Toronto’s luxury condo market has long attracted more than business leaders and investors. As one of North America’s biggest film and television production hubs, the city has also become a home base for actors, musicians, and other high-profile buyers. The result is a collection of Toronto’s celebrity penthouses that have become part of the city’s real estate story, from custom-designed suites to multimillion-dollar sales.
We looked at the ownership history and verified sale prices behind some of Toronto’s most famous celebrity penthouses. Here’s what they sold for and what these headline-making properties reveal about Toronto’s luxury real estate market.
Sir Elton John & David Furnish: “The Treehouse” at KING Toronto
Address: 489-539 King Street West
Construction Status: Construction
KING Toronto is the Bjarke Ingels Group-designed project developed by Westbank and Allied Properties REIT, built around a “pixelated,” stacked-box form inspired by Paris’s Maison de Verre.
Few Toronto penthouses are as distinctive as The Treehouse at KING Toronto. Purchased off-plan by Elton John and Toronto-born filmmaker David Furnish in 2022, the two-storey residence sits atop the project’s West Mountain. It features three bedrooms, a live tree rising through a double-height atrium, custom brass finishes, and a sculptural two-storey brass staircase.
The Price
Exactly how much Elton John and David Furnish paid is still a mystery. The developer has never revealed the price, and RAD Marketing declined to confirm it. The closest comparison is the project’s current pricing. Standard condos start at about $1.2 million, while La Bibliothèque, the most expensive penthouse on the market, is listed for just under $15.3 million.
Drake’s Pre-Mansion Yorkville Condo: One St. Thomas Street
Before moving into his custom-built Bridle Path mansion, Drake owned a luxury condo at One St. Thomas Street in Yorkville. While many people refer to it as a penthouse, the residence was actually located on the 22nd floor.
The Transaction
The condo hit the market in mid-2013 with a $4.195 million price tag. A few months and one price cut later, Drake sold the 3,600-square-foot, three-bedroom home for $3.75 million in October 2013, according to The Globe and Mail and Global News.
Shawn Mendes’ CN Tower-View Penthouse
Fans of In Wonder may recognize Shawn Mendes’ downtown Toronto penthouse. The Pickering-born singer purchased the home before it became a recurring backdrop in his 2020 Netflix documentary.
The Transaction
Mendes reportedly purchased the penthouse in July 2017 for just under $2 million. The 1,444-square-foot home includes three bedrooms, monthly condo fees of about $1,114 that cover two heated parking spaces, and a 750-square-foot wraparound terrace with close-up views of the CN Tower.
Deadmau5’s Sky Villa—and the Country Estate That Followed
For Deadmau5, one penthouse wasn’t enough. The electronic music producer, whose legal name is Joel Zimmerman, combined two penthouse units at the Merchandise Lofts to create a 3,000-square-foot, two-storey home complete with a professionally soundproofed recording studio.
The Transaction
Zimmerman had already upgraded to country living before putting the penthouse on the market. In October 2014, he purchased a 14,000-square-foot estate on 118 acres in Campbellville for $5 million. About eight months later, he listed the Toronto penthouse for $2.5 million.
Vince Carter’s Queens Quay Penthouse
Former Toronto Raptors star Vince Carter bought a waterfront penthouse at 211 Queens Quay West for $2.75 million in 2001. The single-level home featured multiple bedrooms and several private terraces.
Five years later, he sold it to Toronto Blue Jays pitcher A.J. Burnett for $2.8 million. While downtown Toronto condo prices climbed by more than 50% over the same period, Carter’s sale produced a gain of just 1.8%. Burnett’s outcome was even less impressive. He sold the property in 2008 for exactly what he had paid two years earlier.
The Legacy of Toronto’s Star-Powered Skyline
From waterfront towers to architectural showpieces, Toronto’s celebrity penthouses tell a bigger story about the city’s changing skyline. These homes were more than places for famous buyers to live. Together, these properties highlight how Toronto has grown into one of North America’s most recognizable luxury real estate markets.
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