The phrase ‘bachelor pad’ once conjured a very specific scene: a solitary black leather sofa, a bed dressed with a single pillowcase, and a bare-bones kitchen equipped with little more than a kettle and a bin overflowing with takeaway cartons.
But for stars such as Ben Affleck and Tom Brady, starting over after divorce has meant something far more glamorous — with millions spent on lavish properties designed for a new chapter of single life.
Today’s celebrity bachelor pads are less about sparse solitude and more about polished interiors, generous bedrooms and the kind of luxury amenities usually found in five-star retreats.
This week, presenter Vernon Kay was reported to have purchased a £3million home in Buckinghamshire, just 15 minutes from the family house, as he continues to navigate his split from Tess Daly.
The BBC Radio 2 DJ is still said to be living with his ex-wife for now, but is reportedly preparing to move into the nearby property — a new home that allegedly comes with a swimming pool and extensive grounds.
Vernon, 52, and Tess, 57, confirmed in May that they were separating after 23 years of marriage, while stressing that they have remained on friendly terms.
And he is far from the only famous name to put serious thought — and serious money — into creating a post-split bachelor pad.
In 2024, shortly after his second divorce from Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, 54, moved into an impressive $20.5million property — bought on his ex’s birthday and reportedly financed in part with a $10million loan.
The 6,200 square-foot property was originally built and designed in the early 1940s by noted architect Cliff May before being extensively remodelled by its previous owners.
In 2024, fresh off his second divorce from Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, 54, moved into a stunning $20.5million pad – which he took out a $10million loan for – that he bought on his ex’s birthday
The 6,200 square-foot property was originally built and designed in the early 1940s by noted architect Cliff May before being extensively remodelled by its previous owners
Ben Affleck split from Jennifer Lopez two years ago with Ben later moving into a stunning $20.5million pad
The estate – which sits on nearly an acre of land – also sits in a very coveted neighborhood for the Los Angeles area as it is situated in between the two affluent neighborhoods of Brentwood and Pacific Palisades.
There is a split-level main living area with a mix of stone and rustic hardwood floors.
The rooms include vaulted wood-beam ceilings, steel-framed windows and views of the beautiful landscaping as they also come equipped with walk-in closets.
The living room with fireplace also doubles a screening room featuring a dedicated private powder room for the film-maker.
In addition there are also breakfast and dining spaces, a family room and a den.
The property includes a large detached guest house – which features two levels – and a horse stable, walking ring and tack room.
There’s also a cabana with a fireplace and – of course – a swimming pool.
And that same year, actor Hugh Jackman, 57, appeared to move into a fashionably decorated city apartment following his divorcé from Deborra-Lee Furness, which was finalised in 2025.
Showing glimpses of the spacious property which included views of high-rise buildings and minimalist decor, the actor appeared to offer hints of his new abode on social media shortly after their separation.
It included snippets of white-grey wooden floors, Louis Vuitton coffee table books, framed photos of stunning landscapes, a marble kitchen counter and a velvet sofa.
The space seemed to be a solo pad, likely inhabited by Hugh as the couple were amid negotiating what to make of the impressive property portfolio they accrued during their marriage.
Before he solidified his relationship with Sutton Foster with their Met Gala debut in May, the Aussie star made one huge move to sever ties with his ex as he quietly relisted one of the marital homes he shared with Furness.
While Jackman and Furness finalised their divorce in June 2025, they are still in the process of splitting up their shared assets.
Actor Hugh Jackman, 57, appeared to move into a fashionably decorated city apartment following his divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness, which was finalised in 2025
It included snippets of white-grey wooden floors, Louis Vuitton coffee table books, framed photos of stunning landscapes, a marble kitchen counter and a velvet sofa
One of those assets is a stunning New York apartment, which was put back on the market on March 31 – just one month before Jackman and Foster walked the Met Gala red carpet.
Originally hitting the market for an eye-watering AUD$57.5million (US$38.9million) in 2022, Hugh slashed the price by AUD$16million.
Located in Manhattan’s upscale West Village, the five-bedroom, six-bathroom pad has a new price tag of AUD$41.5million (US$28,750,000).
According to property records, Jackman and Furness, 70, still own the property, which they snapped up in 2008 for US$21.1million (AUD$29.1million).
The former couple later moved into a smaller property in nearby Chelsea.
Covering the eighth, ninth and tenth floors of a 15-storey high-rise, the apartment spans 1,021 square metres and offers stunning views of the Hudson River and the famous Manhattan skyline.
The tenth floor hosts a luxurious main bedroom suite and features a studio, spa bath, sauna and dressing rooms.
Meanwhile, the other two levels of the enormous property feature living spaces, a library and a guest bedroom.
Other highlights include floor-to-ceiling windows, a recreation room and a professional gourmet kitchen.
