Avicii, also known as Tim Bergling, seemed to come out of nowhere. In roughly six years, he's gone from signing with a small European label to recording with Madonna. He's gone from reaching the Top 20 in Europe to reaching #1 worldwide. He's gone from a couple of YouTube views to millions. He went from No. 33 to No. 3 on DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs List. In other words, Avicii "blew up". It's been a really busy six years. In addition to his work gaining more recognition, he's also gained some of the perks of being a superstar. His net worth has increased to $30 million and he makes $200,000 a night DJing. Consequently, the 24-year old DJ recently went from chilling in Stockholm to owning major property in Hollywood. Here's a look at what going from relative obscurity to two Grammy nominations can buy you in Tinseltown.
To understand how a 20-something scored one of the most coveted homes in Hollywood – you have to first take a look at his meteoric rise. Avicii netted his first major hit in 2010. The track, "Seek Bromance", climbed to the Top 20 in Belgium, The Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom, among other parts of Europe. His increased popularity saw him debut on DJ Magazine's Top 100 list at #33. The following year, he scored another hit, releasing "Levels". "Levels", fueled by a sample from Etta James' classic, "Something's Got a Hold on Me", was a major hit all over Europe, reaching #1 in three countries, and sitting comfortably within the Top 10 in 12 others. He bounced from #33 to #6 on the DJ Top 100 list. In 2012, he received a Grammy nomination for his track, "Sunshine", with legendary DJ, David Guetta. He was featured at Lollapalooza and became the first DJ to headline a concert at Radio City Music Hall. In 2013, he received his second Grammy nomination, won his first MTV European Music Award, and the American Music Award for Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist. He started 2014 with the announcement of his collaboration with Madonna, and the announcement that a popular French radio station launched a web station devoted entirely to his music. He's doing all right.
All of that success necessitated a step up in the home owning department, of course. So he took the step. Avicii purchased a $15.5 million home in the Hollywood Hills. The massive structure on Blue Jay Way has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The home is notable for its funky architecture, which features walls that open directly to the outside world in all rooms, stunning views of the surrounding area, and a man-made stream that runs through the entire house and empties into a multi-level infinity pool outside. The design, by McLean Design, is meant to eliminate any sense of separation between outside and inside. The amount of glass used to construct the 7,007 square-foot building does just that. It's not a home for people who want privacy exactly. It's more like a super-modern square fishbowl. However, the property is fitted with a security system that uses fingerprint recognition to open doors, so even if just about anyone can see in, getting inside the gates will be much more difficult. Though his face might not be totally recognizable now, his collaboration with Madonna is probably going to do away with any privacy he may still be able to enjoy. Want to take a bet on how long it takes before people are camped outside, craning for a glimpse of him, every day?
