Vanilla Ice’s cool $19.3m Aussie mansion deal

Rapper-turned-renovator Vanilla Ice switched the script while shooting a spoof film on Aussie soil, halting the production to sell a $19.3 million mansion while on set.

The 90s icon, who was just 16 years old when he recorded his smash hit, Ice Ice Baby, funnelled his riches into a slew of luxury homes across the US which he flipped for profit over the years.

Born Robert Van Winkle, the charismatic artist showcased some of his renovations across nine seasons hosting reality TV show, The Vanilla Ice Project.

In another surprise career move, the 57-year-old starred as himself in Zombie Plane, Radioactive Pictures’ riotous feature landing in cinemas nationwide in November.

The Aussie production co-starring a host of celebrities past and present was filmed in 2023/24 at a variety of locations in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.

Local real estate agents and stunt actors, Alex and Victoria Fleri, also joined the cast, bonding over details of their luxury listings with the property-obsessed Van Winkle.

With Zombie Plane’s premiere upcoming, Mr Fleri has revealed the behind-the-scenes action that closed the mansion deal.

“We had a buyer who had been sitting on a contract for a stunning riverfront property at Surfers Paradise for 10 days,” Mr Fleri, of Amir Prestige, said.

“So, Victoria has her phone tucked into the cowboy boots that are part of her costume, she’s in the studio filming scenes with Vanilla Ice and the phone is ringing.

“There’s 100 people on set, I’m screaming, ‘Vic, Vic’, because [agency principal Amir Mian] is on the other line, working through the contract.

“It’s madness, but then Vanilla Ice calls out, ‘Alex, what do you need?’. I tell him I’ve got a contract for nearly $20m, and he says, ‘everyone, stop! Alex needs a contract right now!”

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With filming paused, Vanilla Ice then followed the Fleris, keen for an insight into local prestige real estate, stating, “okay, show me how you do a contract in Australia.”

Mr Fleri said the rapper looked on as the deal was made official, even serenading the agents with a rendition of his classic, Ice Ice Baby.

The property at 91 Commodore Drive, Paradise Waters, known as North Point, was one of the year’s biggest sales on the Gold Coast.

Directed by Lav Bodnaruk and Michael Mier, Zombie Plane follows a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles which is overrun by zombies, forcing an eclectic band of passengers led by celebrities-turned-secret agents to unite and save humanity.

The comedy debuts a wild on-screen ensemble, including Sophie Monk, Chuck Norris, Ice-T, Kyle Sandilands, Amy Shark, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Sir Bob Geldof, Brian Austin Green, Cody Simpson, John Jarratt, Matt Okine, Dan Ewing, Teressa Liane and Ann Truong – all battling zombies at 30,000 feet.

Mr Bodnaruk described the film as a “love letter to the ’90s and the bold, bonkers pop-culture movies we grew up on”.

“It’s designed to be a big-screen, laugh-with-your-mates experience with outrageous action, irreverent comedy and a soundtrack that bangs harder than Vanilla Ice in a zombie fight.

“We want audiences to pile into a cinema, switch off the world and have a blast together.”

The post Vanilla Ice’s cool $19.3m Aussie mansion deal appeared first on realestate.com.au.