Amenities in the sought-after block include a fitness centre, full-time doorman and concierge.
It is understood that the sale of the property was part of the Jackman-Furness divorce settlement.
Furness reportedly bought out Jackman’s stake in their other luxury New York abode – an AUD$35million (US$24million) three-bedroom Manhattan penthouse.
The property, which the couple purchased together back in 2022 for AUD$31.6million (US$21.12million), had not been listed for sale but underwent a property transfer.
Elsewhere, last year, Kevin Costner, 71, gave fans a rare look at his $145million beachfront compound in Santa Barbara, California.
Elsewhere, last year, Kevin Costner , 71, gave fans a rare look at his $145million beachfront compound in Santa Barbara, California
The Yellowstone star took to Instagram to upload footage of himself hanging out inside the lavish home with his dog Bob.
Fans could see the incredible ocean view from Costner’s living room as he relaxed in a chair with his laptop in his lap, surrounded by a living area featuring a plush off-white couch situated in front of a wall-mounted flat screen TV with magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows.
There’s also built-in wall storage, comfy beige lounge chairs and a large striped rainbow rug for a fun pop of colour against the gray-brown wood floors.
Dark wood end tables break up the room’s neutral tones of white, beige and gray.
Kevin also appears to have some ocean-themed artwork hung up above the fireplace, which is situated just to the right of the TV set.
He put the Santa Barbara compound on the market for $60million in 2017 during his marriage to Christine Baumgartner, who divorced the star in May 2023 after 18 years of marriage and three children together.
The former couple’s divorce turned sour as they battled over division of assets, including who would get to stay in their $145million marital home. One month into the contentious split, Kevin claimed that his ex was refusing to leave the property, which went against their prenuptial agreement, as per TMZ.
She was eventually ordered by a judge to move out of the compound shared with Kevin by that July. By September, she moved into a $40,000-per-month rental property in neighbouring Montecito.
The couple’s divorce was finalised in February 2024, with Kevin agreeing to pay his ex $63,000 per-month in child support.
Elsewhere, in 2020, Phillip Schofield moved out of his Oxfordshire £2million family home following the announcement that he is gay – and purchased a plush London flat.
In 2024, however, he sold the gated development, said to have been in ‘very good condition’ and the ‘perfect setting for entertaining’.
Elsewhere, in 2020, Phillip Schofield moved out of his Oxfordshire £2million family home following the announcement that he is gay – and purchased a plush London flat
It has views of The Shard and is near The London Studios where This Morning used to be filmed before the programme moved to the Television Centre in White City in 2018.
With 1180 square foot to play with, it boasts a modern kitchen and two double bedrooms, alongside an underground parking space and access to a communal garden area.
Meanwhile, this year Richard Hammond bought a £2million bachelor mansion following the breakdown of his marriage.
The former Top Gear host, 56, purchased a six-bedroom Georgian manor house for less than the asking price of £2.25million.
Complete with a tennis court, wine cellar and outbuildings to store cars, the property was reportedly bought with cash.
Previously, he had shared the sprawling Grade II-listed Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire with his ex Mindy and spent time in a rented countryside farmhouse after his divorce.
Worth some £7million, the former couple bought the castle in 2008 and Mr Hammond spent 15 years restoring a listed granary barn on the grounds into his dream ‘clubhouse’.
In some cases, A-listers; bachelor pads can be more flamboyant.
As an outspoken rocker and one half of Oasis, Noel Gallagher, 59, has never been one to do things by halves.
So when he moved out of his family home after splitting with his wife, former PR executive Sara MacDonald after 22 years in 2023, he was only ever going to live somewhere swanky.
The following year, the star revealed he booked into a £2,500-a-night suite at the five-star Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair while he waited for his bachelor pad to be refurbished.
Noel told the Matt Morgan Podcast: ‘I had some proper f***ing good times there. I lived there for most of last year, I was there three or four nights a week.’
The singer-songwriter, reportedly now worth £57million, later moved into a flat in Maida Vale, west London.
It was claimed he paid her £20million plus their £8million home in Hampshire in the divorce settlement.
‘I can get on the bike and go up to King’s Cross, go down to the canal and get outside my wonderful ex-wife’s house and give her a little wave – and go, “You didn’t take this from me”,’ he added.
Elsewhere, some A-listers have converted what would have been family homes into solo dwellings.
After splitting from supermodel Gisele Bundchen, ex-NFL player Tom Brady converted the mansion he and his ex bought together on the luxurious Creek Island in Miami into a bachelor pad.
It is believed to cost in the region of $11.5million.
He bought the plot of land with his ex-wife, the Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, in 2020 for $17million but the couple divorced in October 2022, midway through the NFL season, after 13 years of marriage.
It faces out onto water and has a golf course behind it. According to The Sun, the Creek Island area is protected by a private 13-person police force.
