Toronto is the perfect Canadian celebrity escape and you’ll be surprised at how many celebs have called the 6ix home.
The city has a booming film industry, an incredible food scene, and the metropolitan feel of a major US city with healthcare. So it’s no surprise that so many celebrities own property in the GTA and live here full-time, part-time, or simply use it for a city break between filming.
New York and Los Angeles may be home to countless celebrities and Hollywood maps where you can marvel at celebrity’s glitzy, monstrous mansions or chic Upper East Side penthouses, but Toronto has its own stars.
Celebrities like Drake, Shawn Mendes, Margaret Atwood, Rachel McAdams and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan are all from Ontario and have chosen to stay true to their Canadian roots, while other celebrities like Elton John and Mark Wahlberg found Toronto all on their own.
Here are eight celebrities who own or have owned real estate in Toronto.
drake
The 36-year-old rapper was born and raised in Toronto and began his acting career in the city during his stint on Degrassi from 2001 to 2009 as Jimmy Brooks.
Drake eventually gave up acting and became one of the most well-known rappers in the world, but despite his huge success with seven studio albums and one on the way, he has still stayed true to his Toronto roots.
Drake has a net worth of $250 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, and could realistically live anywhere, but he keeps his sprawling mansion in Bridle Path.
According to Architectural Digest, his mansion is located in a gated community and boasts an impressive 50,000 square feet of floor space with an NBA-sized indoor basketball court.
Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes was born in Pickering, Ontario, and in 2017, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter purchased a penthouse apartment in downtown Toronto for nearly $2 million, according to AnyHome.
His stunning apartment offers magnificent views of the city skyline, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious terrace from which to enjoy the city views.
Mendes is often seen in the King West and Queen West neighborhoods when he is in town. So if you want to meet the “Stitches” singer, you might want to spend some time in the West End of the city!
Rachel McAdams
Notebook star Rachel McAdams actually grew up in St. Thomas, Ontario, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia, and attended York University’s theater program before her acting career took off.
Toronto Rentals reports that McAdams actually owns a charming late 19th-century single-family home next door.
In 2016, McAdams told CBC that living in Toronto, away from all the glitz and glamor, helped her stay grounded.
“That’s pretty much it for me and my sanity,” she told CBC. “It helps me get better at my work if I just step away from it.” [Hollywood].”
However, according to Urban Splatter, McAdams appears to have recently purchased a home in LA.
It is unclear where exactly the starlet currently lives.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
@narcitytoronto
Unlike many A-list celebrities who flock out of their Canadian hometowns once they become famous to live in places closer to the action, like Hollywood or New York City, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan says she enjoys living in lives close to her roots in Ontario and has no plans to leave Canada to explore glitzier climes. #maitreyiramakrishnan #maitreyiramakrishnanedit #maitreyiramakrishnaninterview #neverhaveiever #fyp #neverhaveievernetflix #neverhaveieverdevi
Never Have I Ever star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was born and raised outside Toronto in Mississauga, and the star still lives there.
In a recent interview with Narcity, the star shared why she has no plans to leave Canada any time soon, although she may venture to downtown Toronto.
“I understand the move. It makes sense. Sometimes it’s easier to be where the chaos reigns. From a business perspective it makes 100% sense, but for me, my family and my friends, they’re all here, right?” she said.
Ramakrishnan said she wants to be close to her family and friends who help “ground” her and keep her “sane.”
“Maybe I’ll come out [Mississauga], and I’m going to Toronto. Maybe I will, but I like acting in ‘Sauga’,” the actress teased.
Ramakrishnan is only 21, so she has plenty of time to branch out and move downtown.
The actress already seems to be spending a lot of time in Toronto for various major events. She was recently spotted by fans at Toronto Pride and Fan Expo 2023.
Margaret Atwood
According to a 2017 National Post article, famed author Margaret Atwood lives in Toronto’s charming Annex neighborhood on Admiral Road.
Atwood, who wrote “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Year of the Flood” and dozens of other novels, was born in Ottawa in 1939 and attended Victoria College at the University of Toronto, according to the Poetry Foundation.
Atwood is active on her social media channels and recently took to Twitter to highlight a bookstore in Toronto’s Queen East neighborhood. So there’s a good chance you’ll come across this Canadian icon while browsing the fiction section!
Andrew Phung
Andrew Phung is a popular Canadian celebrity from shows like Run The Burbs and Kim’s Convenience and lives here in Toronto with his family.
According to Streets Of Toronto, Phung was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. However, during the filming of Kim’s Convenience, he moved to Toronto with his family.
Phung can often be seen hanging around town and attending events with his family and friends, from Blue Jays games to a trip to Canada’s Wonderland with his kids!
Fans of the star will have plenty of opportunities to spot Phung in and around Toronto!
Elton John
Elton John recently purchased a stunning downtown penthouse on King Street West with two floors and four terraces.
The new building is currently under development and is expected to be completed in 2024, according to KING Toronto.
A spokesperson for the building told Narcity that Elton purchased one of the penthouses called “The Treehouse.”
The spacious house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. So if you’re imagining an average condo, you might be a little off.
The rep told Narcity that John bought the device so he could “spend more time with his family in Toronto.”
Mark Wahlberg
According to a 2011 Toronto Star report, Mark Wahlberg purchased a $12 million Yorkville penthouse at 36Hazelton.
Wahlberg has been traveling across Ontario lately to promote his new tequila brand this summer, visiting F45 gyms, LCBO and a launch party at Moxies. He also visited Muskoka last summer with David Beckham and Tie Domi.
While we don’t know if Wahlberg is still based in Toronto, he definitely spends a lot of time in the city, so it would make sense for him to have a home base in the 6ix.
The cover image of this article was used for illustrative purposes only.
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