Hugh Jackman is giving lucky fans the chance to live rent-free for a month – as the Hollywood star continues to struggle to sell his New York City apartment for AU$40 million.
The Australian actor, 57, is teaming up with Bilt founder Ankur Jain for the company’s latest ‘Rent Free’ game show, in which celebrities take part in challenges to help members score a month without paying rent.
While Jackman helps others get rid of their rent bills, his own ultra-luxury Manhattan apartment remains firmly on the real estate market.
The Wolverine star first listed the sprawling five-bedroom apartment for $40 million in March, less than a year after his divorce from ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness was finalized.
Jackman and Furness, 70, bought the palatial property in 2008 for $33 million, which when adjusted for inflation amounts to well over $40 million today – meaning the actor is now hoping to make a substantial profit of several million dollars on the apartment.
However, the building turned out to be more difficult to move than expected.
Hugh Jackman is giving lucky fans the chance to live rent-free for a month
The former couple initially tried to sell the condo in June 2022 for as much as $54.2 million — more than $14 million above the current asking price — but pulled it off the market just two months later.
They then took a different approach and offered the property for rent for an eye-watering $174,000 per month in September 2023, around the same time they announced their divorce.
The apartment was reportedly rented to a tenant expected to stay until December 2026, although the property subsequently returned to the market on March 31.
While Jackman is helping Bilt members score free lodging, the actor is still waiting for someone to make an offer on his own pricey piece of Manhattan real estate.
The apartment’s listing deliberately makes no mention of its famous former owners and offers only ‘very limited viewings’ to potential buyers.
Property records show the house remains registered with the limited company Jackman and Furness used when they bought it in 2008.
The three-storey property is located in a striking building on Perry Street, designed by acclaimed architect Richard Meier and has been described as a ‘modernist masterpiece’.
The massive triplex spans exactly 11,000 square feet and features a double-height living room with windows overlooking the Hudson River.
While Jackman helps others get rid of their rent bills, his own ultra-luxury Manhattan apartment remains firmly on the real estate market. The Wolverine star first sold the sprawling five-bedroom condo in March for $29 million
Jackman and Furness, 70, bought the palatial property in 2008 for $29.3 million, meaning the actor is now hoping to make a significant profit on the apartment
“The residence’s strikingly minimalist design makes it one of the most dramatic apartments in Manhattan,” the listing said.
The property features massive entertainment areas on three levels, including a “large recreation room” and terrace on the eighth floor.
There is also a library that can serve as an additional guest room.
But while Jackman waits for a buyer to purchase his multimillion-dollar home, he’s been busy helping others with their much more modest housing bills.
The actor’s collaboration with Bilt comes in anticipation of the Global Citizen Festival, which he will host on September 26 on Central Park’s Great Lawn.
About 60,000 people are expected to attend the event, which aims to support efforts to combat extreme poverty.
