From living in car to multimillion-dollar pads: Inside homes of Sam Worthington

Before his big break in 2009’s Avatar, Sam Worthington was living in his car.

The then 30-year-old Aussie actor had auctioned off all his possessions and moved out of his Sydney studio apartment.

“I sold everything I owned to my mates because I didn’t like who I was,” the Perth-raised star told Variety in 2022.

“I needed to get the heck out. I was living in Sydney, and every time I would go to the bar, people would recognise me. I was rebelling against that.”

The Love My Way alum did keep his mattress and installed it in his hatchback.

The retrofitted car became his home until he landed the role of Jake Sully in James Cameron’s sci-fi blockbuster but since then, the actor has secretly spent millions of dollars on property in the United States.

Avatar went on to break records, becoming the first film ever to make $US2 billion ($A3 billion) worldwide.

Since Avatar’s success, Worthington, 49, has amassed a net worth of $US60 million ($A91 million) and has lived in some impressive properties.

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Here’s a closer look at the luxurious residences the Terminator Salvation star has called home.

Hawaii

“Wortho” snapped up a sprawling estate on the island of Kauai in 2012 – just prior to meeting his model wife Lara Worthington nee Bingle in order to “settle down” after several years of couch surfing and living in his car.

The plantation-style estate occupies 2ha in Kealia, a small community on Kauai.

There are three bathrooms, a state of the art security system and multiple outdoor spaces.

Of the three bedrooms, two are palatial master suites which both open out to lava-rock gardens with outdoor showers.

CrossFit founder Greg Glassman bought the Clash of the Titans star’s home in 2015 for $6.12 million.

Los Angeles

The Worthingtons bought a luxe Los Angeles home from X-Men producer Simon Kinberg in 2018 for an eye-popping $US7.87 million ($A10.9 million), Realtor reports.

Located in a sought-after neighbourhood, only minutes away from the Sunset Strip, the five-bedroom property is set behind gates and privacy hedges to keep prying eyes at bay.

High-end features include a separate guesthouse with a screening room, exercise room, and sauna.

The three-car garage is located directly behind the home, which is easily accessible on a cul-de-sac that offers off-street parking for guests.

After being on the market for over a year and undergoing several price cuts, the couple eventually sold the house for $US8.2 million ($A10.6 million).

New York

Last year, the Aussie power couple made headlines over a legal dispute with the landlord of their former New York rental.

The pair vacated the Chelsea unit after a year or so of subletting, which rented for about $US30,000 ($A45.400) a month.

Their former landlord reportedly refused to return the security deposit, claiming the couple trashed the unit and damaged a priceless $US115,000 ($A175,000) table.

The Hacksaw Ridge star and the media personality hit back, suing their former landlord in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Their lawyer asserted the couple left the apartment in “near-pristine condition”.

The Worthingtons admitted to “normal wear and tear”, and to some damages beyond their control — such as water intrusion from the building envelope, the lawsuit says.

They left behind a broken cupboard, plus some nicks and scrapes on the walls.

The Worthingtons’ lawyer Anne W. Salisbury told the New York Post the landlord’s attempt to claim $US300,000 ($A454,000) in damages “demonstrably false and baseless”.

Life in the US

The couple originally packed up and left Australia because they had gotten sick of the limelight.

Last year, Worthington told GQ he was not tempted to move back to Australia, saying: “No. I like America.”

“America’s given me everything, and I’ve been living here for 20-odd years, man,” he said.

Worthington explained he liked the sense of “anonymity” and “community”, adding: “I have friends there and we don’t even talk about my work.

“In New York City, no one gives a s**t what I do. I love it.”

It is unknown where the notoriously private couple are exactly residing now but the Worthingtons currently divide their time between Australia and the US, with their three sons, Rocket, Racer and River.

Parts of this story first appeared in Realtor and the New York Post and were republished with permission.

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