Just before Christmas, power couple Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick closed on a $28 million Malibu bluff-top, ocean-front estate in an all-cash, off-market transaction, according to Variety. The couple had leased the house over the summer.
Patrick, 37, is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing—her win in the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the only win by a woman in any IndyCar Series race. The former Indy and NASCAR driver had one of the biggest endorsement portfolios in professional sports during her career, with big-name sponsors that included Coca-Cola and Chevrolet. She’s already hosted several episodes of her “Pretty Intense” podcast at their new estate.
Rodgers, the longtime NFL Green Bay Packers quarterback, is one of the wealthiest professional sports stars of all time. In 2013, he signed a record $110 million contract, and in 2018 topped his own record by signing a $134 million contract extension. That doesn’t include endorsements and other side businesses. The California native played football for UC-Berkeley for several years before entering the NFL draft.
The Mediterranean villa-style compound that the couple bought, originally built in 1981, underwent a significant renovation and expansion in the mid-’90s by its attorney owner. It was then sold to J. Blair Frank from 2007 to 2017, who briefly rented the estate to Janet Jackson. In 2017, it was sold to the COO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos, and his wife, who changed their minds and decided to buy in Montecito instead. They quickly flipped the villa to British pop icon Robbie Williams and his wife; who in turn quickly leased and then flipped it to Rodgers and Patrick.