7 celebrities who own mansions in Virginia

Many celebrities have called Virginia home over the years. Check out these seven, ranging from athletes like Bruce Smith to rappers like Missy Elliott.

Those of us who live in Virginia adore it for its innate charm. Our cities boast old, beautiful architecture, and the mountains are majestic, offering a perfect weekend escape when everyday life becomes a tad too overbearing. Our homes are gorgeous, too, but while the South often has overall cheaper home prices than other regions, Virginia’s just as affected by the real estate market’s inflation as everywhere else. According to Zillow’s data, Virginia’s median house cost is just over $400,000. This puts it near the country’s average of $416,900, per U.S. Census Bureau data obtained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Of course, celebrities don’t have to contend with these home prices like we do; their pocketbooks could afford several single-family homes without even wincing. And you may be surprised to know that many celebrities own a mansion in the Old Dominion. Some may be from Virginia, while others may have been drawn to it for its more relaxed way of life. Let’s check out seven celebrities who own or have owned mansions right in our backyard.

Related: See Stacker’s List of Virginia Cities with Most Expensive Homes 

Missy Elliott owns a large Virginia Beach mansion that’s worth almost three times its original price

Missy Elliott is a singer, rapper, dancer, and all-around entertainer, and she’s been proving her performance prowess since the ‘90s. She’s also a local. The “Work It” artist hails from Portsmouth, Va., and while many artists uproot and call Los Angeles home once they strike gold, Elliott still owns a mansion in our fair state some three decades into her illustrious career.

According to the mansion’s Zillow listing, the Virginia Beach home was purchased in 1999, and it hasn’t been sold since. Now worth a little over $2.5 million, the 11,000-square-foot home was acquired for $90,000, making it quite the investment piece. Of course, that’s not why the “WTF” rapper bought it; word on the street is that Elliott really bought the home for her mother. Supporting this is Elliott’s first appearance on “MTV Cribs” in 2002. In the episode, she refers to her mom having an office, as well as a decently sized conference room, and her mom, Patricia Elliott, even appears at the end to bid the camera crew adieu. Still, Elliott does show off her bedroom on “Cribs,” indicating that she’s likely also lived there with her mom, who she says, at least at the time, managed her business. 

Elliott’s Virginia mansion has 25 total rooms, including six bedrooms and six bathrooms. In her “Cribs” episode, Elliott discusses her fondness for Greek statues and architecture and shows off many stunning rooms, including an indoor pool, a lavish kitchen, and a large home gym. “Now this is a room I don’t even come in,” the “Get Ur Freak On” rapper quipped when touring the latter. Altogether, this is a mansion of which anyone could be envious.

Missy Elliot performing at a festival in 2010. (Nikola Spasenoski/Shutterstock)

Retired football player Bruce Smith calls Virginia Beach home, too

Known for his work with the Buffalo Bills, former National Football League (NFL) player Bruce Smith calls Virginia Beach home just like Missy Elliott (that’s what we call an Old Dominion “pep rally”). In fact, he hails from Norfolk, so he’s called Virginia home since he was born, though he’s only called Virginia Beach home since he purchased his mansion in July 1994.

According to the house’s Zillow listing, it was purchased for $470,000 but is now worth $2.6 million. In addition to owning his mansion, Smith has become a developer in the area since retiring from the NFL, hoping to build up his community.

Smith’s mansion has 7,101 square feet, including five bedrooms and five bathrooms. It sits on just one acre, but sadly, not too much is known about it otherwise. What we do know, however, is that Smith has a unique sense of humor. The former quarterback made headlines for his gnarly Halloween decorations in 2021. According to WRAL News, Smith erected countless tombstones in front of his house, each decorated as a nod to quarterbacks that he bested throughout his tenure in the NFL, including the players’ names and jersey numbers. Ultimately, we may not know the intricacies of his home that well, but at least we know he doesn’t take life too seriously!

Bruce Smith at the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. (Michele Moore/CC BY 2.0)

Alex Ovechkin’s stunning Virginia mansion truly has it all

The National Hockey League has given Virginians a few big mansion owners, including Russian player Alex Ovechkin, who anchors the Washington Capitals as a captain. Ovechkin has been in the hockey game for a hot minute, and likewise, he’s owned a massive property in McLean, Va., for more than a decade. According to the house’s Redfin listing, the property was purchased in 2012 for $4.2 million, while it’s estimated to be worth $5.3 million today. The gorgeous home has three stories and sits on 1.25 acres. Moreover, it features marbled floors and a working elevator to traverse the expansive home. 

Business Insider received photos of the house’s interior when it was purchased in 2012, and the details are truly stunning. A grand spiral staircase connects all three floors, while common rooms like the library are incredibly spacious and look like they’re straight out of a “Beauty and the Beast” adaptation. There are also multiple decks, which make for easy hosting spaces. Overall, this home looks like a dream, and we can see why Ovechkin hasn’t left it.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin playing in 2011. (clyde/CC BY-NC 2.0)

Nicklas Bäckström recently listed his gorgeous Virginia mansion for sale

The National Hockey League (NHL) is the gift that keeps on giving. Nicklas Bäckström is a seasoned player from Sweden who owns a glorious mansion in McLean—but not for much longer. As seen on the estate’s Zillow profile, the home went up for sale on Apr. 19, 2025.

