The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has officially purchased Skaugum, the storied Norwegian estate that's been home to generations of the royal family, per sources close to the royal household. The price tag? A reported 400 million Norwegian kroner — that's roughly $43 million. The new owner isn't Zelensky directly, but Film Heritage Inc., a Belize-based offshore company he owns. Casual.
Now, if you're wondering why the Norwegian royals would part with a property they've held since 1929, buckle up. Skaugum has been the official residence of the heir to the Norwegian throne for nearly a century, but lately, it's been more tabloid fodder than fairy tale. The 240-acre estate has been at the center of a string of scandals, including Princess Mette-Marit's connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
And the drama doesn't stop there. In June 2026, the crown princess's son was found guilty of a rape that took place at Skaugum back in 2018 — a controversy that shook the palace and, according to experts, may have made the estate more of a liability than a legacy.
Zelensky apparently had his eye on the place well before the scandal broke. Sources say he first floated the idea back in 2025 during his second visit to Norway, but the royal family wasn't having it. Fast forward to 2026, and with the scandal dominating headlines, he tried again. By the end of August, the deal was done.
So why sell now? Experts point to two possible reasons: the Norwegian Royal Court's financial struggles and Haakon's impending accession to the throne, which would require the family to relocate to the Royal Palace in Oslo anyway.