Travis Kelce is reportedly joining the list of ‘wealthy homeowners’ who are focusing on privacy by expanding their residences away from prying eyes.
It seems some celebrities find it hard to resist investing heavily in their property collections.
Taylor Swift holds real estate valued at over $100 million, Jennifer Lopez owns multiple properties across the United States, and Leonardo DiCaprio has a Los Angeles compound, an eco-friendly condo in New York City, among other properties.
While some celebrities like Tony Hawk, who features an impressive 5,000-square-foot skatepark in his backyard, enjoy showcasing their assets, a growing number are embracing the ‘iceberg house’ trend.
Similar to its icy namesake, an iceberg home involves constructing most or a portion of the living space underground.
These areas can be customized with luxury features like spa pools, wine cellars, cocktail bars, or even an underground movie theater.
These spaces are seen by many as the ultimate private retreat, and now, Kansas City Chiefs star Kelce, 35, seems to desire a share of this luxury.
The NFL tight end, who is currently in a relationship with global popstar Taylor Swift, is reportedly developing an underground ‘man cave’ at his opulent $6 million mansion in Leawood, Kansas.
The 17,000-square-foot estate boasts six bedrooms, six bathrooms, illuminated tennis and pickleball courts, a miniature golf course, and soon, a 396-square-foot underground den.
According to the Daily Mail, the basement will be spacious enough to accommodate an indoor golf simulator, with the first phase of the excavation expected to be completed by December.
Kelce is among many homeowners choosing to construct extravagant underground spaces—a significant real estate ‘flex’, as noted by the Robb Report.
The publication explains that building underground enables architects and builders to maximize land usage while preserving existing above-ground views.
It can also serve as a method to navigate planning regulations and ‘increasingly strict zoning’, states Zoltan E. Pali, design principal and co-founder of the Los Angeles-based architecture studio SPF.
“There has been a noticeable rise in demand for iceberg homes, and I believe their popularity will continue to grow in the coming years,” he added.
“The ability to create expansive spaces that are hidden from view allows homeowners to enjoy their amenities without drawing attention, which is particularly appealing in celebrity-dense areas like Los Angeles.”
Meanwhile, Justin M. Riordan, founder of Space and Archer Design Agency, notes that using subterranean spaces signifies a ‘modern understanding that true wealth is about the quality of life inside, not how much of it is on display’.
However, iceberg homes do present certain challenges, with construction often being costly.
There’s also the possibility that a functioning basement or underground wellness center may not necessarily increase your home’s value.
Therefore, if you are considering jumping on this real estate trend, ensure you understand what you’re getting into and any potential losses it might entail.