In 2009, George Clooney, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber created side-by-side Los Cabos villas called Casamigos; seven years later, the custom beachfront homes were sold together for $100 million

George Clooney, supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber once shared more than a friendship and business ventures. The three also shared a beachfront compound in Mexico, where they built two custom-designed villas side by side after deciding that one giant vacation home was not quite the right fit.The properties, located in Los Cabos on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, became known collectively as Casamigos, or “House of Friends”. Built in 2009 with the help of Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta’s firm, the two residences were designed as neighbouring homes with a shared sense of space while still giving each household its own privacy.Seven years later, the two villas were reportedly sold together to a Mexican billionaire for $100 million, turning the unusual celebrity vacation compound into one of the more notable high-value real estate deals associated with the Hollywood star and the model-businessman couple.From one mega-home to two villasThe idea initially was considerably simpler. Clooney, Crawford and Gerber had considered building one large vacation house that all three friends could share after finding an oceanfront lot in Los Cabos.The plan eventually changed. Instead of constructing one enormous residence, they decided to create two adjoining homes separated by a single gate. The arrangement allowed the friends to remain close while accommodating their different lifestyles.At the time, Clooney was a bachelor, while Crawford and Gerber had a family with two young children. The solution meant the families could spend holidays together but still retreat to their own spaces.Gerber later explained to Architectural Digest that the friends had found an oceanfront lot and thought it made sense to build there. Crawford described the homes as places where the families could easily move between each other’s spaces.The result was a compound that was private enough to function as two separate residences but connected enough to make gatherings effortless.Architecture designed for barefoot livingThe villas were designed by Ricardo and Víctor Legorreta, whose firm was tasked with creating residences that matched the spectacular coastal setting without sacrificing comfort.According to Architectural Digest, the architects were asked to create homes that felt elegant and almost like works of art while still being comfortable enough for residents to walk around barefoot or in swimsuits.The two homes shared an architectural language but were not identical. Crawford and Gerber’s residence leaned toward a brighter, airier aesthetic. It featured neutral tones, built-in furniture, Spanish limestone and a large courtyard designed to bring light into the property. The homes also made extensive use of indoor-outdoor living, an approach particularly suited to their beachfront location. Open spaces, terraces and courtyards helped connect the interiors with the surrounding landscape.Clooney’s villa, meanwhile, had a somewhat darker and more private character. Architectural Digest previously described its design as featuring a long hallway leading into a double-height courtyard, along with dining and sitting areas, an open kitchen and a bar that served as a central gathering point.A home built around friendshipThe properties were more than vacation houses. Their design was closely tied to the way the three friends wanted to spend time together. Crawford told Architectural Digest that the families could move between the homes for meals and drinks. “Our lives go back and forth,” she said, describing how cocktails could happen at one house and dinner at the other.The compound also eventually lent its name to something that became an entirely separate business venture.Clooney and Gerber, along with real estate developer Mike Meldman, later launched Casamigos tequila. The brand took its name from the Mexican retreat that had originally been created as a private vacation escape for the friends.The reported $100 million saleThe Casamigos chapter in their real estate story ended in 2016. Clooney and Gerber sold the two Los Cabos villas together to a Mexican billionaire for a reported $100 million, according to contemporary reports. Architectural Digest's later coverage also records the sale at that figure.The sale came after years of the homes being used as a private getaway for the friends and their families. Rather than being a conventional celebrity mansion, the compound was distinctive because two neighbouring residences had been conceived together from the beginning.For Crawford and Gerber, the Mexican retreat was one of several high-value properties they have owned over the years. Their portfolio has included homes in Malibu, Beverly Hills and other locations, with Crawford frequently describing her approach to interiors in terms of comfort as well as appearance.Clooney's real estate portfolio has likewise included properties across several countries, but the Los Cabos compound remains notable for the way it combined architecture, friendship and privacy in a single beachfront setting.The Casamigos villas ultimately lasted only about seven years as a shared celebrity retreat after their 2009 construction. But their design and the reported $100 million sale gave the property a lasting place in celebrity real estate history.What began as a plan for three friends to build one enormous vacation home instead became two connected villas on Mexico's coast, allowing Clooney, Crawford and Gerber to remain neighbours while maintaining separate homes. Years later, the unusual compound changed hands in a single deal worth a reported $100 million.Ready to Make a Smarter Property Decision? Build Your Legacy with TOI Homes.