WITH gleaming Porsches and Aston Martins lining its immaculate streets, the North London enclave of Highgate village is one of Britain’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.
Well-heeled residents include global music icons Sting and Harry Styles, while the Princess of Wales recently scouted £10,000-a-term Highgate School for Prince George.
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Since George Michael’s shock death in 2016, his home in London’s Highgate has slumped into disrepair, its garden’s trees and bushes now overgrown and unkemptCredit: Getty
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George’s former home, a Grade II-listed mansion, seen with scaffolding on the left, is under renovation almost a decade after his deathCredit: Darren Fletcher
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George with parents Jack and Lesley, and sisters Melanie and YiodaCredit: Social Media – Refer to Source
But amid the stunning properties served by the nearby artisanal bakeries and organic food stores, one stands out like a sore thumb — George Michael’s much loved former home.
Since the singer’s sudden death in 2016, the Grade II listed pile has slumped into disrepair, with its enormous trees and bushes now overgrown and unkempt.
Yesterday the mansion — bought by George in 1987 as his solo career took off — was clad in scaffolding, with overflowing skips littering the driveway, as workers toil to turn around its fortunes.
Neighbours are struggling to comprehend its downturn when the star left a £97.6MILLION fortune.
One local said: “We used to see George around but no one seems to have been in the house for years.
“With all that money sloshing about, it’s strange that it’s taken so long to get around to sorting it out. Why has it taken so long?”
The Careless Whisper star died aged 53 on Christmas Day 2016, as a result of heart and liver disease.
But it was more than two years later, in May 2019, before court paperwork was finally issued, meaning his estate could be divided up.
The bulk of it went to sisters Yioda and Melanie Panayiotou, while his dad Kyriacos, known as Jack, was handed the use of the singer’s horse stud farm in Hertfordshire, where he had lived for years, “for so long as he wishes”.
Artwork including pieces by Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, and a piano once owned by John Lennon, went to the Mill Charitable Trust which George set up in 2009 to give money to other charities.
Music video for hit song This Is Not Real Love by George Michael featuring Mutya Buena
The remainder of the estate was to be sold then divided as the trustees saw fit between his father, sisters and friends.
Beneficiaries inc-luded Wham! bandmate Shirlie Kemp, model Kay Mayer, record producer David Austin, former PA Michelle May, cousin Alex Georgiou, publicist Connie Filippo and family friend Sonia Bird.
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Battles over the star’s estate are now settled and workers are now able to work on the star’s former home
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Scaffolding is being used to keep the property secure after years of decay
George’s goddaughters Harley Moon Kemp and Bluebell Halliwell — the daughters of backing singer Shirlie and Spice Girl Geri — were also included.
But notably, nothing was left to former lover Fadi Fawaz, 49, who discovered Michael’s body at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxon.
After George’s death he squatted at another of the singer’s London properties, near Regent’s Park, refusing to give the £5million pile back to George’s family.
We used to see George around but no one seems to have been in the house for years. With all that money sloshing about, it’s strange that it’s taken so long to get around to sorting it out
Local resident
Long-running feud
In July 2019 he was arrested after reportedly standing on the roof topless. A few days earlier he had been in trouble for smashing up the house.
But former partner Kenny Goss did get some money despite not being named in the will.
Kenny had asked for a £15,000-a-month payment but eventually settled for an undisclosed sum following a long-running feud.
George’s other homes around the world were sold for large profits, and cash from music royalties and publishing rights continue to pour into the family coffers every year.
Over the past two years alone the chart legend has raked in more than £30million in royalties.
But exactly three years after George’s death, his eldest sister Melanie was found dead at her North London home aged 59.
Melanie, who had also been George’s hair and make-up artist, was later revealed to have left an estate of just £6.2million after using up most of her inheritance.
Her death was reportedly due to diabetic ketoacidosis. She was buried in Highgate Cemetery beside George and their mother Lesley who died of cancer in 1997.
Managing George’s estate then fell to younger sister Yioda, 62, who now has control over his remaining fortune.
Unmarried Yioda was one of the few people the singer continued to trust as he became ravaged by booze and substance abuse toward the end of his life.
After their mother’s death, she moved in with George to help him come to terms with his grief.
Thirty years later, Yioda was handed the keys to his Highgate mansion but was soon struggling to maintain it. Now she has been given the green light by Camden Council for a swathe of repairs.
Her team of architects, BB Partnership, submitted planning documents promising to transform it into a “habitable condition”.
So the posh Highgate neighbourhood is now forced to endure the daily noise of building machinery which has churned up the muddy footpath sloping past the house.
Armies of builders clad in high-vis jackets mill around the gated courtyard where owners of the adjoining luxury flats park their expensive cars.
Yesterday neighbours complained that the eyesore is a blight on the affluent area.
We used to see George occasionally but as no one has bothered filling us in, we’ve no idea (what’s going on)
Local resident
One man, who declined to give his name, said: “It’s a shame because this is a lovely area and people use the footpath to walk their dogs — we have all been wondering what is going on.
Decayed cladding
“We used to see George occasionally but as no one has bothered filling us in, we’ve no idea what’s going on.”
