Where Celebrities Have Lived In Chicago Over The Years

Located along the banks of the stunning Lake Michigan, Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States and is beloved for its world-renowned architecture, excellent dining scene, and lively arts and entertainment landscape. With so many attractions, museums, and unique neighborhoods rich with their own history and culture, The Windy City has been home to quite a few celebrities over the years. From high-rise luxury apartment buildings to Victorian brownstones, Chicago has catered to celebrities with different preferences and a wide range of purchasing power. Considering the properties they’ve owned, it’s not surprising that these celebrities were excited to call Chicago home.

Vince Vaughn - The Palmolive

Vince Vaughn, the actor best known for roles in modern classic films like Wedding Crashers and Dodgeball, spent the early aughts as the owner of a five bedroom triplex penthouse in Chicago’s prestigious Palmolive Building. The apartment, which was once home to Hugh Hefmer’s Playboy Enterprises for more than twenty years, spanned over 12,000 square feet. In 2015, Vaugh listed his three-story Art Deco apartment for nearly $14M, not to mention the condo’s $12,000 per month homeowners association fees. The building, one of the most exclusive in the city, boasts world-class amenities that include a 24-hour door staff, concierge, and valet parking, as well as the private Beacon Club. Homes at The Palmolive are priced starting at more than $1M, with Vaughn’s former residence commanding the highest price in the building.

Chance the Rapper - 600 N. Fairbanks

Chance the Rapper proudly hails from Chicago, so it’s no surprise that he took more than $4M of his hard earned cash and invested it in a magnificent condo in the city’s Streeterville neighborhood. The 4,500 square foot home inside 600 North Fairbanks features two bedrooms and is located at the highly-coveted 600 North Fairbanks Court. The apartment was once two separate units that the previous owner turned into one expansive home over the course of two years of renovations. Perhaps the most noteworthy feature in the impressive home is the magnificent views of the city and Lake Michigan it provides, courtesy of sleek floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around nearly its entirety. Interested home buyers can move into Chance’s building for as low as the $600s for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home.

Oprah - Water Tower Place

Oprah has been synonymous with The Windy City since the start of her career, but in 2015 she sold her sprawling 9,600 square foot condo situated right along the Magnificent Mile. The home, located within Water Tower Place, sold for more than $4.5M and spans not one, but two stories. Oprah owned the home since the mid-1980s, and its sale marked the end of an era as she continued to slowly but surely move her home base from Chicago to Los Angeles. Homes in Water Tower Place feature between two and four bedrooms and most homes are priced between the low $1Ms and the high $2Ms.

Sophia Bush - Acorn Lofts

Sophia Bush, the actress who first found large-scale success with the hit series One Tree Hill, once called Chicago’s West Loop home. In the Spring of 2020, Bush sold her 3,500 square foot penthouse at Acorn Lofts for a cool $2M, earning her a healthy $400 profit from when she purchased it in 2015. The home featured three bedrooms, private elevator access, 12-foot ceilings, and a floating staircase to transport Bush and her guests to a private rooftop deck. Chicago-based designer Lauren McGrady oversaw the property’s renovation, which included bright blue kitchen cabinets, white oak flooring, and gorgeous exposed brick.

Bill and Giuliana Rancic - The Gold Coast

In 2013 household television personalities Bill and Giuliana Rancic purchased an old Victorian brownstone located in Chicago’s highly sought-after Gold Coast neighborhood for a mere $2.125M. The couple renovated the 19th century home from the inside out after stripping it down to its studs and carefully redesigning every inch. The home spans 8,000 square feet and has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. In 2018, the power couple listed the newly renovated home on the market once again for a whopping $6.8M, which, though intimidating, reflects the totality of the work they did to breathe new life into the old house.