Psst. George Clooney Is Selling His Villa!

George Clooney quickly quashed rumors that his villa in the waterside Italian village of Laglio is up for sale, but posh Lake Como could still benefit from a boost in property sales or summer rentals.

News agencies around the world from ABC News to The Telegraph reported this week that Clooney's Villa Oleander was selling for $30 million. Adding further drama, reports had it that soccer celeb David Beckham and a Russian vodka magnate were in a bidding war for the lakeside home that once belonged to the Heinz family. The Russian billionaire, Rustam Tariko, had already offered full price, according to some media outlets, while others reported that Tariko was willing to pay more than list price -- to the tune of $45 million.

And that's where the tale gets unreal. Who would overpay like that in this economy, regardless of how fat their bank account is or the amount of diamonds in a suitcase? Sounds more like a clever PR stunt, involving prominent personalities on three continents, ensuring the news would spread globally. And who's to benefit from the story? Lake Como, of course. That is, provided you believe Clooney. This time last year he lied about Beckham's interest in his home.