You might know Reese Witherspoon as the talented actress behind such hits as Legally Blonde and Wild, but the successful silver screen star is also a pretty savvy property magnate. One of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, she’s invested her money wisely in properties around the US, from Nashville to Bel Air and Brentwood. Let's take a tour of her impressive property portfolio...

Reese began her property portfolio with former husband Ryan Phillippe, purchasing a mansion in Bel Air. The pair divorced in 2007, by which time they'd already sold the home, and in 2011 Reese married talent agent Jim Toth (pictured). Like many celebrities who buy and sell property, Reese was about to get the house buying bug...

When they married, Toth already had a home of his own and over the years the pair have sold and expanded their joint portfolio, buying properties in Reese's hometown of Nashville, as well as in California, where they're bringing up their family.

Reese's childhood home in Nashville had a big influence on the kind of home and home life she went on to create for herself and family. She was strongly influenced by her grandparents, and shared this snap of herself at the home where they spent many years, remembering her happy evenings after school spent there.

Bought with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe for $3.3 million (£2.5m) in 2001, this Bel Air mansion was sold by the former couple in 2004 for $4.5 million (£3.4m). It returned to the market again for a cool $16 million (£12.2m) in 2017.

The home has a historic feel, despite only being built in 1969, boasting plenty of amazing architectural features. Designed by respected architect Gerard Colcord, it features oak floors, cathedral-style ceilings, skylights, and open fireplaces throughout.

The house is part of a one-acre plot with a garden, patio and barbecue area, as well as its own swimming pool and spa, a garage and a separate guest house.

The home has four bedrooms and five bathrooms, with a kitchen, media room and a spacious master wing complete with sitting room and wet bar on the ground level.

It also has a stunning outdoor pool, with Greek-style columns tucked in amongst mature oak and sycamore trees. An atmospheric garden lighting scheme sets the scene for a tranquil evening swim.

For much of the 2000s, Reese was steadily buying up real estate and adding to what would become known as her 'mega-mansion' in Brentwood Circle, a private gated community in a fashionable part of the Bay Area in California, near to Bel Air. The star eventually bought three neighbouring properties, including this single-storey ranch for $3 million (£2.3m).

Reese bought the main property in her Brentwood collection in 2003 for $4.7 million (£3.6m). In 2009 she added the adjacent property to her estate, picking up the home next door for $3.3 million (£2.5m). She demolished the existing residence and re-landscaped the land into a new backyard for the first house.

The final piece of the puzzle came when she bought this third and final property, bringing her total spend to $11 million (£8.3m) on the combined 1.32 acres.

But perhaps surprisingly, she and Toth put the entire estate up for sale in 2014, for $14 million (£10.6m). Ultimately they ended up splitting the properties up again, selling the side plot first, then unloading the rest of the compound for just over $10 million (£7.6m).

Additionally, in August 2010 Reese bought a ranch house from actor Steven Seagal for $6.9 million (£5.2m). The 2.53-acre estate in the Mandeville Canyon area of LA also previously belonged to actor Tom Selleck. Reese had the existing house and outbuildings razed but later sold on the vacant plot in September 2012 with an asking price of $8 million (£6m).

At around the time Brentwood sold, Reese also put her other incredible LA property, the luxurious ranch-style Ojai estate, on the market too. This was a little surprising as it's where she and Jim got married and it led to speculation that the pair planned to move away from California.

In a stunning spread on the property in Elle Decor, Reese said: "It's meditative and restorative. As soon as I drive through the gate, I relax. The air is fresh, the phone isn't ringing, you can't access email. Time slows down. Within an hour I'm lying on that couch taking a big fat nap. It's like having a little bit of Tennessee in California."

Reese bought the rustic retreat for $4 million (£3m) in 2006 and she originally wanted  $10 million (£7.6m) for it, but dropped the price after over a year on the market to $5.9 million (£4.5m), eventually selling up at the end of 2013 for $5 million (£3.8m). 

