sq ft property boasts five bedrooms, two lounges, a state-of-the-art kitchen and dining area as well as a luxurious cinema room with a stylish white and grey theme throughout.

But Ellie's swish home is a far cry from where she grew up in a small rural town of just 750 people when she barely had pennies to her name and struggled to make ends meet.

The hitmaker shot to fame after releasing her first album, Lights, in 2010, and now has four platinum-selling albums and an estimated fortune of £20 million.

Last year, Elle married art dealer Caspar Jopling in a lavish wedding with friends Princess Eugenie and her then fiancé Jack Brooksbank in attendance - proving just how far she's come.

Her five-storey London pad has five huge bedrooms and two lounges
19
Her five-storey London pad has five huge bedrooms and two loungesCredit: Splash News
It's a short walk from London's famous Oxford Street
19
It's a short walk from London's famous Oxford StreetCredit: Splash News

But she's just one of many high-flying celebs who've upgraded their pads from modest detached houses to sprawling estates with fellow hitmakers Rihanna and Beyoncé cashing in too.

Singer and make-up extraordinaire Rihanna, real name Robyn Fenty, grew up in Barbados, in a quaint bungalow she shared with her two siblings. 

In 2012 RiRi gave Oprah a tour of her childhood home, and fans often snap selfies in front of it when in town. 

The 32-year-old, who moved to America to start her career, bought a $6.8million mansion in LA a few years ago, which boasts six bedrooms and eight bathrooms over 7,130sq ft.

Rhianna grew up in Barbados and spent her career in the US, before moving to London recently
19
Rhianna grew up in Barbados and spent her career in the US, before moving to London recently
The songstress grew up in this bungalow in Barbados which fans often visit
19
The songstress grew up in this bungalow in Barbados which fans often visit
RiRi bought this sprawling LA pad, although she now lives in London
19
RiRi bought this sprawling LA pad, although she now lives in London

The pop star and entrepreneur made her fortune through her extensive music career and booming make-up brand, Fenty Beauty, giving her an estimated fortune of £468 million.

This eye-watering amount put her at third place on The Sunday Times Rich List, after revealing she's been living in London and is renting out her LA pad as she tries to sell it.

Meanwhile, music icon Beyoncé swapped her quaint home for a $81million mansion in the swanky neighbourhood of Bel Air, which she and husband Jay Z bought in 2017. 

Music icon Beyoncé swapped her quaint home for a $81million mansion
19
Music icon Beyoncé swapped her quaint home for a $81million mansionCredit: Getty Images
Beyoncé grew up in this modest detached house in Houston, which has three bedrooms
19
Beyoncé grew up in this modest detached house in Houston, which has three bedrooms
The star bought this mansion in Bel Air with Jay Z in 2017 which has four pools
19
The star bought this mansion in Bel Air with Jay Z in 2017 which has four pools

The music mogul, whose career began with R&B group Destiny's Child before going solo, came from a small picturesque terraced property in Houston with a winding drive, which has three bathrooms and three bedrooms. 

While it might not seem so bad, it's a long way from the dreamy 30,000sq ft mansion she lives in with her family today.

Her pad has eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a home cinema, tennis and basketball courts as well as four pools - in case one wasn't enough.

As for fellow singer Ariana Grande, who now calls a $13.7 million mansion home, her former home was a fraction of the size but still seriously impressive. 

Ariana Grande has made her millions through her impressive singing career
19
Ariana Grande has made her millions through her impressive singing careerCredit: AFP or licensors
Singer Ariana Grande grew up in this swanky pad, which boasts its own pool
19
Singer Ariana Grande grew up in this swanky pad, which boasts its own pool
But she still managed to upgrade her digs after buying this new build in the Hollywood Hills
19
But she still managed to upgrade her digs after buying this new build in the Hollywood Hills

The 27-year-old grew up in Florida, in a lavish home with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms set among 7,590sq ft of space - with a pool. 

But despite coming from a sizable family house, the Thank U Next singer upgraded her digs and forked out for a new build in the Hollywood Hills back in 2017.

Her new gaffe boasts four bedrooms, seven bathrooms as well as a fitness studio, 300-bottle wine cellar and an infinity pool - so everything we could ever dream of.

But unlike Arianna, rapper Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, came from humble beginnings in Detroit, a subject he often references in his songs. 

Eminem's music career spans 20 years
19
Eminem's music career spans 20 yearsCredit: Getty - Pool
Eminem grew up in Detroit and used his humble childhood home as the backdrop for one of his albums
19
Eminem grew up in Detroit and used his humble childhood home as the backdrop for one of his albums
The rapper now lives in a massive estate which has a tennis court and lake
19
The rapper now lives in a massive estate which has a tennis court and lake

The 48-year-old used a snap of his childhood home on the cover of his album Marshall Mathers LP 2, and while the home was later demolished Eminem kept some bricks and later auctioned them off. 

The one-bathroom home is in stark contrast to the 15,129 square foot mansion he bought in Rochester Hills, with the 5.7 acre estate boasting six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a tennis court, lake, pool and a five-car garage.

And with a career spanning 20 long years, he can now kick back and relax in one of the many comfy rooms.

John Travolta rose to fame during the 1970s
19
John Travolta rose to fame during the 1970sCredit: Getty Images - Getty
The 66-year-old was the youngest of six, and grew up in New Jersey
19
The 66-year-old was the youngest of six, and grew up in New Jersey
The Grease star bought an airport to live in which house his five plane
19
The Grease star bought an airport to live in which house his five plane

Grease legend John Travolta spent his younger years in New Jersey, with snaps from a property listing claiming to be the actor’s childhood home showing a modest two-storey house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Nowadays the 66-year-old lives in an airport he bought in Florida, which houses two runways for his private jets. 

The actor, whose wife Kelly Preston sadly passed this year, owns five planes and extended the taxiway straight to his front door.

In other celebrity-related news, we revealed Katie Price, Cheryl & more celebs before & after veneers – as Stacey Solomon reveals she had ‘black and yellow teeth’.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

And the secrets to Christine Bleakley & Frank Lampard’s rock solid romance & how she wowed him with her ‘feisty & intelligent ways’.

Plus these stars are embracing the trend for sunbathing in bikinis and cowboy boots.

Inside Ellie Goulding's incredible London house with home gym and grand piano
Topics