Steven Bartlett, the Dragons' Den star and podcaster, is selling his seven-bedroom mansion in Cape Town for £8.5 million—double what he paid for it in 2024. The decision has sparked criticism from local residents who accuse him of flipping the property and inflating house prices in the area.
What Happened
Bartlett, 33, has put the mansion, located on the slopes of Table Mountain, on the market. The property includes a padel court, swimming pool, home cinema, and spa, which he added since purchasing it. The sale price is twice the amount he originally paid, leading to accusations of property flipping.
A friend of Bartlett's clarified that he 'loves' the South Africa home, telling Metro: 'He's just not able to visit it enough. In the last couple of years, his business has exploded. Diary of a CEO is on track to be the biggest podcast in the world, and his team has grown hugely.'
Why He's Selling
The friend explained that Bartlett's business expansion, with offices in the US and UK, leaves him little time for the Cape Town property. 'His business has expanded so much – with offices now in the US as well as the UK – that most of his time is taken up criss-crossing the Atlantic. Unfortunately, that means the pad in South Africa has had to take a back seat.'
Bartlett and his girlfriend Melanie Lopes, to whom he proposed earlier this year, only visited the property for four weeks in 2025. The friend added: 'With him basically splitting his time between London and LA, that's on track to be even less this year, so it just doesn't make any sense to keep it. He loves it, but just can't make the time to stay there. In a way, the house is a victim of Steven's success.'
Local Reaction
The sale has angered Cape Town locals, who accuse Bartlett of inflating property prices. Resident Sedick Dawood told the Daily Mail: 'I love Steven, but here again Cape Town is being bought by foreigners, under the guise of "foreign investment", but in reality pushing up property prices for citizens.'
An Instagram video breaking down the local taxes Bartlett could face for the sale has been viewed over 600,000 times. In the comments, Gerry Walsh wrote: 'Man it hurts to see a non-resident inflate house prices like this and potentially walk away doubling their money.' Matt Levey commented: 'So this is why the property in Cape Town is so high.' Another user, @sincerely_natb, said: 'More proof that only multi-millionaires are welcome here. We are unable to enjoy or afford to enjoy our own land because foreign demand.'
Impact
The controversy highlights growing tensions over foreign investment in Cape Town's property market, where luxury homes are increasingly bought by international buyers. Bartlett's spokesperson declined to comment on the sale. The friend's remarks suggest the sale is driven by practical considerations rather than a lack of affection for the property, but the local backlash reflects broader concerns about affordability and gentrification.
