Clearwater, Fla., right next door to Tampa, might seem a remarkably unlikely place for Hollywood stars to maintain multimillion-dollar homes but, as the global headquarters of Scientology, it attracts a fair number of well-to-do showbiz movers and shakers who adhere to the long-controversial religion.
Tom Cruise keeps a heavily fortified penthouse in a downtown building — it was built by one of the wealthiest adherents to Scientology, Mexican property developer Moises Agami, and Kirstie Alley owns a multi-residence waterfront compound, part of which she initially bought in 2000 from Lisa Marie Presley but quickly sold and then, oddly enough, bought again in 2008 for $1.8 million.
Now, more than a year after the untimely death of wife Kelly Preston, two-time Oscar-nominated actor and dedicated Scientologist John Travolta has just given up his luxury toe hold in Clearwater; The waterfront estate went for exactly $4 million, a hefty chuck below the $4.65 million asking price but still a nicely profitable amount over the $3 million paid just over four years ago.
Hidden behind a high wall and secured entry gates amid thickets of tropical foliage, the nearly three-acre spread includes a split-level five-bedroom and 5.5-bath contemporary residence that, per tax records, measures in at more than 6,100 square feet, plus a poolside cabana/art studio.
Built in 1988 with curving walls of glass brick, the multilevel home has been substantially updated and upgraded to include five-star amenities and top-grade finishes such as extra-wide French oak floorboards, hand-applied plaster walls, Swedish slate floor tiles in the bathrooms and, in the sleek, open-plan kitchen, lustrously laminated cabinetry imported from Germany. Thankfully, all of the glass brick was removed.
Rafal Wazio at Coldwell Banker Residential handled both sides of the deal.