Sylvester Stallone’s Palm Beach Home and the Florida Migration Trend
When Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin purchased their Palm Beach estate in 2020 and later undertook a large-scale redesign, they joined a growing number of high-profile buyers reshaping Florida’s luxury housing market. Their move highlights several ongoing trends in South Florida real estate.
- A steady flow of wealthy residents from California and the Northeast
- Increased emphasis on private amenities
- A push toward properties that balance display with comfort
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| Stallone's new house, courtesy of Veranda Magazine. |
From Hollywood to Palm Beach
Stallone’s departure from California reflects a wider migration pattern. In recent years, celebrities, business executives, and investors have sold properties in Los Angeles and New York in favor of Florida homes, citing lower taxes, more space, and lifestyle changes accelerated by the pandemic. Palm Beach, with its mix of established estates and newer waterfront construction, has been a particular draw.
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| The Beverly Park Estate Adele bought from Stallone before her gut-renovations. (Notice the Botero!) |
The L.A. Legacy: From Stallone to Adele
Before settling in Florida, Stallone called an expansive Beverly Park estate home—one he custom-built on 3.5 acres with approximately 21,000 square feet of living space. The Mediterranean-style mansion, which he first listed in early 2021 at $110 million, ultimately sold to Adele in February 2022 for $58 million—a nearly 50 percent price cut.
The home featured eight bedrooms, twelve bathrooms, formal living and dining areas, a two-story foyer, terraces, a putting green, infinity pool, and extensive indoor amenities such as a gym, screening room, cigar room, custom bar, and art studio.
Interestingly, Adele insisted that Stallone include his bronze Rocky Balboa statue—perched by the pool—as a condition of the sale. Stallone later acknowledged that she was right to demand it: “That’s a no deal,” she told him—a remark he ultimately honored.
Since acquiring the property, Adele has undertaken extensive renovations. She’s gutted parts of the house—including removing the second story—and is reshaping the estate’s layout. However, the Rocky statue remains intact overlooking the pool as a quirky testament to its past.
The Appeal of Waterfront Privacy
The new Stallone property, originally built in 2014, stands out because of its direct access to a private stretch of beach—an increasingly rare commodity in the area. In Palm Beach, where land is limited, homes with immediate waterfront access command some of the highest prices. Buyers in the market now seek not just luxury interiors but also exclusivity tied to location, something this property exemplifies.
Design Priorities Shifting
While many Florida estates lean toward grand, formal interiors, Stallone’s redesign shows another trend: practicality alongside prestige. Working with designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, the couple emphasized comfort, resilient fabrics, and open spaces rather than ornate finishes. This reflects a broader market shift where high-net-worth buyers want homes suited for full-time living, not just seasonal use or show.
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| As usual, his new home houses an amazing Botero sculpture (I love them!) |
Homes as Galleries
Art has also become a more common feature of luxury homes in South Florida, with collectors designing properties to accommodate rotating displays. Stallone’s long hallway, reimagined as a gallery for works by George Condo and Rashid Johnson, echoes what developers and private owners are doing across Miami and Palm Beach—blurring the line between residence and exhibition space.
The Broader Market Context
According to local brokers, demand for waterfront properties in Palm Beach continues to outstrip supply, driving prices upward even as other U.S. markets have cooled. The influx of celebrity buyers like Stallone not only raises the profile of the community but also reinforces Palm Beach’s reputation as a long-term haven for global wealth. The trend suggests that, for the ultra-luxury tier, lifestyle and location remain the strongest selling points.
Stallone’s Palm Beach estate is not simply a celebrity home—it’s a case study in the forces shaping South Florida real estate. Migration from California, the scarcity of waterfront access, and the desire for homes that balance art, privacy, and livability all converge in this property. For buyers in today’s luxury market, it represents where the demand is headed: not just opulence, but function and permanence.