Tom Ford has continued his global real estate spree by acquiring an £80 million townhouse in London’s exclusive Chelsea neighborhood, marking Britain’s largest property deal of the year. The former Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent designer, who recently sold his fashion brand to Estée Lauder for £2.2 billion, has invested heavily in luxury properties worldwide, bringing his total spend to around £270 million.
The Chelsea property, a white stucco-fronted mansion in a garden square, was purchased just before the UK’s budget announcement, allowing Ford to save £1.6 million in tax. Many wealthy buyers, particularly Americans, rushed to complete purchases ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ increase in the stamp duty surcharge for second homes. According to Paul Finch of Beauchamp Estates, several affluent Americans, including Ford, are seeking homes abroad as potential retreats from a possible Donald Trump presidency.
Ford’s latest purchase joins an elite property portfolio that includes a $42.25 million mansion in Aspen, a $52 million Hamptons estate, and an $18 million townhouse in Manhattan. This acquisition follows a trend among ultra-wealthy buyers, though London’s luxury property market has seen a dip in sales over £30 million due to recent tax concerns.
Ford’s relationship with Trump has been rocky; reports in 2017 suggested he refused to dress Melania Trump, prompting Trump to later criticize him. Despite such controversies, Ford’s growing mansion empire cements his position as a major player in the luxury property world.
