New York is a bustling city with movie stars, celebrities, and businessmen. When the topic of celebrity property investments comes up, neighborhoods such as Tribeca, SoHo, NoLita, and Greenwich Village come to mind. Sure, many celebrities have invested in hefty and luxurious apartments in Manhattan, but that’s not the only borough where celebrities end up. Brooklyn is also a popular borough for purchasing real estate. Many celebrities looking to escape high volumes of press settle down in Brooklyn, where there are opportunities to purchase luxury condos and townhouses.
RealtyHop looked at Brooklyn properties where celebrities engaged in real estate activity over the past decade. This article features two lists, the first including celebrities who still own their property, and the latter composing of properties celebrities used to own. Continue reading to learn about the celebrities who live in Brooklyn.
This list was last updated in September of 2022.
Here’s an interactive map that shows where celebrities have purchased and sold properties in Brooklyn!
Celebrities Who Currently Own Property in Brooklyn
1) Paul Giamatti – 187 Hicks Street #4D
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $1,300,000
Size: 3 Beds, 2 Baths
Closed on: February 22, 2010
Before the home he lived in with Elizabeth Giamatti, American actor Paul Giamatti purchased this Brooklyn Heights co-op. Giamatti acquired the property in 2010 for $1,300,000. Our property records indicate that he still owns this unit, as there are no newer transactions for the property.
* Image attribution: RealtyHop
2) Emily Blunt & John Krasinki – 171 Columbia Heights #8A
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $11,000,400
Size: NA
Closed on: May 31, 2018
After selling their Park Slope property, this couple purchased a unit in this star-studded residence, The Standish. The couple purchased two units in the building to combine into one living arrangement, 8A and 8B. They currently own this property and bounce between New York City and other areas in Europe.
* Image attribution: RealtyHop
3) Norah Jones – 172 Pacific Street
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
Price: $6,250,000
Size: 4 Beds, 4 Baths
Closed on: May 1, 2015
Norah Jones bought the lovely and iconic Eat, Pray, Love carriage house in 2015. Despite the initial asking price of $8,000,000, Norah managed to snag the house for a lower price of $6,250,000. She currently owns this property.
* Image attribution: New York Daily News
4) Michelle Williams – 1440 Albemarle Road
Neighborhood: Flatbush
Price: $2,500,000
Size: 8 Beds, 6 Baths
Closed on: July 29, 2015
After selling her Boerum Hill townhouse, Michelle Williams bought the lovely 8-bedroom Ditmars Park mansion in 2015. The property resides in the center of Prospect Park South Historic District. Williams currently owns this property.
* Image attribution: Bklyner
5) Emily Mortimer – 152 Dean Street
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill
Price: $2,450,000
Size: 5 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Closed on: June 5, 2006
Emily Mortimer bought this Boerum Hill townhouse in 2006 and still lives there with her husband, Alessandro Nivola.
* Picture attribution: Google Maps
6) Christina Ricci – 67 Adelphi Street
Neighborhood: Fort Greene
Price: $1,995,000
Size: 4 Beds, 3 Baths
Closed on: April 23, 2015
In 2015, Christina Ricci bought the gorgeous four-bedroom Fort Greene townhouse, located just beside the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE). Ricci currently owns this townhouse.
* Picture attribution: Compass
7) Christian Rudder – 925 Lorimer Street
Neighborhood: Green Point
Price: $2,195,000
Size: 1 Bed, 1 Bath
Closed on: August 10, 2015
OkCupid founder Christian Rudder made a match with this Greenpoint townhouse back in 2015. The townhouse is seated in a desirable and hip location just north of Williamsburg. Rudder still owns this townhouse.
*Picture attribution: Compass
8) Rose Byrne & Bobby Cannavale – 453 Warren Street
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill
Price: $2,150,000
Size: 3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Closed on: September 10, 2015
Previously living in East Village, actress Rose Byrne and her husband Bobby Cannavale moved to Boerum Hill in 2015 after purchasing this property for $2,150,000. They currently own this home.
* Picture attribution: RealtyHop
9) Matt Damon – 171 Columbia Heights (The Standish)
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $16,000,000
Size: NA
Closed on: December 20, 2018
Matt Damon snagged a Brooklyn Heights penthouse at The Standish in 2018, setting a record-high sale of $16,000,000 for all of Brooklyn’s properties. Damon still owns the twelfth-floor unit, which includes a terrace and over 6,000 square feet of space. Emily Blunt and John Kraskinski also currently live in the building.
