Over the past few years, a steadily increasing number of comedians and assorted other celebrities have relocated their home base from Los Angeles to Texas — particularly to the musically-inclined city of Austin. And one of the latest stars to trade the bright lights of Tinseltown for the big, big country is Arizona native Emma Stone, who last May quietly shelled out what was likely a small fortune for a sumptuous Austin estate.
Because the Lone Star State is stingy with sharing the sold prices of homes, it’s not clear how much Stone paid for her palatial new residence. But tax assessments show the 1.2-acre property was last valued at just over $4 million, though the house is probably worth significantly more in today’s hyperactive real estate market — likely in the $7 to $8 million range, if not even more. Assuming Stone paid about that much for the place, it would easily rank as the most expensive property in the “La La Land” and “Cruella” star’s portfolio.
Because the estate was never officially listed on the market, photos and exact details are scarce, but a deep dive into property records does turn up a few property clues.
Records reveal the sellers were commercial real estate baron C. Patrick Oles, Jr., a native Texan, and his longtime wife Julie, who originally acquired the estate way back in 1997. The Oles family are well-known philanthropists and political donors in Austin; back in 2015, they hosted at least one fundraiser for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at their Austin house.
Set behind hedges and mature evergreen trees, the triple-wide lot is mostly hidden from the street, though the roughly 5,000-square-foot mansion’s elegant brick façade and white columns are visible from certain angles, as are the gorgeous crepe myrtle trees that decorate the motorcourt.
Also on the premises are an oversized swimming pool, formal gardens, and vast lawns shaded by a forest-like canopy of trees. Behind the house, at the far rear of the…