The extensive renovation includes removing a water tank, installing a new roof with solar panels, and replacing the decayed exterior cladding with modern white laminate.
Plans include converting two garages into living quarters “with a more traditional house frontage” which will “reinstate the character of the house”.
New decking will be installed around the main house and a window on the upper ground floor will be raised to offer a better view of the garden.
A garage will also be extended to house a “large SUV”.
Landscape designers also want permission to fell or heavily prune nine trees which have become a threat to the property but are sited within a Conservation Area.
This includes flattening an eight- metre holly tree and an 11-metre thuja tree “growing within close proximity of the building”.
And a 13-metre fast-growing mature Leyland cypress needs to be cut back.
Yioda’s team also needs to slash an 18-metre sycamore which is hanging over the garages, and remove its dead wood.
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The star’s sister, Yioda, on the day of his funeral in 2017Credit: Xposure
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George with his eldest sister Melanie, who was found dead at her north London home the age of 59Credit: Alamy
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The sign outside the decaying homeCredit: Darren Fletcher
When all the work is complete, Yioda is expected to move back into the pad, which local estate agents predict will be worth well over £10million.
She is currently thought to be living in rural Oxfordshire, to escape the glare of the spotlight and armies of fans who still regularly make pilgrimages to Highgate.
Camden Council’s planning officer Daniel Pope said: “Given the nature of the work and the distance away from neighbouring properties, the proposal is not considered harmful in terms of loss of privacy, outlook, implications to natural light, artificial light spill, or impacts caused from the construction phase of the development.”
His £23milllion yearly royalties
George’s company Nobby’s Hobbies Holding Ltd made an astonishing £23,777,237 last year.
While the estate rakes in millions from royalties, some are shared with former bandmate Andrew Ridgeley and George’s god son, DJ Roman Kemp.
While Roman’s shares have not been disclosed, Andrew has been able to live comfortably thanks to the royalties from Careless Whisper, which he co-wrote.
That hit alone has earned him a reported £10 million since 1982.
But he missed out on any cash from their mega hit Last Christmas. Wham! donated all royalties to Ethiopian famine relief when Band Aid kept them off the top spot in 1984.
The song still earns at least £300,000 per year in royalties, and when it went to No1 in December those proceeds went to African charities too.
Royalties from Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me, the 1991 duet with Elton John, go to Terrence Higgins Trust, the Rainbow Trust, and London Lighthouse hospice.
Proceeds from George’s 1996 hit Jesus to a Child went to Childline
HIS FIVE OTHER PROPERTIES
Goring
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George Michael’s former Mill Cottage, where he passed away in 2016, was sold for £3.8m and transformed into a luxury Airbnb charging £550 a night
GEORGE bought Mill Cottage, a 16th Century rural cottage in the exclusive Berkshire village of Goring in 2001.
It was there he died on Christmas Day 2016.
The house was snapped up by property developers from Hong Kong for £3.8million in 2020.
They then transformed it into a stylish Airbnb rental, charging £550 a night.
St Tropez
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George’s stunning French villa, dubbed Chez Nobby, hit the market for £10.3m after his death, featuring six bedrooms, a pool, and breathtaking sea viewsCredit: BNPS
HIS stunning French villa appeared on the market for £10.3million within months of his death.
Boasting six bedrooms, a huge swimming pool and sweeping sea views, George had owned the lavish property in Ramatuelle since the Eighties.
He affectionately dubbed the house Chez Nobby after his childhood nickname.
Sydney
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George Michael’s former clifftop home in Sydney, was sold for A$5.8m in 2020 and is now listed at A$15m, with a £2,000-a-night summer rental rateCredit: Supplied
WHILE on a whirlwind visit to celebrate Sydney’s Mardi Gras festival with Fadi in 2010, George adored the five bedroom, five bathroom clifftop house with ocean views.
Having first been sold in 2020 for A$5.8million, in 2023 it was quietly listed for A$15million and is now a popular summer rental commanding £2,000 a night.
Santa Barbara
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Less than a year after his death, George’s Californian mansion was listed for £4.9m, featuring five bedrooms, a pool, sauna, and tennis courtCredit: Cover Images
LESS than a year after he died, George’s luxurious Californian mansion was up for sale at £4.9million.
With five bedrooms and six bathrooms, it also features a pool, sauna, tennis court and parking for 25 cars.
George’s family were keen to flog the pad to offer Fadi a financial incentive to leave the London townhouse.
Dallas
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The 5500sq ft colonial-style property, sold for just under £3m six months after his death
IN the early days of his fiery relationship with Kenny Goss, George hung out in Dallas, Texas.
The 5500sq ft, four bedroom, colonial-style house was lined with expensive pieces of art from Kenny’s vast collection.
It was sold six months after George died for just under £3million.
His beneficiaries from £97million will
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Bluebell Halliwell with mum GeriCredit: Getty
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Cousin Andros
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Model Kay MayerCredit: Alpha Press
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Godson Roman Kemp with mum ShirlieCredit: Getty
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David AustinCredit: Doug Seeburg – The Sun
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Harley Moon KempCredit: Rex Features
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education