Since news of his divorce from Kim Kardashian started swirling, Kanye has reportedly been hiding out at his Wyoming ranches. But a New York state newspaper called the Rye Record published an astonishing report that he is gearing up to rebrand this small Westchester city. According to the story, he wants Rye to drop the R from its name and be renamed 'Ye' in ode to the star's nickname and title of his 2018 album. In exchange, the report says the rapper will offer 10% of his wealth to the city, which would erase both the City and School bond debt in full.
The report goes on to say that West has been seen with real estate agents looking at local properties in the area, with plans to turn one into his home, another into a music studio and a third into a church for his famed Sunday Service. Unfortunately, it all appears unfounded. Not long after the original story broke more reports surfaced suggesting the rapper's big move was just rumour gone viral. Insider spoke to several business owners in the area and to Rye's city court who haven't received any papers filed by West.
Whether Kanye gets his own town or not, his real estate collection is about to shrink. Kim Kardashian and Kaye currently have a joint property portfolio said to be worth nearly $100 million (£72m). From their minimalist Hidden Hills mansion to two Wyoming ranches, we take a look inside the opulent homes and assets that'll be at the heart of their divorce settlement. Click or scroll for more...
Rumours swirled earlier in the year that the pair were going their separate ways, but now it's official. According to their prenup, Kim will reportedly receive $1 million (£713k) for every year of their marriage, amounting to a total of $6 million (£4.3m). However, before it all turned sour, the former power couple had quite the high-profile romance. After becoming friends in 2003, the duo confirmed their relationship in 2012, when they were spotted in public together for the first time in New York City.
That very same year, they confirmed that they were expecting a baby, with Kanye announcing that Kim was pregnant during a New Year's Eve performance in Atlantic City. In January 2013, not long after they'd confirmed their pregnancy, the pair purchased this Bel Air mansion for $9 million (£6.6m). Favouring a minimalist interior design, the celebrity couple renovated the property to match their style, and then went on to sell it in 2017 for $17.8 million (£13.1m).
The 9,000-square-foot home is safely located in the guard-gated community of Bel-Air Crest, so it was the perfect retreat from the spotlight for the couple at the start of their relationship. Boasting huge cavernous rooms with chic whitewashed walls, the spacious living room features a concrete-wrapped fireplace and a wall of glass that open up to spectacular views over the Los Angeles skyline.
The minimalist super-luxurious kitchen features stainless steel appliances and a long centre island, while elsewhere there are seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, which would have been perfect for the growing family.
Of course, no Kardashian house is complete without a luxurious backyard – and this is no exception. The long swimming pool sits alongside a sheltered patio with an outside dining table. We can only imagine the many Kardashian dinner parties held here!
In June 2013, Kim gave birth to their first child, North West, and shortly after in October Kanye popped the question in a typically lavish gesture when he rented out San Francisco's AT&T baseball stadium and proposed in front of friends and family. The couple eventually married in 2014 in an extravagant ceremony in Italy with 200 guests.
The very same year, the pair splashed out $20 million (£14.7m) on this home in Hidden Hills, splurging an additional $20 million (£14.7m) on extensive renovations to meet the rapper's minimal aesthetic. In December 2017 they moved in, after spending three years staying at Kris Jenner's mansion that's conveniently located across the street. Set on over three acres of land, the overhauled estate features incredible vineyards, mature trees and expansive lawns. According to Realtor, Kim is said to own all the land that the house sits on, while Kanye owns the structure itself. Valued at around $60 million (£44.1m), it's a sizable asset that's bound to cause trouble in the settlement negotiations.
As minimalist as the house is, with a young family it had to be kid-friendly in some part. “The kids ride their scooters down the hallways and jump around on top of the low Axel tables, which they use as a kind of stage," Kanye told Architectural Digest back in February 2020. However, Kim is reportedly looking to lay claim to the property, which is in close proximity to the homes of both her mother, Kris Jenner, and sister, Kourtney Kardashian.
In October 2019, the duo splashed out just under $3 million (£2.2m) on a neighbouring country estate. However, this wasn't the first time they'd invested in property surrounding their Hidden Hills mansion. Earlier in 2019, they snapped up another adjoining property in an off-market deal for $2.7 million (£2m), which means they own around seven-and-a-half acres of land surrounding the primary residence too – now also up for grabs in the divorce settlement.
The ranch-style estate is divided into two parts, with a street running through the one-and-a-half acres of land. Situated on one side of the property, the main house is spread out across 3,880 square feet and features four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The airy living spaces are open-plan, with wooden vaulted ceilings and huge picture windows.
On the other side of the acreage sits the equestrian facilities, with a four-stall barn, tack and feed rooms and a small, fenced corral. The grounds also encompass a sparkling pool and spa, a landscaped yard and a covered patio with a built-in barbecue terrace.
By 2019, the Kardashian-West clan was complete with the birth of Kim and Kanye's fourth child, Psalm, via surrogate. The former couple also celebrated their five-year wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in a small private ceremony. With a busy life and growing family, it seemed the Kardashian-Wests needed some respite from city life and they headed to Wyoming for a slice of the quiet life.
In September 2019, Kim and Kanye purchased Monster Lake Ranch to add to their already expansive property empire. Following in the footsteps of a number of celebrities who own farms and ranches, the Kimye homestead spans over 4,500 acres, flanked by dramatic mountain ranges and tranquil shorelines.
So what did the pair intend to do with the huge parcel of land? In happier times, they reportedly planned to build a brand new 52,000-square-foot home and two underground garages on the ranch that would have replaced several lakeside cabins. But with their marriage now over, it seems unlikely that the dream home will materialise.
In November 2019, Kanye bought a second ranch for $14.5 million (£10.7m). Extending their property empire, Bighorn Mountain Ranch sits on over 6,700 acres of land and is located near Greybull, Wyoming, which is known for its stunning landscapes and is around 50 miles away from Kanye's first ranch purchase.
The ranch has 10 cabins dotted around the estate in three different camps, including The Lodge at Bald Ridge, which boasts a cosy log cabin with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. At Bald Ridge there are also three additional smaller cabins that would be perfect for guests or housing their staff.
With hiking, skiing, hunting, fishing and climbing, there was plenty to keep the family of six entertained. White Creek also runs through the grounds and the rolling hills, canyons and trees are perfect for keeping wild stock.
One for sharing on social media, Kim often gave glances inside what appeared to be their idyllic country life. The family were often seen riding horses and earlier in 2020, Kim revealed that they kept 14 Friesan horses on the ranch, which Kanye bought in 2019. They also enjoyed quad biking on the extensive grounds and were often joined by Khloe, Kourtney and their children.
Located in an area known for its scenic and natural beauty, ranch life once seemed to appeal to Kim. In an interview with Vogue Arabia, Kim said: "I see us living on a ranch in Wyoming, occasionally going to Palm Springs and our home in Los Angeles." However, in the wake of their divorce, it now appears that Kanye will likely claim the ranches in the settlement – they're rumoured to be earmarked as sites for his technology, design and innovation epicentre.
After reportedly living separate lives for some time, news that Kim had filed for divorce hit headlines in late February. It's said that Kanye has been hiding out at the Wyoming ranches and Kim has spent most of her time at their minimalist Hidden Hills mansion. While the split is being reported as amicable, it'll be interesting to see how the pair divide their plush properties as they negotiate their divorce settlement. Watch this space...
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