The Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and actor Drake is well-known for his chart-topping hits but he can be just as popular due to rich habits. Drake is an international superstar, and his real estate portfolio over the years has grown as reflective of his rise and taste for luxury. What do the philosopher Dionne Warwick, astrologer Becky Baldwin and Vogue have in common? Drake’s homes in Toronto to L.A. offer an arc of ambition; a thesis on being Googled from one continent to another Anzac bouillabaisse with sourdough Bannock finesse. In this piece we take a closer look at the progression of Drizzy abodes, capturing a glimpse into the grandeur and flair that come to define some of mega-hits biggest gilders homes.
Toronto Roots: From humble Beginnings to Riches
Drake (born Aubrey Drake Graham) spent his formative years in a humble home on the east end of Forest Hill, Toronto. First, his small, but nice childhood home in decidedly no Beverly Hills or Bel-Air. By Sandi Graham, raising Drake as a single parent with financial strain often rearing at the door ways of their home, but never enough to keep them from overflowing in love for each other. It was this small start that paved the way for his desire to achieve and molded what he aimed for in later life.
As Drake rose to fame, he bought his most infamous home: “The Embassy.” This custom-built home in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighborhood encompasses Drake’s humble beginnings and his rags-to-riches success story. Created by prominent Canadian architect Ferris Rafaela, ‘The Embassy’ is a 50k-square-foot Drake’s estate.
Beyond just a place to reside, “The Embassy” is an affirmation of Drake’s accomplishments and fondness for high-end living. The mansion includes an NBA-regulation size indoor basketball court, state-of-the-art recording studio, indoor pool and spa hubs throughout along with numerous lounges and entertaining spaces. A combination of modern and traditional notes is how the house has been designed using luxurious materials such as marble, gold or exotic woods. Plus, every inch of this house is the epitome of Drake’s personal taste—refined and swank as hell.
Arguably the most insane part of “The Embassy” is Drake’s custom-made bed, called the Grand Validus, which cost upwards of $400 thousand according to TMZ. Photo: Chris Stanbury A bed handcrafted by Swedish luxury bedding company Hastens, it serves as a fitting emblem of just how far Drake has gone to make his home an opulent yet intimate extension of himself. The interiors of the mansion are abundant in art, custom furniture and one-of-a-kind design details that speak to Drake’s taste while carving out a proper semblance ‘home’ for him.
Los Angeles Playground: The Hidden Hills Estate.
Although Toronto’s “The Embassy” is Drake’ hometown pad, the artist owns several L.A. properties including one of his most well-known, his Hidden Hills estate. Dubbed the “YOLO Estate” (a reference to Drake’s signature catchphrase: You Only Live Once), this mega-compound sits on a picture-perfect piece of real estate in one of L.A.
What Drake calls the YOLO Estate, is simply luxury and entertainment to its finest degree. The estate also encompasses quite a few acres and features several swimming pools, grotto, horse stable, tennis court as well as mechanical bull. The design of the estate has a luxury resort feel, complete with vast outside living areas surrounding by beautiful gardens and featuring many casual amenities built for downtime.
MAIN + 1: MansionA sprawling mansion in a classic Mediterranean style is the main house on the YOLO Estate. Inside, high ceilings and oversized windows lend an expansive feel to what are otherwise well-furnished spaces. There are numerous entertainment spaces in the home, such as a home theatre, wine cellar and game room that Drake can use when entertaining others and throwing events.
A unique feature of the YOLO Estate is its focus on outdoor living. All set on a nearly-three acre estate, the property boasts multiple outdoor sitting areas and alfresco dining spaces as well as fire pits to ensure Drake has air beds aplenty for his guests. Adding to the resort feel at this estate are several pools, one even with a swim-up bar.
In addition to the initial main mansion, Drake has made a number of major improvements on The YOLO Estate over the years that have turned it into one of LA’s most luxurious properties. The plans include a recording studio where some of Drake’s greatest hits were made and purchasing nearby properties to enlarge his estate even more. Not just a house, correct — the YOLO Estate is emblematic of Drake’s career success and his power to build an entire milieu that speaks precisely to—and about—him.
The Beverly Hills Rental: A Short Term Sanctuary
Of course, in terms of buying real estate (or renting it), Drake boasts a property portfolio that covers Toronto and Hidden Hills – but this is not to say he hasn’t sampled the LA high-life. The most infamous of these is a Beverly Hills mansion where Drake allegedly rented it for an estimated $70,000 per month. Providing spectacular city and ocean views, on one of the best streets in Trousdale Estates area; this temporary home.
The Beverly Hills rental is a contemporary, minimalist mansion replete with clean lines and an open floor plan — together with what seems like miles of glass windows coming from the towering upper story that lets in daylight all day long. The home features a massive infinity pool, state-of-the-art theater and gym room as well as multiple areas for living spaces and 2 sitting dining rooms which created the perfect relaxation nest for Drake to work on music while staying in Los Angeles.
Although a short-term home, this property showcases Drake’s penchant for lavish living and his need to have a house that is comfortable while at the same time guarantees privacy. The Beverly Hills rental was the perfect sanctuary for Drake, where he could focus on his work and experience La-la land at its absolute best.
Where Drake Is Going with His Real Estate Portfolio
DRAKES property empire has LONG outgrown his humble HOMETOWN roots, and as he SHIFTS from one of HIP-HOPs biggest BUYERS into a SALSA-LOVING KINGSTON SWINGER. The modest house in Forest Hill, the grand estates in Toronto and Los Angeles are stages from different chapters of his existence. More than a place to live, these houses are monuments of Drake’s rise from Toronto kid on Degrassi to international superstar.
In the future, it is likely that he will remain in line with his spending and invest in further real estate opportunities to add more properties to potentially expand his portfolio. Whether he’s opening up his existing estates, or adding to his family of properties—one thing is almost certainly a given: Drake will strive to ensure that these homes are not only luxurious but also deeply personal.
Overall, Drake’s houses provide great insights into the life of an international musical icon. Each of his properties from Toronto to the fancy state in Los Angeles tells a tale of success, ambition and wanting a space that is all just for him. Drake is def on god-level and his homes will always be a monument to that progression of transition from boy-and-aubrey in T-dot into this larger-than-life figure.
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