Pam, Leo, Pierce: A Summer of Celebrity Rentals

Tis the season, it seems, for high-end celebrity rentals! Not that we're complaining. It's just that the level of (largely unattainable) eye candy being thrust on the market is getting slightly out of hand.

First, there was Pamela Anderson's $50,000-a-month rental in Malibu (down $25,000 from last year). Then there was Leonardo DiCaprio's newly-remodeled Malibu Colony beach house, renting for $150,000 a month for leases less than six months and $75,000 a month for long-term tenants. And if you thought that was steep, funnyman Martin Lawrence has put his sprawling Beverly Hills castle up for an exorbitant $200,000 a month. You read that right: That's $200K. A month.

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Our favorite A-list rental, however, would have to be Pierce Brosnan's exceptional Malibu beach house. The architecture is a mix of Thai-Balinese contemporary that's eco-friendly and features a luxurious indoor Japanese spa with a soaking tub. And it can be temporarily yours for an icy cool $250,000 a month.

All of this raises the question: Is being a landlord the hot new trend among celebrities, along with Broadway stints and balayage?

"I wouldn't say it's a new trend," says Eric Malley, senior vice president of Sotheby's International Realty (currently representing Alicia Keys' New York City penthouse). "It's just another alternative to selling. Also, celebrities often buy properties as investments with the intent of renting them out to begin with."

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Malley adds that with celebrities' erratic work schedules and constant travel, they tend to have less of a connection with their properties and are more likely to want them rented out -- to fellow celebrities, unsurprisingly.

"Celebrities are definitely more likely to rent from other celebrities," confirms Jason Saft, the senior associate at Citi Habitats who famously appeared on "The Real Housewives of New York City" to help Countess LeeAnn de Lesseps find an apartment. "Like anyone, they'd prefer to rent to friends they know. Plus, fellow celebrities will generally want the same characteristics in a home -- privacy, security, plenty of space."

And not to mention, they're also in the same tax bracket ($250,000 a month?!?!).

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See also:
Kenny Rogers' Estate on Auction Block
Celine Dion Lists Mansion With Helipad at Soaring Price

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