Steven Bartlett, a British entrepreneur and podcaster known for his platform blending entrepreneurship and wellness, has listed his Cape Town mansion for more than double the price at which he acquired it two years ago. Bartlett purchased the property in the affluent suburb of Bishopscourt in 2021 for 93.3 million rands (approximately £4.3 million). He is now seeking offers upwards of 189 million rands, a figure that significantly exceeds recent regional market trends.
The mansion, located on nearly two acres beneath Table Mountain, features seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and parking for a dozen vehicles. Its amenities include a heated rim-flow pool, plunge pool, high-tech gym, steam room, jacuzzi, wine cellar, poker room, and a private cinema. Architecturally, the home contrasts with Bishopscourt’s traditional Cape Dutch-style homes, featuring modern glass and polished concrete finishes. Bartlett also added a padel court during renovations and temporarily leased the property to Warner Bros for the filming of Germany’s version of The Bachelor.
Cape Town has seen a marked increase in property prices in recent years, driven by a combination of domestic migration—South Africans leaving cities like Johannesburg and Durban for the Western Cape—and an influx of foreign buyers predominantly from Europe and North America. Coastal areas, in particular, have attracted overseas investment, contributing to rapid appreciation in real estate values and prompting concerns about affordability for local residents.
Property analyst Ash Müller described Bartlett’s asking price as “a crazy, abnormal jump and opportunistic,” highlighting the challenges the rising market poses for South African buyers earning in local currency. Bishopscourt remains a stronghold of established South African affluence, but the average selling price has nearly tripled over the past five years, reaching approximately R30 million in early 2024 compared to around R11 million five years previously.
Local residents have expressed mixed reactions. Sedick Dawood, a neighbor and fan of Bartlett’s podcast, voiced frustration that foreign investment, while framed as beneficial, is instead driving up property costs and pricing locals out of the market. Critics point to the city’s apartheid-era legacy, where racial segregation and economic inequality remain visible in the stark contrast between informal housing near the airport and affluent suburbs such as Bishopscourt.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis defended the city’s approach to attracting foreign capital, emphasizing its role in supporting economic growth, investment, and tourism. His administration has stated that the solution to rising housing prices lies in increasing housing supply rather than restricting foreign buyers.
The city’s governance by the Democratic Alliance for over 20 years has contributed to its reputation as one of South Africa’s better-managed urban centers. In high-end coastal enclaves, foreign buyers have accounted for more than half of recent property transactions, with around 40% of sales above R20 million over the past decade attributed to overseas purchasers.
Bartlett has not publicly explained why he is selling the property so soon after acquisition. Should it sell near the listed price, it would establish a new record for Bishopscourt, eliciting concern among neighbors wary of the effects of such high valuation on community living costs and property taxes. One resident remarked that the neighborhood may gain little from the sale, aside from increased municipal rates bills triggered by the property’s inflated value.