Inside Tom Cruise’s houses: from Hollywood mega-mansion to Scientology retreat

The historic townhouse where this A-list star was super

Google Maps ; PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

We know him as one of the world’s biggest movie stars, with a net worth of $600 million (£495m) and a string of blockbusters to his name, but back in the early 80s Tom Cruise worked as a building superintendent to help pay his rent.

Cruise lived in a 300-square-foot studio apartment in this historic townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, according to the New York Post. While his mother paid half his rent, Tom made up the shortfall by changing lightbulbs and taking out the rubbish.

Now, the iconic Renaissance Revival building is for sale for a shade under $15 million (£12.4m). Let’s take a look around, and see just how far Hollywood’s favourite leading man has come…

From humble beginnings to superstar status

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Tom Cruise has come a long way since his humble childhood. He was born on 3 July 1962 in Syracuse, New York, and lived in both America and Canada during his childhood, much of which was tumultuous according to an interview he gave to Parade magazine.

Cruise discovered his talent for acting in high school and aged 18 he moved to New York, where he worked as a busboy while trying to make it as an actor according to Fox News. He was propelled into the limelight by his role in the 1983 film Risky Business.

From there, he left his humble digs and began snapping up real estate at home and abroad, ranging from a remote ranch in the mountains to a plush Florida penthouse.

Historic home

Brown Harris Stevens

Cruise was lucky enough to live in this five-storey, 9,165-square-foot townhouse at the very start of his career. Built in 1907, it was a speakeasy during the prohibition era and has plenty of historic details that survived, including a grand limestone entrance, exposed brickwork, original mouldings and an ornate staircase.

While it may not have been finished to quite such a high standard back in 1980, we’re sure Tom appreciated living in such a beautiful building, despite having to take out the trash.

Famous guests

Brown Harris Stevens

Just 25 feet wide, the building currently houses nine units, including two duplex penthouses, as well as a commercial space and a pool. The current owner bought it in 1999 for the bargain price of $2.7 million (£2.2m), from Funny Girl actor Lee Allen and his caberet performer wife, Abbey, the New York Post reports. They once hosted a birthday party for Barbra Streisand in the building, and often took struggling actors under their wing.

A showbiz family

Brown Harris Stevens

The bijou apartments have seen many young actors come and go over the years. “[Lee and Abbey] were a showbiz couple and considered some of the residents like family. They really lived their lives through that building,” current owner Therese Flaherty told the Post.

“There’s a really sweet Christmas card they once showed me from Tom’s mother, thanking them for taking care of her son. She’d often leave a little note for them, letting them know that he took out the garbage, swept the rugs and changed the lightbulbs before flying off to LA.”

The ‘Good Luck’ building

Brown Harris Stevens

Cruise landed his movie debut in the 1981 film Endless Love, playing a bit part alongside Brooke Shields. Later that year, he scored a bigger role in Taps and his days working as a building caretaker were over.

However, the Mission Impossible star wasn’t the only famous face to have lived in the elegant townhouse. Sarah Jessica Parker and her then boyfriend Robert Downey Jr. lived in the penthouse back in the 80s, while Friends and The Simpsons actor Hank Azaria also rented a unit.

The property has been home to so many budding young stars over the years, that is has become known as the ‘Good Luck’ building.

The scene of a crime

Brown Harris Stevens

However, the building hasn’t always proved lucky for everyone. Aretha Franklin’s musical director and band leader, King Curtis, lived in one of the apartments in the early 70s. He worked with John Lennon on the Imagine album on the ground floor of the townhouse, because the pool provided excellent acoustics, according to the New York Post.

But on an August night in 1971, Curtis went outside to try to fix an issue with his fuse box. He confronted a man loitering on the building’s steps and a fight broke out. Curtis was fatally stabbed, aged just 36. His star-studded funeral was presided over by Jesse Jackson and, in 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame.

With such a storied past, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this iconic New York gem.

Read on to tour more of Tom Cruise’s incredible homes…

Tom Cruise’s English estate, West Sussex, UK

Savills

In 2006, Cruise reportedly shelled out $4.2 million (£3.5m) for this spectacular English country estate in West Sussex. Known as Rede Place, the property can be found in East Grinstead, a strange little town, just down the road from the British headquarters of the Church of Scientology, which obviously wasn’t a coincidence.

As one of the world’s most high-profile Scientologists, Cruise clearly wanted a base near to the church’s significant English estate, Saint Hill Manor.