Built by acclaimed architect Wallace Neff as a farmhouse for industrialist Edward Drummond Libbey, it was later transformed into a family home. Reese bought it from interior designer Kathryn Ireland and added a few modern accessories of her own. No stranger to interior design herself, she kept its century-old fixtures, hardware and original stonework intact.

As well as a pool, stables and guest houses, the main house has four bedrooms and more fireplaces than you could shake a stick at. It retains its original Talavera tile staircase and enjoys a huge influx of natural light during the bright LA days.

As Reese and Jim quietly sold off their Cali properties, it was expected that they would move back to Tennessee and return to Reese's southern roots. Adding fuel to the fire, the pair purchased this magnificent fixer-upper mansion in Nashville in 2014.

The couple bought the historic mansion from automobile industry giants Lee and Kelly Beaman. The Beamans had initially bought up the property to save it from demolition, adding a clause in the sale contract saying that the building could not be torn down even if the plot was bought. Reese and Jim came to the rescue, scooping up the crumbling estate with a plan to restore it to its former glory.

The 1930s home has an elegant staircase, three fireplaces and a panelled library, but needs major renovations, with some parts still missing flooring and few appliances remaining.

Reese and Jim bought the four-bedroom property for $2 million (£1.5m) and went on to sell it in 2019 for $2.5 million (£1.9m). It sits at the end of a long driveway and includes more than six acres of land in the upscale Oak Hill area.

There’s a small poolside guesthouse on the estate, separated from the main property by a stream. While it might look beautiful, the structure needed significant renovations to bring it up to usable standards.

In addition to properties Reese owned before their marriage, Jim owned a swanky bachelor pad. In 2015 after making renovations, he put the house up for sale. Jim had owned the house for nearly 10 years, purchasing it in 2006 for $2 million (£1.5m).

The two-bedroom house was modernised before hitting the market, with grey oak floors added and modern fittings and fixtures. It makes for a secluded escape, with large windows for plenty of natural light, and roomy terraces that overlook the small but private backyard with built-in firepit and spa.

The pair refreshed the house and put it on the market for $1.6 million (£1.2m) – notably less than he originally paid for it and not taking into account the spend on improvements and additions.

But it's likely the pair dropped the price in order to secure a quick sale because they had their sights set on another California property...

In 2014, the couple spent $12.7 million (£9.6m) on a property in Pacific Palisades, a high-end neighbourhood tucked between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in California.

Bought in the same month as her Nashville mansion, the house décor here also seemed in need of Reese's magic touch. However, the five-bedroom, five-bathroom house was far less of a project to undertake and the family remained here in California for some years.

The home was previously purchased in December 2012 for $4.9 million (£3.7m) by an award-winning architect Ken Ungar.

Ken worked his magic on the property and created an estate worthy of an A-lister, taking the outdated buildings and turning them into something worthy of the cool $12.7 million (£9.6m) price tag. Not a bad little profit there.

An imposing navy door, offset by intricate white window detailing creates quite the entrance.

Inside, the entrance hall is a calming palette of soft neutral tones. A large blue-grey rug offers a warm welcome, while grey patterned wallpaper adds character to the space.

The blue-grey scheme is continued throughout the house and into the luxurious kitchen. Cabinetry in the same fresh tone is accessorised with gold handles for a luxurious finish. Reese uses large glass jars with woven lids as stylish storage solutions for pasta, sugar and flour.

White subway tiles add a crisp, contemporary touch, while a large range cooker is set into an alcove in the cabinetry.

Reese's living room is unsurprisingly chic, with blue-grey patterned cushions, knitted throws and rose gold accessories. We particularly love the ornate clock, which has been raised on a makeshift plinth made from art books.

A keen promoter of books and reading, Reese has designed the living area with an entire bookcase wall. The room also has a grand piano and two large, comfy sofas where she liked to curl up with a blanket and a good read.

