The Weeknd has splashed R1 billion on a Bel-Air pad, in what is said to be the biggest sale in Los Angeles in 2021.
The “Take My Breath” hitmaker – whose real name is Abel Tesfaye – paid mega-bucks for the luxurious pad which overlooks Bel-Air Country Club and wasn’t even up for sale.
According to the Wall Street Journal, media mogul Reinout Oerlemans and his wife Danielle had not planned on selling the nine-bedroom home.
.@theweeknd has purchased a new 70 MILLION dollar mansion in LA, one of the biggest deals ever💸 pic.twitter.com/5IBdLjvr6J
— The Weeknd Charts🌅 (@WeekndChart) August 19, 2021
Boasting 13 bathrooms, an indoor pool, spa, outdoor pool and waterfall, gym, sports court, and cinema, the 33 000-square foot mansion was bought by the couple in June 2015 for R326.3 million.
Surrounded by 1.6 acres of garden, the one-of-a-kind property also features a grand stairway entrance at the front.
News of the 31-year-old star’s major purchase comes after he vowed to continue making music “for as long as I can breathe”.
Thanking his fans for making his dreams come true and marking mega-hit “Blinding Lights” making history as the longest-charting song ever, he wrote on Instagram: “Forever grateful to be able to experiment with sounds, try new things with my voice and create music with the people I truly love and respect.
“For the last decade every song has been a journey and to be able to continue this journey has been nothing short of a blessing.
“It’s the only gift I could ever ask for. I’ll be doing it for as long as I can breathe.
“I love my fans and wouldn’t be here without you. Big day for blinding lights. Multiple songs in the top 20. Thursday turns 10. Caesar turned 4 and the f******dawn is coming. LET’S GO. (sic)”
The Weeknd is also known for his generous contributions to charities and donated a whopping R15.25 million to coronavirus relief efforts.
And the “Save Your Tears” hitmaker is set to be honoured with the Quincy Jones Humanitatian award at the first annual Music in Action Awards.
The superstar will be among the honourees at the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC)’s event at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood in September 23, in recognition of the fact he’s donated several million dollars to various good causes since the pandemic began.
Among the organisations helped by the singer are Black Lives Matter Global Network, the Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative, and National Bail Out, as well as Covid-19 relief campaigns for MusiCares, in his hometown of Scarborough, Ontario and efforts in Ethiopia and Lebanon.