There’s fame, and then there’s Lady Gaga. Born Stefani Germanotta in New York City, Gaga obliterated and rebuilt the ladder of pop superstardom. From her early days hustling in Manhattan’s underground music scene to now commanding the world’s biggest stages, she’s carved out a career defined by fearless artistry and an almost supernatural ability to stay three steps ahead of the cultural zeitgeist.
It seems she has that same instinct for real estate—every move has been perfectly timed with a career milestone. Here are all the addresses that have shaped Mother Monster’s journey.
Lower East Side Walk-Up
Before the Oscars and the meat dress, Stefani Germanotta was a hustling artist in a fourth-floor walk-up at 176 Stanton Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Gaga reportedly lived here for three years, paying $1,100 a month. This one-bedroom, one-bathroom prewar apartment featured 10-foot ceilings and a full tub (a New York luxury!). Here, Gaga wrote much of her debut album, The Fame. In a 60 Minutes interview in 2011, she brought Anderson Cooper to her former building (though she wasn’t able to show off the exact unit). As of 2021, the apartment rents for $2,000 a month.
Bel-Air Rental
In 2009, as her star began to rise, Gaga upgraded to a Mediterranean-style mansion in Los Angeles, renting it for $25,000 a month. This 6,143-square-foot Bel Air estate was far more luxe than her NYC home with six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, marble floors, and crystal chandeliers. Also included: A grand foyer, a chef’s kitchen, a sprawling pool, and lush gardens.
Central Park South Duplex
Gaga in the lobby of her Central Park apartment building in 2015.
Gaga returned to New York in 2013 with an upgrade. She rented a two-bedroom, two-bathroom duplex penthouse at 40 Central Park South for $22,000 a month. The 2,000-square-foot space offered four terraces with sweeping city views and no neighbors on either side. The apartment’s dramatic decor and rose-colored mirrors were noted in subsequent rental listings. It was the perfect perch for a pop queen who still loved the city that made her. This was her main NYC residence during this period, and she reportedly lived there for four years. It was also featured in her Netflix documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two.
The Malibu “Gypsy Palace”
In 2014, Gaga made her first home purchase: A $22.5 million estate situated above Zuma Beach in Malibu. Spanning six acres, this Tuscan-style villa has a 10,270-square-foot main house featuring five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a grand double staircase, and an open floor plan flooded with natural light. And the amenities: an 800-bottle wine cellar, a two-lane vintage bowling alley, a home theater, a saltwater pool, bocce ball court, horse stables, and even a secret “bat cave” passageway.
Gaga has called this her “sanctuary” and “gypsy palace,” a place where she writes music, entertains loved ones, and displays her Oscar and Grammys. This remains her primary residence.
Chelsea Townhouse
In 2016, Gaga rented a six-story Chelsea townhouse for $67,000 a month, and, as of 2019, was reportedly the only person to ever reside in the building. The 11,000-square-foot home had five bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, an indoor pool, a glass elevator, and nearly 2,000-square-feet of outdoor space. The interiors featured floor-to-ceiling windows and a sweeping staircase. In 2019, the townhouse was listed for $18 million and sold for $15 million in 2020.
Frank Zappa’s Hollywood Hills Estate
Also in 2016, Gaga snapped up Frank Zappa’s Hollywood Hills compound for $5.3 million. The 6,759-square-foot main house, plus staff apartment and two guest cottages, is as quirky as its former owner: dragon murals, a vintage submarine door, a two-story art gallery, and Zappa’s original recording studio—where Gaga later recorded much of her Chromatica album. The estate also features a rooftop tennis court, a conservatory, and a dining room that seats 80. In 2021, she sold the home to Lizzy Jagger for $6.45 million.
Julia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she oversees the brand’s social media platforms, covers design trends and culture, and writes the monthly ELLE Decoroscope column. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art, and lifestyle.