Tom Cruise’s English estate, West Sussex, UK

Savills

The luxurious country mansion sits on over 14 acres of land and boasts an impressive 11,331-square-foot interior. The bespoke house was built in 2003, which likely makes Cruise one of its first owners. Yet despite its age, the property offers plenty of characterful architectural features.

Tom Cruise’s English estate, West Sussex, UK

Savills

Inside, the modern mega-mansion is light-filled and dramatic, effortlessly blending state-of-the-art touches with traditional architectural elements. From coffered ceilings to natural timber accents, integrated sound systems and zoned lighting, the property really does offer the best of both worlds.

The estate has a total of eight bedrooms and five bathrooms, split between the main house and a separate, self-contained guest pavilion.

Tom Cruise’s English estate, West Sussex, UK

Savills

The luxurious basement level is home to the ultimate entertaining space, which includes a movie theatre, games room and dance studio with a sprung floor. There are several living rooms, as well as a bright kitchen that opens up to the garden. The home’s top floor has been dedicated to a stunning master suite, complete with a private sitting room.

Tom Cruise’s English estate, West Sussex, UK

Savills

The perfect choice for a Hollywood A-lister, the house lies behind electric security gates and is kitted out with CCTV. A long, winding driveway meanders through manicured gardens, protecting the home from prying eyes. Outside, there’s a glistening swimming pool, hot tub and tennis court.

Tom listed the home for sale in October 2015, before eventually selling it to ‘Mysterious Girl’ singer, Peter Andre, for just under $6 million (£5m) in 2016.

Tom Cruise’s Hollywood Hills homes, California, USA

The Altman Brothers

In 2015, Tom Cruise placed his lavish Hollywood Hills compound on the market for just short of $13 million (£10.7m). The estate was snapped up by another celebrity, none other than Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, for the marked-down price of $11.4 million (£9.4m).

Tom Cruise’s Hollywood Hills homes, California, USA

The Altman Brothers

Described by the listing agents, The Altman Brothers, as a ‘one-of-a-kind celebrity compound’ with ‘unrivaled privacy and charm’, the property may have been bought by Cruise in 2005 for just under $11.7 million (£9.7m), Variety suggests.

Interestingly, the house always seems to sell for a loss, with Longoria selling the property on in 2020 for just less than $8.3 million (£6.8m), a much lower sum than she originally paid.

Tom Cruise’s Hollywood Hills homes, California, USA

The Altman Brothers

Built in 2004, the impressive pad has plenty of Old World charm and was inspired by the country estates found in Tuscany, Italy. The entire estate was remodelled in 2006, likely by Cruise, and comes complete with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, as well as light-filled living areas with vaulted ceilings, European-style décor and wide-plank hardwood floors.

Tom Cruise’s Hollywood Hills homes, California, USA

The Altman Brothers

There’s a beautiful chef’s kitchen, numerous alfresco dining terraces and a three-acre garden with a lagoon-style pool. From the secluded grounds, you can soak up spectacular 180-degree views across Los Angeles, making this beautiful property perfect for Hollywood royalty.

Tom Cruise’s Hollywood Hills homes, California, USA

The Altman Brothers

The estate also boasts a self-contained, four-bedroom guesthouse, which is big by anyone’s standards! Variety suggests that the Mission: Impossible star may not have used the property as a full-time residence but as a secure Scientology retreat. Whatever he used it for, we can totally understand why Cruise decided to buy this dreamy Hollywood compound.

Tom Cruise’s Beverly Hills manor

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After almost a decade of ownership, the actor decided to part ways with his opulent Beverly Hills mansion, listing it in 2015 for a staggering reported price tag of $50 million (£41.2m). Built in 1937, the seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom estate offers 10,286 square feet of luxurious living space, plus a sprawling backyard with a large swimming pool.

Tom Cruise’s Beverly Hills manor

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Cruise had previously snapped up the lavish property in an off-market deal for $30.5 million (£25.2m) in 2007 with his now ex-wife Katie Holmes, not long after the two tied the knot in November 2006. Seven months before their nuptials, the pair announced the arrival of their daughter, Suri. However, Holmes filed for divorce six years later – she received primary custody of Suri, with Cruise awarded visitation rights.

Tom Cruise’s Beverly Hills manor

Google Maps

Nestled in a secluded, gated lot, the impressive manor would have offered the young family plenty of privacy away from the limelight. Despite its hefty listing price, the mansion eventually sold for $38 million (£31.3m) according to local records, $12 million (£9.9m) less than the original figure asked.