While the Japanese koi collection hobby began long ago in Japan, celebrities across the planet have played a role in the popularity of our beloved passion. From Queen's lead singer, Freddie Mercury, to basketball star and electronic music producer Shaquille O’Neal, celebrities' shared passion for constructing and maintaining koi ponds has influenced its popularity.
For the curious minds out there, we’ve compiled a list of celebrity koi ponds. We’ve included photos from popular real estate sites and news sources. Unfortunately, without directly speaking to these A-Listers, we can't know what filtration they use, so that's not a feature of this post.
If you're looking to build your own koi pond, use this list for inspiration! There are many different types of ponds here, including raised ponds, ponds surrounded by lush vegetation (though we don't recommend this route), ponds with complex water features, and more.
FREDDIE MERCURY
Freddie Mercury, lead singer-songwriter of Queen, took the world by storm with his incredible vocal range. One of rock’s most controversial and most loved icons, when we learned that Mercury found so much joy in the koi hobby toward the end of his life… we were ecstatic, to say the least.
Unfortunately, we could not track down any photos of his koi pond, but here’s a quote from the man himself.
“I’ve lived a full life and if I’m dead tomorrow, I won’t give a damn. I’ve finally found a niche I was looking for in my life. To have my wonderful Japanese garden with all this koi carp recently bought at such expense, I love it.” -Freddie Mercury
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
During the coronavirus quarantine, people across the world had plenty of free time to spend time doing something invaluable; cultivating their hobbies. Mr. O’Neal was one of those people! He discovered a new passion with the koi collecting hobby. You can read the full article here.
He hired the team at Aquascape to create his dream koi pond. His 3-foot deep water garden features a 25-inch block wall with a gas fire pit, three stacked slate sphere fountains, and a myriad of streams and waterfalls. He even has a Superman symbol, paying tribute to the many nicknames he has acquired over the years.
Called the “Ferrari of ponds,” we hope he’ll fill his ponds with the “Ferrari of koi” with Select Koi (looking at you Shaq)!
MATT DAMON
Mr. Damon’s Pacific Palisades Zen, contemporary-styled home is absolutely breathtaking. Clear homages to zen-inspired interior and architectural design exist throughout the space. Zen style interior design originated in Japan and uses a minimalist approach to bring harmony and balance to the space. However… we’re most interested in his pond!
The koi pond at ground level provides for easy viewing of the koi below. With submerged lighting, the koi are the true stars of the show as they traverse the length of the pond. A nice, long pond is great for ensuring the koi get their exercise. This is a great option for those of you looking to grow jumbo koi! Light gray stone and wood line each side of the pond, cultivating a soothing and calm atmosphere.
Rocks lining the sides add a natural feel to the pond, without endangering the koi, as plants would. Plants are home to creatures, like frogs, which may carry parasites, so we always recommend against featuring plants in your koi pond.
MEGHAN MARKEL & PRINCE HARRY
Meghan Markel and Prince Harry purchased this home in August of this year, just months after announcing their exit from the royal family. Situated in the Santa Barbara hills, the home boasts ocean and mountain views. Their new residence is blocks away from celebrities Ellen DeGeneres and Gwenyth Paltrow.
The property houses a Japanese tea house, overlooking an absolutely beautiful koi pond. Located in the Mediterranean-style courtyard, this is a peaceful retreat from their busy, hectic lives. Stones allow for easy access to the teahouse; this unique design creates the illusion that the sones are floating in the water. While it is an absolutely beautiful feature, it does put the koi at risk of bumping their heads.
TOMMY LEE OF MÖTLEY CRÜ
This may be my personal favorite on the list. The lush greenery creates the illusion that you’re actually in the dense jungle of one of Japan’s islands, like the remote Iriomote Island. It’s absolutely breathtaking! It is important to keep in mind that vegetation does pose a threat to your koi, as it is home to dangerous parasites and bacteria.
It features a meditation deck, constructed of deep, warm slats of wood, for a dreamy, magical viewing experience. The koi add to the mystic quality of the space, bringing their natural allure and peace-bringing qualities to the atmosphere.
The home itself clearly pulls from Japanese architectural influences, with shoji-style windows and kawara, or traditional clay roof tiles of Japan.
PAULA ABDUL
Paula Abdul bought this home in 1990 and has since moved from the home. The home was actually built in 1935 and was bought in 1996 by a businessman located primarily in Japan, according to the Orlando Sentinel. It is currently owned by Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda. The home’s exterior also features a swimming pool, spa, and built-in grill adjacent to the koi pond.
This Gothic Spanish-styled home is perfectly complemented by the tranquil stone koi pond. This raised pond features flowing water from the far end. The raised lip provides space to sit in peace, looking over the koi swimming amongst water lilies.
Ellen Degeneres & Portia de Rossi
Host of the hit-show Ellen and topic of conversation lately, Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi own a beautiful home in Beverly Hills that features a koi pond. She’s shared video on social media of her koi pond, saying one of her favorite things in the world is to “hang out with [her] fish on a Saturday.”
She describes it as “very peaceful,” which we are quick to agree with! You can watch the video and take a quick peak at her koi here.
We couldn’t find any photos of her pond, so in lieu of doing so, please enjoy Ellen talking about her experience as a koi owner!
A-List Status or Not; Cultivate YOUR Dream Pond with Select Ponds
You don’t need an A-list status or a mansion in Beverly Hills to have a beautiful and unique koi pond. Our team at Select Ponds is happy to collaborate with you to design the perfect koi pond to house your koi. We’ll work together to capture your vision, pull from inspiration, and design a 3D model of your dream pond. Of course, it doesn’t stop there; we’ll plan and execute your project as well.
We did not feature issues of filtration in this post, as that is not public knowledge. However, we always recommend Evolution Aqua products. We recommend these products because we have personally gone through many different brands and types of filtration systems (we’ve gone through 7 systems to be exact) to find the perfect filtration solution. Our journey of trial and error is why we’re confident in saying Evolution Aqua is the absolute best option!
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