As a creator whose professional life is defined by the high-camp maximalism of American Horror Story and Glee, Ryan Murphy has spent the last decade building a personal real estate portfolio that tells a surprisingly different story. The six-time Emmy and Tony Award winner has parlayed his immense success—including one of the richest creative contracts in Hollywood history—into a collection of homes that prioritize architectural weight and “minimalist luxury” over flashy excess.
For Murphy, houses are not mere commodities but long-term creative projects. His approach, often documented in Architectural Digest, focuses on atmosphere, proportion, and preservation. From the canyons of Los Angeles to the historic streets of the West Village, Murphy’s residential trail reveals a man obsessed with the “bones” of a building.
The Brentwood Residence, Los Angeles
Ryan Murphy stepped into the real estate sector of Los Angeles in 2013 in the Sullivan Canyon area of Brentwood. The Hollywood veteran got hold of a Spanish Colonial Revival hacienda for $9 million. However, he did not tear it down. Instead, Murphy chose to focus primarily on the skeletal structure of the compound itself. As per Robb Report, he was reportedly interested in the home’s “bones“, which constituted of soaring ceilings and spacious rooms.
Collaborating with designer Pam Shamshiri, Ryan Murphy decided to eliminate any element that could cause “visual noise” in the building’s architecture. Focusing on the need for “minimalist luxury,” Murphy wanted to keep it simple. In 2020, he expanded this compound by purchasing the neighboring property from Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel for $6.5 million. He merged the two and created an ultra-private compound where the architecture does the talking, rather than the interior decor.
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Preserving the Provincetown property
Murphy’s next property in Massachusetts is less of a beach house and more of a “love letter” to the town’s artistic soul. Purchased in 2013 for $4.5 million, the waterfront property features a 5,000-square-foot Federal-era residence. But the true heart of the home is the former painting studio of Hans Hofmann. Murphy and his husband, David Miller, resisted the urge to reduce the worth of the studio into a archestural exhibit. Instead, they preserved the original floor planks and massive hearth, keeping the space exactly as it was when Hofmann taught his students there.
A monastic home in Manhattan
According to a New York Post report, in 2018, the Hollywood veteran decided to move into the West Village by procuring a 19th-century townhouse for a whopping $24.5 million. Spanning 5,500 square feet, the property was visualsied with the support of designers Axel Vervoordt and David Cafiero. Gradually, the townhouse was developed into a homely atmosphere that manifested “quiet drama,” with lime-washed brick walls and reclaimed wood beams. The palette is kept muted, with tone-on-tone colors that create a sense of stillness, offering a rare pocket of peace in the middle of a bustling city.
Ryan Murphy’s major decision – Westchester County
Perhaps Ryan Murphy made his most ambitious move in 2022 when he purchased Richard Gere’s famous Pound Ridge estate for a sum of $24.15 million. The 50-acre spread seems like a separate world altogether. The property includes a private lake with a sandy beach, equestrian facilities, and rolling meadows. Situated an hour from Manhattan, the compound is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected land, making it feel disconnected from the outside world.
This deliberate approach to living reveals a creator who understands that true luxury isn’t found in gold leaf or grandiosity, but in the silence of a well-proportioned room. His “collector’s eye” allows him to see the value in what others might tear down, opting to trade up or hold onto properties that possess real architectural weight.
By treating his residences as long-term creative canvases, Murphy has built more than just a collection of trophy estates; he has created a series of quiet, atmospheric worlds that offer a rare glimpse into the mind of a man who builds empires, yet finds his greatest joy in the simple, enduring beauty of a well-preserved wall.
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