It’s no secret that former President Barack Obama and his family love Martha’s Vineyard. During his presidency, Obama and his wife, Michelle, often took quick summer vacations to the island. And in 2019, the Obamas purchased a waterfront home sitting on almost 30 acres of land on Martha’s Vineyard for $11.75 million.
Martha’s Vineyard is just south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It is a destination marked by its affluence. Black celebrities such as Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry all travel to Martha’s Vineyard for summer escapes.
And now the former First Couple, who have a collective net worth of $70 million, are calling Martha’s Vineyard their summer home away from home, too. Since Barack’s two-term presidency ended in 2017, the Obamas have been busy running the Obama Foundation and their production company, Higher Ground Productions, which has inked a deal with Netflix to develop several feature films, documentaries, and docu-series. The company’s first film, “American Factory,” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2020. In addition, the Obamas are fixtures at the African American Film Festival, which is held every August in Martha’s Vineyard.
Owning this particular property might have always been in the cards for the Obamas. In 2019, the couple stayed at the home for two weeks. At the time, the home had already been on the market for four years — it was originally listed for $22.5 million. The Obamas purchased the property for almost half that amount in 2019.
A Secluded Summer Home
The Obamas’ home is 6,892 square feet. The multi-million dollar waterfront property between Edgartown Great Pond and has views of the Atlantic Ocean. The home was designed by Taylor Lombardo Architects and built by noted Martha’s Vineyard contractor, John Early in 2001.
Featuring a two-car garage, seven bedrooms, and eight and a half bathrooms, the residence seems to have been designed with the idea of relaxation in mind. Throughout the second level, several bedrooms lead to outside decks offering opportunities to take in the serenity of the estate. Downstairs, the kitchen and dining room include expansive views of Katama Bay while the family and living rooms include three large windows adding to the cozy feel of the space. Throughout the home are several stone fireplaces. Outside, there is a pool nestled amongst trimmed trees and manicured lawns.
Also on the property is a barn and boathouse with direct access to the pond as well as a private beachfront.
Tragic Reference
In August the body 45-year-old Tafari Campbell, a personal chef for the Obamas, was recovered from a pond in Martha’s Vineyard, according to the Massachusetts State Police. The drowning incident occurred at Edgartown Great Pond on the island, not at the Obama property.
Other Obama Residences
The Obama’s residence in Martha’s Vineyard is just one of their properties. After leaving the White House in 2017, the Obamas purchased a home in Washington’s Kalorama neighborhood for $8.1 million. They also purchased a home in 2005 in the Kenwood section of Chicago. The purchase price of their Chicago home is unknown.
