Over the years, Harrison Ford has become one of Hollywood’s most successful names in the film industry. From working as a carpenter to support his wife and children to later scoring the role of a lifetime with Han Solo in George Lucas’ ‘Star Wars,’ he has come a long way. He started from almost nothing; however, he has now managed to build an empire for himself. Here is a look at the actor’s life beyond the lens, which includes his first-ever real estate purchase in 1983, when he bought his major home for USD 1 million.
Harrison Ford’s first ranch-style home
Before making his first major real estate investment, the actor lived in a ranch-style home in Benedict Canyon, which resembled a ranch and was one of the first properties he lived in during his early years in the industry. According to the 1996 biography ‘Harrison Ford: Imperfect Hero’ by Garry Jenkins, the actor wanted this home to feel like his childhood home in Illinois, which prompted him to build much of the furniture himself.
Harrison Ford’s first major real estate purchase in 1983
The beloved ‘Indiana Jones’ actor purchased his first major home, a Country Colonial estate in Brentwood’s Mandeville Canyon, in June 1983 for USD 1 million. Architectural Digest reported that the home was originally built in 1951 and designed by the famous architect Gerard Colcord. His property featured many extra amenities that Ford and his family used to live comfortably, including two separate guesthouses, a library, and a wine cellar.
Harrison Ford bought his first major home in 1983, and decorated the place with furniture that he made on his own. Image credit (Instagram)
The home spanned 7,164 square feet and featured 7 bedrooms and 8 to 9 bathrooms, along with a main living space. Most of the rooms in the house featured panelled walls and a formal dining space, and 4 fireplaces were spread around the home. Ford’s property also had its own private pool. Ford lived in this home with his second wife, the late screenwriter Melissa Mathison, along with their two children, Malcolm and Georgia. The couple was married from 1983 to 2004.
Harrison Ford put his carpentry skills to good use
While Ford’s days as a carpenter were far behind him after he started gaining traction in the film industry, he still did not let the craft go. The ‘Air Force One’ actor even chose to include many of his own furniture pieces in his home. While talking to Parade in an old interview, the actor commented: “Everything I built is still standing.”He started carpentry in the 1960s after learning it from library books. At the time, he had been married to Mary Marquardt. The two got together in 1964, later divorcing in 1979, and together they had two sons, Benjamin and Willard. At the time, while he was working in the film industry as an actor, he was only scoring minor roles that did not pay all the bills. To make money for his family, he started doing carpentry; however, he requested to only work on things at night. He even worked on creating things for Francis Ford Coppola’s office entrance; however, while talking to Esquire, he revealed that he refused to work there in the mornings. “I said I would do it but only at night, when no one was around, because I didn’t want to be that guy—I wanted them to think of me as an actor, which I was. I did the job.” He shared. Ford starred in ‘American Graffiti,’ which Coppola produced.
Harrison Ford parted ways with his beloved Canyon home in 2012
Harrison Ford lived in the house for 30 years, and later sold it off for USD 8.2 million. (Instagram)
In 2012, in a shocking move, Ford officially parted ways with his beloved home after selling it on the market for USD 8.2 million. The actor had stayed in the house for around 30 years before deciding to put it on the market. He sold it to Kevin Reilly, former chief content officer of a popular production firm, who owned the home for only four years before selling it to Evan Spiegel, CEO of a popular social media platform, in 2016 for USD 12 million. Spiegel and his wife, the model Miranda Kerr, lived in the house for eight years before selling it for USD 16 million.
Harrison Ford’s current homes
Currently, the actor owns two major properties. One is the Wyoming Ranch, which is an 800-acre property in Jackson/Teton County that offers the actor scenic views of the Tetons. He has owned this property since 1983. His second home is the Mandeville Canyon Estate in Los Angeles. The actor purchased this home for USD 12.65 million with his partner Calista Flockhart in 2010. The property features seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms and is located in the same area as his previous home.