When it comes to real estate, Frank Sinatra has been doing things his way. Although the New Jersey-born music icon has bounced from one striking place to another, Sinatra’s Twin Palms plate epitomized his party lifestyle. Seeing everything from the legendary brawls with once-wife Ava Gardner to the revolving door of famous celebrity guests, Ol’ Blue Eyes’ time in the desert was anything but ordinary.
Frank Sinatra paid only $150,000 for his Twin Palms property
As the story goes, 31-year-old Frank Sinatra walked into the office of architect E. Stuart Williams in May 1947 with great opportunity—and potential disaster.
According to Visit Palm Springs, the singer expected the famous homeowner to accept a batch of personalized designs, which Williams privately thought would be a disaster for his company’s reputation. But instead of a lavish Georgian-style Sinatra residence, Williams persuaded the singer to accept a more practical and modern design.
In the end, Williams built his dream Sinatra of escaping the desert at unbelievable speed, wrapping it up in time to throw the first Blue Eyes New Year’s Eve party that tops Hollywood’s list. With a piano-shaped pool, outdoor kitchenette, and the best sound system you can buy, Sinatra’s home is suddenly the place to be in Palm Springs. Cary Grant, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope were just a few of the other stars who had similar desert getaways at the time.
Although $150,000 in 1947 wasn’t cheap, it would prove to be one of the quietest real estate deals Sinatra ever made. With 4,500 square feet of living space, custom-designed cabanas, and panoramic views, the Twin Palms property in Sinatra was a steal. Buying a similar property in Palm Springs today ranges between $3 million and $5 million (per Redfin), although Sinatra paid $1.9 million inflation-adjusted.
Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms property has seen a lot of drama
Although Frank Sinatra was known for recording music and movies at a fast pace, he believed in the second part of his motto “work hard, play hard.” And when the Jack Daniel’s flag flew over the house, it usually meant one thing: Sinatra was home and ready to party (for every country that lived).
But the ruthless partying lifestyle affected Sinatra. After separating from his first wife, Nancy Barbato, in 1951, the singer was linked to movie star Ava Gardner in what turned out to be an incredibly tumultuous marriage. By 1953, Sinatra and Gardner were in conflict – apparently due to his affair with Lana Turner – and the couple had been separated for years.
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According to the Desert Sun, Jack Daniel’s flag came down for the last time in April 1953, when a Rat Pack member sold his possessions for an undisclosed amount.
By the time Sinatra and Gardner officially separated in 1957, he had settled into another gorgeous home in the Palm Springs area. Technically in Rancho Mirage, the property will be his primary home for nearly the rest of his life, although Sinatra has developed a stray eye for real estate that has led to a dizzying backlog of luxury properties.
The singer bounced from Manhattan to Malibu
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Frank Sinatra loved entertaining distinguished guests at his main Palm Springs home, which he expanded into a larger, more guest-friendly version of the Twin Palms estate. Anticipating a second visit from John F. Kennedy, Sinatra even added a separate bungalow and second pool for extra privacy.
In the end, he also bought a great getaway in the neighboring Palm Desert. It was known as Villa Maggio after him From here forever (According to the New York Post), the property has a helipad, over 6,000 square feet of living space, and great views of the Coachella Valley.
When he wasn’t at Villa Maggio or his Palm Springs condo, the chairman could often be found at the legendary Los Angeles property Birdview, as detailed in Architectural Digest. Sinatra regularly rented the luxurious seven-bedroom home throughout the 1950s and 1960s and welcomed a host of famous visitors; At one time, Marilyn Monroe lived in his guest house. The luxury house has appeared in many TV shows and movies, including mad men And the dream girls.
Sinatra also lived in a stunning penthouse in Manhattan overlooking the East River. During his short-lived marriage to Mia Farrow in the late 1960s, the apartment was such a hotspot that Andy Warhol dubbed it “Cave Brilliant,” according to a Business Insider report. And when Sinatra finally sought to enjoy a quiet retirement, he and his wife, Barbara, built a beautiful oceanfront home in Malibu. Although he was listed just shy of $13 million in 2018, actor/comedian Mindy Kaling earned it for $9.55 million in 2020, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Although the listing of real estate may sound dizzying, the famous artist lived well within his means. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sinatra still had a fortune of $200 million at the time of his death in 1998, which equates to roughly $350 million in 2022 (according to US inflation). Lofter estimated his net worth was approximately $600 million upon his death.
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