* Picture attribution: RealtyHop
10) Ethan Hawke – 247 Dean Street
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill
Price: $3,900,000
Size: 6 Beds, 6 Baths
Closed on: December 19, 2012
Ethan Hawke sold his Chelsea Townhouse for $6,250,000 in 2012 before purchasing a new home in Boerum Hill. Hawke still owns the townhouse.
* Picture attribution: Corcoran
11) Adrian Grenier – 112 Gates Avenue
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
Price: $2,085,000
Size: NA
Closed on: December 3, 2014
HBO ‘Entourage’ actor Adrian Grenier purchased the five-story Clinton Hill townhouse in 2014. The house features historic and ornate details, along with high ceilings. He currently owns the property with his mother.
* Picture attribution: RealtyHop
12) Olivia Wilde & Jason Sudeikis – 405 Clinton Avenue
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
Price: $6,500,000
Size: 9 Beds, 5.5 Baths
Closed on: November 17, 2014
The couple purchased the property for $6,500,000 right after selling their former Meatpacking pad in 2014. Though the pair are no longer together, the property remains in their possession.
* Picture attribution: Corcoran
13) Amy Ryan & Eric Slovin – 200 Hicks Street
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $3,100,000
Size: 3 Beds, 3 Baths
Closed on: November 16, 2011
The actress-writer couple snagged a spot in Brooklyn Heights with their daughter back in 2011. They still own the unit. Prior to the purchase, Slovin sold his previous unit located in Prospect Heights.
* Picture attribution: Sotheby’s International Realty
14) John Turturro – 923 President Street
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Price: NA
Size: NA
Closed on: NA
American-Italian character actor John Turturro has been a longtime Park Slope local since he bought the property back in 2008. In 2020, he transferred the property to a trust in his name.
* Picture attribution: Google Maps
15) Bjarke Ingels – 111 Hicks St
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $2,163,525
Size: Penthouse
Closed on: April 27, 2022
Ingels recently closed on this penthouse property after proposing a rooftop addition to the building in 2019. Known for his innovative architecture, he has grown popular in the Brooklyn Heights area recently.
*Photo Attribution: St. George Tower
16) Amy Schumer –19 Cranberry Street
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $11,000,000
Size: 5 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Closed on: In contact as of August 2022
Most recently, there are rumors that Amy Schumer signed a contract for this restored townhouse in Brooklyn Heights. Previous owners acquired the property in 2008 and first put it on the market in February of 2021. Schumer does not yet own this property.
*Photo Attribution: RealtyHop
Properties Celebrities Used to Own
1) Anne Hathaway – 1 Main Street #9B (Clock Tower)
Neighborhood: DUMBO
Price: $4,330,000
Size: 2 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Sold on: October 14, 2014
Anne Hathaway bought the dreamy DUMBO apartment, which was reportedly used as her own closet, back in 2013 for $4,100,000. In 2014, she put the property back on the market for an asking price of $4,250,000 before ultimately selling it for $4,330,000.
* Picture attribution: RealtyHop
2) Lena Dunham – 30 Henry Street #4
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $4,887,600
Size: 4 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Closed on: May 8, 2014
American actress and writer Lena Dunham bought the four-bedroom Brooklyn pad off a brand new Brooklyn Heights building in 2014, which was nine times more expensive than the one-bedroom apartment she bought at Hicks Street back in 2012. She reportedly lived with her ex-boyfriend and FUN frontman, Jack Antonoff, before splitting in December 2017.
* Picture attribution: RealtyHop
3) Michelle Williams – 126 Hoyt Street
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill
Price: $8,800,000
Size: 6 Beds, 4.5 Baths
Sold on: November 18, 2014
Michelle Williams and her then-boyfriend Heath Ledger The Boerum Hill townhouse through his “Thank You for Trust” trust in 2005 for $3,600,000. Williams then sold the property for more than double its price in 2014.
* Photo attribution: Brown Harris Stevens
4) Paul Giamatti – 35 Pierrepont Street #4A
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $1,125,000
Size: NA
Sold on: January 21, 2016
Paul Giamatti bought the Brooklyn Heights co-op with his ex-wife back in 2002. Following the divorce, Paul transferred his share of the property to Elizabeth Giamatti for $1,125,000.
