7 Celebrities That Prove Living In the Midwest Is Incredibly Cool
Celebs—they’re just like us! Except that, well, they’re usually multi-millionaires with McMansions in Hollywood to match.
That’s why it’s so fun to stumble upon superstars living more low-key lives outside of the greater Los Angeles area and in relatively down-to-earth areas, like the Midwest. From the former Commander-in-Chief to one of the richest rappers in the world, here are seven big names who call the “Middle America” home.
1. The Obamas (Chicago, Illinois)
While the former President and First Lady currently reside in Washington D.C., Barack and Michelle Obama will always call the Windy City home. The couple still own a Georgian mansion in the neighborhood of Kenwood — which they paid $1.65 million for back in 2005 — which has now become a popular stop for tourists and Obama-lovers, alike. (Michelle is a Chicago native, too!)
2. Ashton Kutcher (Homestead, Iowa)
Born and raised in the small farm town of Homestead, Iowa, Ashton Kutcher will always be a Midwesterner at heart. It’s no surprise then that the movie star — with a reported net worth of $200 million — owns and maintains a residence in Iowa, as does his mom, whom he remodeled his childhood home for.
3. Vince Vaughn (Chicago, Illinois)
It’s no secret that Vince Vaughn loves Chicago. Born in Minneapolis, the lifelong Midwesterner was raised in the Chicago burbs and goes out of his way to film his movies there. Not surprisingly, the star, worth a reported $50 million, resides in a $13.9M three-level penthouse on Michigan Ave, inside the swanky Palmolive building.
4. Jennifer Hudson (Chicago, Illinois)
Oscar-winning actress and American Idol star Jennifer Hudson is no stranger to the Windy City. The Chicago native made it widely known she would stay in the city even after hitting it big, and resides in a 12,000-square foot mansion in the Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge, accordingly.
5. Kirstie Alley (Wichita, Kansas)
Best known for starring roles in popular TV sitcoms including Cheers and more recently, Scream Queens, actress Kirstie Alley was born and raised in Wichita — and still calls the city home. The TV and film star even decks out her Kansas house with movie set decor come Christmas time, surely causing quite a scene in the low-key city.
6. John Cusack (Chicago, Illinois)
Born and raised just outside of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, actor John Cusack has always considered the Midwest his home. That’s why despite some time living in Malibu, he’s made Chi-town his primary residence, recently moving from a two-bedroom penthouse on the Gold Coast and into a swankier $2.8M condo at The Fordham just a few blocks away.
7. Eminem (Detroit, Michigan)
Even if you aren’t a fan of his music, you probably already knew rapper Eminem is from Detroit. Thanks to countless songs about the city and a hit movie set in his native neighborhood, 8 Mile, it’s no surprise that the superstar rapper (worth a reported $190 million) still resides in Detroit, inside a $5M mansion he purchased back in 2003 from the former Kmart CEO.
8. Dave Chappelle (Yellow Springs, Ohio)
The stand-up comedian lives with his wife and children on a farm outside of Dayton, Ohio. Though he’s the town’s highest profile resident, he doesn’t keep to himself: He’s an active community member and hosts a phone-free music festival for residents (and Hollywood friends) in the summer. It’s always local news when his friends come to visit: Amy Schumer, Bradley Cooper, and Pete Davidson are just some A-listers who visited him last year.
9. Jeff Daniels (Chelsea, Michigan)
Though he’s currently starring on the Broadway adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Daniels and his wife Kathleen call this Washtenaw County town home. The two childhood sweethearts decided to move back to their hometown after his career took off because he thought his time in the spotlight was limited. More than three decades later, he’s still getting work—and him and his family still live in Michigan, where he is the executive director of the Purple Rose Theater Company.
Re-edited from a post originally published 03.06.2018 – LS