Why the hockey player is selling the gorgeous home is unclear, but it could have something to do with him experiencing health problems that have held him back from sporting it up in the last two years, per Mansion Global. Will Bäckström move back to Sweden if his work with the NHL is done? We can’t say for certain, but we can say that the Washington Capitals player has been living in style since he purchased his mansion in 2021.

Bäckström’s property sits on just one acre, but he didn’t need acres on acres of land to live life to the fullest. No, his home has over 17,000 square feet that encapsulate seven bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, sweeping common areas, a chef’s kitchen for ultra-gourmet eats, a gym, and more. There are endless enviable features, too, including six full fireplaces, TVs with speakers throughout the property, a large pool, and more.

Overall, this home was designed with a minimalist perspective, which is why it has ample black-and-white decor, but it’s a natural stunner. Construction on it finished in 2021—the same year the hockey player purchased it—so whoever acquires it now can rest easy knowing that it’s still a fairly new property.

Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom warms up for a game in 2022. (Alexander Jonesi, All-Pro Reels/CC BY-SA 2.0)

Robert Duvall lived in a spacious Virginia mansion for three decades

You might know him from “The Godfather,” or you may recognize him from “Apocalypse Now.” But regardless of where you’ve seen him on the silver screen, you should call him neighbor.

Longtime actor Robert Duvall, who hails from San Diego, Calif., owned a mansion in Purcellville, Va., until May 2024, according to the home’s Zillow records. The home was sold for $3.4 million, and it’s estimated to be worth $3.3 million today. At just over 5,500 square feet, the home is large and beautiful, surrounded by greenery and a spacious pool. Five bedrooms and six bathrooms mean this home has enough room to go around. 

According to the Washingtonian, the home was constructed around 1820—just 32 years after Virginia became a state—and the estate comes with 28 acres of land. Charmingly enough, Duvall nicknamed the estate Butcher’s Run, which he also later named a production company, and the property was one on which you could truly get lost. A log cabin, a carriage house, four sheds, and more can be found scattered across the acres, all of which have a gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Duvall reportedly owned the property since the 80s, though it’s unclear why he sold it in 2024. The “True Grit” actor is now in his mid-90s, which could be one reason why, although nothing has been confirmed. 

Robert Duvall at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2009. (Josh Jensen/CC BY-SA 2.0)

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson retreats to his Virginia mansion when he needs downtime

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has many properties, which likely isn’t too surprising considering how successful—and wealthy—he is. Sitting casually and cutely in his catalog is one beautiful Virginia home affectionately called Mana Ranch. The Rock reportedly loves to retreat here when life becomes too busy, allowing himself to rest and recuperate. He’s also had this property, which is outside of Charlottesville in a suburb called Gordonsville, in his catalog for over 10 years, according to The Washington Post.

Home & Texture reports that the “Moana” actor’s Virginia mansion is worth $12 million and has 8,000 square feet, including seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms. While not too much is known about The Rock’s house, he has let fans into his life on the ranch. For example, in one video posted to Instagram in July 2019, the “Black Adam” actor mentions how the “property is on protected Civil War land, so the mana & spirits you feel out here can be quite powerful”—hence the estate’s name. We also know that The Rock has horses at Mana Ranch and even permits Will Coleman, an Olympic equestrian, to practice his thoroughbred horse training on the property (via Cowboys & Indians). Finally, it should come as no surprise since he’s a former wrestler, but The Rock’s property even features a full gym. 

Dwayne Johnson at a movie premiere in 2021. (DFree/Shutterstock)

A Saudi prince had perhaps the most extravagant Virginia mansion on this list

Does a royal count as a celebrity? In this case, yes, and you’ll see why. Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud spent some time in the U.S. before moving back to Saudi Arabia, and during his time here, he purchased a megamansion in Great Falls fresh out of construction for $12 million.

The wildest part of the story? According to Realtor.com, it is unclear whether he ever actually moved in. The prince was a student at Georgetown University when he opened his wallet for this property—which spans 24,000 square feet, by the way—but his job roles, including rising into government work by way of ambassadorship and, later, cabinet-level work, quickly progressed in a way that ultimately led him out of Virginia.

The Zillow listing for the prince’s megamansion shows that it finally sold one year after it was listed for $9.8 million, with the elaborate estate sitting on the market from Nov. 2023 to Nov. 2024. Known as Château de Lumière, the property features eight bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, and it was designed with European architecture in mind. This is why some sections might remind you of classic Italian buildings or Venetian cities—the home is a well-traveled paradise. If that weren’t enough, the home has a sauna, more than one kitchen, many high-end built-in appliances, a pool, decks and balconies, over five acres of land, and so much more. This is a mansion we’d love to see with our own eyes one day!

Saudi Arabia Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, at the Pentagon in Feb. 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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