Update, August 4, 2021: After a media storm erupted this week over former President Barack Obama's plans to host a huge 60th birthday party at his Martha's Vineyard estate, he has abruptly canceled the event, which was to take place this Saturday. “Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the President and Mrs. Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends,” his spokesperson Hannah Hankins said in a statement. “He’s appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon.” According to the New York Times, a number of high profile guests on the 475-person list, which included donors, administration officials, and celebrities, were already en route to Martha's Vineyard. Although the Obamas took some heat this week for planning such a massive gathering in the midst of a pandemic, David Axelrod, the former senior advisor to the president, told the newspaper that the power couple had been concerned about the virus from the beginning and keen on taking all the necessary precautions, such as requiring vaccinations and a pre-party Covid test. "“But when this was planned, the situation was quite different. So they responded to the changing circumstances," he said.
Update, August 3, 2021: It was revealed earlier this week that former President Barack Obama is planning on throwing a blowout birthday party at his and Michelle's sprawling Martha's Vineyard estate this weekend—he turns 60 on August 4. There will reportedly be nearly 700 people in attendance, including a guest list of 475 (Oprah, Steven Spielberg, and George Clooney rumored among them) and a staff of 200. Though the fete will be outdoors and everyone will have to be vaccinated, the event has inevitably drawn controversy, especially with the alarming rise of the Delta variant and ever-changing guidelines issued by the CDC. But with 29.3 acres of pristine waterfront real estate, space—and social distancing—may not be much of an issue.
In light of this news, we're resurfacing this story from December 2019, which goes into more detail on the Obamas' Martha's Vineyard property.
It's no secret that Michelle and Barack Obama enjoy spending down time at Martha's Vineyard, a quaint Massachusetts island that everyone from the Kennedys to the Clintons has visited. It's been an annual vacation destination for the Obama family since their time in the White House, but now they're putting down roots with the purchase of a gorgeous mansion that they rented over the summer.
According to People, the 6,892-square-foot Martha's Vineyard estate was sold on Wednesday for $11.75 million to a trust. James F. Reynolds, a longtime friend of Barack Obama who also served as a member of his national finance committee during the 2008 presidential election, is named as a trustee on the deed.
The Obamas reportedly purchased the property from Wycliffe Grousbeck, owner of the Boston Celtics, and his ex-wife, Corinne Basler Grousbeck, who bought the home in 1998. The property has been on the market since 2015.
Situated on 29.3 waterfront acres near the Edgartown Great Pond, the impressive estate, which was built in 2001, features seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and a powder room. It also boasts an elegant master suite complete with a fireplace, as well as two guest wings, a two-car garage, a sun deck, boathouse, and a pool.
With these standout features, there is no doubt that Barack and Michelle Obama, along with their children, Sasha and Malia, will continue to enjoy memorable stays on Martha's Vineyard for years to come.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
Leena Kim is an editor at Town & Country, where she covers travel, jewelry, education, weddings, and culture.