* Photo attribution: RealtyHop
5) Emily Blunt & John Krasinki – 586 4th Street
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Price: $6,000,000
Size: 7 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Closed on: December 1, 2015
The couple snagged the beautiful Park Slope townhouse in 2015. In 2017, the couple listed the historic townhouse for $8,000,000, and it sold for $6,562,500. The couple strides to lead private lives, bouncing between locations in Europe and New York City. Currently, they own a $15.3 million brownstone in Brooklyn.
* Picture attribution: Corcoran
6) Patrick Stewart – 288 7th Street #3
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Price: $2,500,000
Size: 3 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Closed on: August 26, 2012
Famous for his role as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series, Patrick Stewart invested in this Park Slope duplex in 2012. The unit comes with its own wood-burning fireplaces and a fair amount of outdoor space, along with a 200-square-foot balcony in the master suite. Stewart sold the condo in 2017.
* Picture attribution: Brown Harris Stevens
7) Norah Jones – 166 Amity Street
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
Price: $4,900,000
Size: 5 Beds, 3 Baths
Closed on: January 26, 2009
Brooklynite star Norah Jones bought the Amity Street Townhouse back in 2009. She recently sold the property in 2020 for $7,500,000. This home provides a sunny oasis and includes a heated in-ground pool. The singer involved herself in controversy when she installed seven lot-line windows in the unit.
* Picture attribution: Nest Seekers International
8) Thaddeus Young – 360 Furman Street #210
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Price: $5,325,000
Size: 3 Beds, 3.5 Baths
Closed on: September 25, 2015
Former Brooklyn Nets star Thaddeus Young bought the luxury condo apartment in 2015 for $5,325,000. In 2019, he sold the unit for over $1 million less than he originally purchased it for.
* Photo attribution: RealtyHop
9) Jemima Kirke – 408A Clinton Street
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Price: $2,036,500
Size: 4 Beds, 2.5 Baths
Closed on: September 23, 2013
HBO ‘Girls’ actress Jemima Kirke purchased the Carroll Gardens townhouse in 2013 for $2,036,500. She sold the apartment in January of 2018 for $4,495,000. Kirke added bohemian touches and decor to the residence during her period of ownership.
* Picture attribution: Brownstoner
10) Bradley D. Wong – 876 Hancock Street
Neighborhood: Bedford-Stuyvesant
Price: $1,490,000
Size: 2 Beds, 1.5 Baths
Closed on: March 15, 2016
Law & Order actor B.D. Wong purchased the Bedford-Stuyvesant home after his last purchase of a property in NoHo. Later that year, he transferred the property to Saturday Night Dinner LLC. It is unclear whether he still resides in the unit.
* Photo attribution: Compass
11) James Lafferty – 34 North 7th Street 4AA (The Edge)
Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Price: $814,600
Size: 2 Beds, 2 Baths
Closed on: January 16, 2012
One Tree Hill actor James Lafferty purchased a condo unit at The Edge for $814,600 in 2012. Located in Williamsburg, he sold the property for $1,340,000 in 2018.
* Photo attribution: RealtyHop
12) Jonathan Safran Foer – 374 Pacific Street
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill
Price: $5,400,000
Size: 8 Beds, 6 Baths
Closed on: March 4, 2014
American novelist Jonathan Safran Foer purchased the Boerum Hill townhouse for $5,400,000 back in 2014. He transformed the once abandoned eyesore property into a stunning and cozy house. In 2018, he sold the property for $7,600,000.
* Picture attribution: Compass
13) Pat Keirnan – 135 Bedford Avenue
Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Price: $2,025,000
Size: 2 Beds, 2 Baths
Closed on: April 8, 2012
NY1 news anchor Pat Keirnan purchased this Williamsburg pad back in 2012 for $2,025,000. He held on the to the unit for only two months before selling it for $3,825,000. He since bought and sold another Brooklyn unit at 171 North 7th Street.
* Picture attribution: 6sqft
14) Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany – 17 Prospect Park W
Neighborhood: North Slope
Price: $12,400,000
Size: 7 Beds, 4 Baths
Sold on: August 10, 2022
This pair of actors, who have been married for over twenty years, sold their home to the private entity Goodie Yags LLC in 2015 for $12,400,000. After coming on and off the market several times since then, the townhouse recently sold for $11,700,000.
*Photo Attribution: Douglas Elliman