Illustration by Mandy Ebert
Minneapolis, The Early Years
While Prince didn’t actually live in the Purple Rain house, as it’s come to be known, it’s here that a handful of poignant scenes in the 1984 film took place. The Longfellow neighborhood property hit the market in July 2015 listed at $110,000 and despite “needing rehab” sold for $117,000 — with more than 12,000 views. The new owners are missing a piece of history, though: The bathtub featured in the movie had been sold on eBay a few years prior.
Los Angeles, Part One
In the nineties, Prince purchased an Italianate villa in Beverly Hills. The 7,100-square-foot structure boasted a handsome library and a two-level wine cellar. He later sold the home for $2.2 million.
Southern Spain, 1996
As a wedding gift, Prince bought a palatial pad for first wife Mayte Garcia; it was dubbed the love nest during their time in residence. The 7,000-plus-square-foot, pink-hued home was nestled into the hills of the Paraíso Alto development in southern Spain and offered views of the Mediterranean Sea.
After the couple split, Garcia — who reportedly spent weekends at the property — sold the manse to a Dutch businessman in 2004. With the purchase came a professional hair salon, music studio, mirrored ceiling above the master bed, and mural of the twosome walking hand-in-hand into the sunset.
Toronto, 2001
When Prince married Torontonian Manuela Testolini, he proclaimed his love for the vibrant Canadian city and purchased a property in ultra-posh Bridle Path. The white house with massive columns was nearly 15,000 square feet with 10 bathrooms. The couple filed for divorce in 2006, and the home was later sold. Although the structure was a run-of-the-mill mansion, it’s said there was an all-purple room inside.
Los Angeles, Part Two
In 2006, Prince rented a West Hollywood home for $70,000 a month from NBA star Carlos Boozer, who subsequently sued the singer over his unauthorized extreme makeover choices. The basketball player accused him of purpling-up the 10-bedroom, 11-bathroom pad. The lawsuit claimed he violated the property by “painting the exterior of the [house] with purple striping, ‘Prince’ symbol and numbers 3121.” It also stated that purple monogrammed carpet was installed, and plumbing and piping were added in the downstairs bedroom “for water transfer for beauty-salon chairs.” Boozer’s case was ultimately dismissed.
In 2008, Prince leased a 30,000-square-foot, Tuscan-style villa in Beverly Park. Rent was rumored to be $200,000 a month.
Minneapolis, The End
Prince once told Oprah he would always live in Minneapolis because “it’s so cold, it keeps the bad people out.” Throughout his life, he invariably returned to Minnesota, where he maintained several properties, including his childhood home in North Minneapolis. And he was at his beloved Paisley Park compound in Chanhassen until the very end.