A roaring fire is an essential addition to any family home and paired with a large patterned rug you just can't go wrong. The ornate fireguard mirrors the striking window detailing around the door, creating a sense of continuity throughout the house.

Reese's taste in all things seems to be impeccable – including interior design! She often posts images on her Instagram feed of gorgeous furnishings from her own homeware and lifestyle company, Draper James, in situ in her own properties.

Her bedroom is nothing short of dreamy, with a light wood headboard inlaid with blue and white patterned fabric channelling a breezy seaside aesthetic. Crisp bedsheets boarded with a funky Celtic motif add a cool twist to the classic coastal scheme.

Befitting of a Hollywood star, Reese's walk-in wardrobe is nothing short of fabulous. Teal and light grey wallpaper in a bold botanical print is the perfect backdrop to showcase her many awards gowns, while an upholstered sofa in the same palette offers an ideal spot to kick back and contemplate her clothing options. 

Outside, the elegant estate has a tranquil swimming pool and plenty of lush green grounds for the family to enjoy. It provided an idyllic setting for the star's 4th July party, where she hung cute holiday banners from the trees and donned a patriotic red, white and blue outfit.

Without listing it on the market, Witherspoon was able to sell their home in April 2020 for $17 million (£12.9m) in an all-cash deal to a buyer who required no mortgage – making a nice profit against the $12.7 million (£9.6m) she originally purchased it for. Cheers to that!

For family getaways, Witherspoon bought this charming farm in the foothills above Zuma Beach in Malibu for $6.3 million (£4.8m) in August 2019.

The stylish estate boasts the ultimate in privacy and includes two acres of land hidden behind secure gates. Inside, the main farmhouse, which was built in 1949, boasts open-plan living spaces with a designer galley kitchen. Decorated in a boho-chic style, the home has wood floors throughout and soaring ceilings.  

The stylish estate was previously a wedding venue and event space, so came ready-made for Reese. Also within walking distance to Zuma Beach, it makes the perfect weekend spot for the family.

Adjacent to the farmhouse sits a rustic barn, which is fitted out as a guest house. There's also a stylish on-site studio and screening room which has a striking monochrome design compared to the rest of the house. 

As well as the guest house, set amongst the estate's ancient sycamores, fruit trees and vegetable gardens are equestrian facilities including a stable block and a number of other outbuildings. In another off-market deal, she sold the family vacation spot in November 2020 for an impressive $6.7 million (£5m).

Witherspoon is back in her Brentwood stomping ground, this time receiving the keys to one of the most private properties in western Los Angeles. The home is nestled in a canyon and shrouded by nature, accessed only via a private road. It then lies behind a huge gate, meaning the three-acre property is a completely shielded private oasis.

2020 was a busy year for Witherspoon. Not only did she star in and executive produce the smash hit mini-series Little Fires Everywhere, she also produced the box office record-breaking movie The Dry. This is also the third property that Witherspoon exchanged on last year – it looks like she’s just as set on conquering the property market just as she has Hollywood!

The English country-style mansion was actually constructed in 1993, but the features have a rustic, period feel: chocolate-hued hardwood floors, richly stained ceiling beams, welcoming French doors and a wood-panelled library.

Each bedroom is so large and lofty that it could fit a standard-size apartment in its floor space. There’s even room for not one but two staff suites. Talk about a sprawling residence!

The home encompasses over 9,500 square feet of living space beneath vaulted ceilings. Outdoors, you’ll find perfectly manicured lawns, a saltwater swimming pool with spa functionalities and an outdoor cooking area complete with a large outdoor fireplace – perfect for California evenings! However, most recently, Reese put the home on the market for a whopping $25 million (£18.9m). We can't wait to see who snaps up the stunning home. 

With her impressive property portfolio and impeccable eye for interior design, we doubt this is the last we'll hear of Reese's real estate dealings. We wonder what she will snap up next, after the sale of her stunning Brentwood mansion... 

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