‘King’ of Boca: Kevin James just snapped up a new pad, and we have deets
Kevin James isn’t the King of Queens anymore. Try Boca Raton.
The sitcom legend, 60, recently snapped up a $17.15 million mansion that’s a far cry from his character Doug Heffernan’s middle-class digs.
The brand new “spec” home is inside the exclusive Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. If that name sounds familiar, the gated community is also where Kansas City baller Travis Kelce (and, sometimes, his fiancée Taylor Swift) hunkered down during the off-season last spring.
The massive (we’re talking 8,600 square feet) six-bedroom, 8.5-bath pad includes five balconies, an office-lounge, climate-controlled wine room, gym and four-car garage. A Jack Nicklaus golf course, full-service marina and clubhouse are just steps away.
The interiors are the work of local designer Arianna Tascione, who was responsible for the overall aesthetic direction.
“It is truly an honor to know that an actor of such caliber chose to purchase this home,” Tascione told the Miami Herald, adding that James has been “incredibly kind and appreciative.”
She described the home’s look as “refined and modern with warm tones ... with a strong emphasis on natural materials, soft neutral palettes, and a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.”
Jackie Feldman with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty repped the seller, while Jason Matouk with Douglas Elliman represented the buyer.
James has already dipped his feet into the South Florida real estate market. Most recently, in 2021, the Long Island, New York, native purchased a place in Delray Beach for $14 million, flipping it two years later for a loss at $12.67 million.
The actor, who was born Kevin Knipfing, also starred in such flicks as “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Hitch,” “Grown Ups” and most recently, “Solo Mio.” He is married to actress Steffiana de la Cruz; they share four kids.
It’s unclear if this sleek new residence will be where James decides to hang up his hat.
If James does decide to retire to Boca Raton, he would be in good company. The palm-tree-lined city about 40 miles north of Miami has long had a reputation as a haven for retirees.
Around a quarter of residents are over 65, according to the most recent Census data, and the city’s median age of 46 is several years higher than nearby cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and even one-time retirement hotspot Miami Beach. The national median age is 39 years old.
South Florida’s warm weather and coastal lifestyle, combined with the state’s low taxes, have made it a popular destination for aging Americans.
Boca Raton also offers better bang for buck on luxury waterfront estates. While the $17.15 million James dropped on his new home is no small sum, it pales in comparison to what similar estates go for in the most exclusive pockets of Miami, Miami Beach and Palm Beach.
