As Australian cricket star Steve Smith prepares to lead his side in The Ashes, his focus extends beyond the pitch to a formidable property empire valued at nearly £7 million. The 36-year-old batsman and his wife, Dani Willis, have meticulously built a portfolio of eight homes, blending sporting excellence with astute business acumen.
The Power Couple's Property Portfolio
Smith and Willis, who married in 2018 after a romantic proposal at the top of New York's Rockefeller Center, own an impressive collection of properties. According to data from CoreLogic, the couple holds at least eight properties either in their names or through companies controlled by Smith.
Their holdings are spread across multiple Australian regions, including Sydney, Queensland, and the Toowoomba area, while also boasting a home in New York City. RealEstate.com reports the total value of these assets has reached a staggering £6.9 million (approximately $9.235 million).
Willis, a former international gymnast, now works as an interior designer and lawyer, in addition to being a Pilates instructor. Her diverse skill set has proven invaluable in their joint ventures. Speaking about their foray into property investment, Willis revealed to News Corp in 2024: "Steve and I have always loved New York and we first looked at buying a place over there in 2017. And then we weren't in any hurry, we just wanted to buy the right place."
A Home Away From Home in New York
The couple's affection for New York is evident, with the city serving as their current base. Willis elaborated on their transatlantic lifestyle, stating: "It's just the energy drew us to New York and then you have the added benefits of just being able to go about life. Australia is always home. When you touch down or come back you've had a whole life here, so Australia is always inherently home but New York is just our base now."
She described the unique atmosphere of the city, saying: "It's such an incredible atmosphere in New York, it's the melting pot of so many different people all crammed into this tiny little island all crammed on top of one another. After you've been there for a while you get immune to the craziness of it and nothing really shocks you anymore."
Strategic Investments and Future Plans
Smith appears to have developed a particular fondness for Sydney's Balmain suburb, where half of his properties are located. The remainder are strategically scattered across Australia, including investments in Marrickville, Coogee, and San Souci.
Amid speculation about Smith's cricketing future following his signing for Cardiff-based The Hundred team Welsh Fire, the couple maintains a philosophy of living in the moment. Willis confessed last year: "We always like to live in the moment and I think that's really important because we've been doing this for a very long time now. You deal with the here and now or whatever the next tour is that you have coming up."
She added: "You try not to look too far into the future, you try to take it day by day and tour by tour. If you're worrying about some tour that is in six months' time, how can you be fully present and give your best now? We've always just tried to do things in the moment."
As The Ashes gets underway, with all action broadcast live on TNT Sports, Willis will be among those supporting Smith from the sidelines during the tour of their homeland, cheering on both her cricket star husband and their successful property ventures.
