After spending decades as one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, family man George Clooney is getting ready to spend more time in Southern California – amid speculation he may be seeking to run for office in Los Angeles.
DailyMailTV can exclusively reveal that the Ocean’s Eleven superstar, 58, is carrying out a multi-million dollar upgrade at his Studio City mansion, seen in these exclusive aerial photographs.
The father-of-two is adding three new buildings to sit alongside the former bachelor pad – including a ‘proposed play cottage and villas for live-in help.
The renovation prompts speculation over whether the two-time Oscar winner and his human rights lawyer wife Amal, 42, are planning to raise their two-year-old London-born twins Ella and Alexander, in the U.S.
George Clooney is carrying out a $1.1million renovation on his mansion in Studio City – an area in Los Angeles, California, DailyMailTV can reveal
Clooney is adding three new buildings to sit alongside the former bachelor pad – including a ‘play cottage’ and villas for live-in help
Aerial photos show the renovation is already underway for the star’s home that he bought in 1995 from Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks for $2.2million
A neighbor tells DailyMailTV that Clooney was granted the permits ‘lightening fast’
The play cottage (left) will sit not far from Clooney’s main home as he expands his property to accommodate his wife Amal and two-year-old twins
Clooney has also applied to build a funicular – which is a cable railroad – an exterior pizza oven and a water feature on the property, according to planning documents.
Builders are putting in a new steel staircase, extending the property’s deck with a trellis and revising its windows.
Aerial pictures show that construction work is well under way and neighbors say the noise of building has been coming from the property for months.
Clooney has been living in the UK with his wife Amal and their London-born twins Ella and Alexander
The construction project is valued at almost $1.1 million, with Clooney spending over $33,000 just to obtain the building permits.
Just this week, pictures showed how his 17th century mansion in the English countryside was swamped by floods.
Residents on Clooney’s street in Studio City say they have heard that cottages are being built at the property for the Clooneys’ live-in help.
One said that it had taken Clooney much less time than usual to be granted the building permits, which were applied for through his George Guilfoyle Trust.
A neighbor who lives opposite Clooney’s property and gave her name as Tanya said: ‘My personal theory is that he is upgrading the house because he’s getting ready to run for office. He’s always expressed a lot of interest in politics.
‘My guess is that he wants to run for mayor of Los Angeles when (current mayor) Eric Garcetti’s term ends. George held a fundraiser for Obama on the tennis court here and another for Hillary Clinton where it was $1,000 a plate. He’s big in the Democratic Party.
‘The workers start at around 7.30am but most of the noise is when they start bringing the heavy duty equipment at around 6am or 6.30am.
‘They are putting up three or four little cottages for help, nannies and live-in help, that kind of thing.’
Neighbors say the construction has been noisy for ‘quite a few months’, saying ‘I don’t have any complaint – that’s just the way construction is’
The six-bedroom mansion boasts a lively outdoor entertainment area, with a fire pit, pool, outdoor kitchen and sundeck
George gave an inside look into his home back when he was still a single bachelor, showing his living room with a fire place and large French doors leading to the outdoor area
The tour was years before he met his now-wife Amal Clooney, and showed his kitchen with his massive island
Clooney has owned the 7,354-square-foot six-bedroom villa with an outdoor pool and spa since 1995, when his career was kicking off. A neighbor says he’s building ‘three or four little cottages for help, nannies and live-in help, that kind of thing’
The construction project is valued at almost $1.1 million, with Clooney spending over $33,000 just to obtain the building permits
Clooney has applied to build a funicular, an exterior pizza oven and a water feature on the property, according to planning documents obtained by DailyMailTV
Documents show that Clooney submitted reports and letters dated between April 2018 and October 2019 to obtain permission for his plan
Six of the permits for the ongoing work were issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety on July 16 last year
Documents show that Clooney submitted reports and letters dated between April 2018 and October 2019 to obtain permission for his plans.
The Clooney family have been living in the U.K., where wife Amal is from and the twins were born
Six of the permits for the ongoing work were issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety on July 16 last year.
Another two were granted just after Christmas on December 27, 2019.
One neighbor, who asked not to be named, said: ‘It’s been noisy for a quite a few of months now. I don’t have any complaint – that’s just the way construction is.’
Clooney bought the 7,354-square-foot six-bedroom villa for $2.2million from Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks as his career began to take off in 1995 and has never put it on the market.
Aside from his mansions in California and England, the silver fox also owns property in Manhattan and Lake Como, Italy, where he likes to spend the summer.
In 2016 he sold the compound he shared with pal and business partner Rande Gerber in Los Cabos, Mexico, for $100million
At the time, it was claimed the pair were building another compound in the area.
If Clooney were to move his family back to Los Angeles it would allow him to spend time with celeb friends such as Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock.
He has previously joked that he would call Pitt over Damon to babysit his twins because the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood star has more kids and ‘better juggling’.
The actor would also be able to play host to his friends Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they visit California.
Just this week, photos showed how George and Amal’s 17th century mansion in the English countryside was swamped by floods
Aside from his mansions in California and England, the silver fox also owns property in Manhattan and Lake Como, Italy (pictured), where he likes to spend the summer
A neighbor tells DailyMailTV that she thinks the actor is gearing up to run for Mayor of Los Angeles as he’s previously hosted fundraisers at his home for Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton
Clooney has politics in his blood, as his father Nick unsuccessfully ran to represent Kentucky’s fourth district in Congress in 2004 (he’s pictured with his parents in 2005)
Clooney, whose father Nick unsuccessfully ran to represent Kentucky’s fourth district in Congress in 2004, has previously hinted at moving on to a political career.
He joked at the Venice Film Festival in 2017: ‘Would I like to be the next president? Oh, that sounds like fun.’
Clooney would certainly have the funds for a run at office after the Casamigos tequila firm he co-founded with Gerber and Mike Meldman sold for up to $1billion in 2017.
The actor and director has previously been outspoken in his criticism of President Donald Trump.
He said in 2017: ‘When you direct a film you have seven different unions all wanting different things, you have to find consensus with all of them, and you have to get them moving in the same direction. [Trump’s] never had to do any of that kind of stuff.
‘I just look at it and I laugh when I see him say ”Hollywood elite”. Hollywood elite? I don’t have a star on Hollywood Boulevard, Donald Trump has a star on Hollywood Boulevard! F**k you!’
If he can kick-start a successful political career Clooney would be following in the footsteps of other Hollywood actors such as late President Ronald Reagan and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger.