Controversial TV Host Billy Bush To Take On $600K Loss In Selling Chelsea Home?


Billy Bush, who was booted out of The Today Show after the 2005 Access Hollywood tape leak, is reportedly putting his house on the market at far less than the original price.

According to an article by Curbed, the townhouse was purchased by the co-anchor in preparation for his new contract with The Today Show, which reportedly pays him about $3 million annually. The house is located in the Chelsea neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan.

But when the Trump tapes, which showed Billy Bush and Donald Trump exchanging lewd and sexist jokes, were leaked, the former Access Hollywood co-host was released from his contract.

He reportedly purchased the 7,248-square-foot house in December 2015 for about $8.8 million. This April, he listed the house through JLM Trust for $8.9 million. However, the price dropped drastically right after the Trump tapes leak, from $8.5 million to just a little more than $8.2 million.

Billy Bush allegedly planned to remodel the Chelsea house, which has five bedrooms and six bathrooms.

The article also mentioned that the house probably needed a lot of work considering that the images on the listing were mostly rendered. But among the more interesting architectural details based on the images was the 22-foot-high ceiling in the parlor room, a roof deck with Jacuzzi, an outdoor kitchen, and a cellar.

The property also has a lounge area on the roof deck, while the living room opens to the balcony and garden.

Daily Mail talked to a source who claimed that Billy Bush was not living in the Chelsea home but staying in the apartment while the townhouse was being renovated. Construction was expected to last two years.

The British tabloid said that if somebody were to snag the property, Billy Bush stands to lose around $600,000.

“This fabulous home is perfectly positioned for easy access to the Chelsea market, the Chelsea art district, the high line and Hudson river, Chelsea piers, and all of the wonderful shops and restaurants that make Chelsea one of the most coveted neighborhoods in New York,” the listing said. “Also included are alternative Floorplans by celebrity architect Michael Davis.”

Most impressive, however, might be the roof deck, which features a “glamorous plunge pool, Jacuzzi, lounge area, and outdoor kitchen.”

Billy Bush is reportedly moving back to Los Angeles where his wife and children live.

But Daily Mail said that Billy Bush can afford to lose some money if the rumors are true about him walking away with $10 million when he was booted out of NBC. Also, the 45-year-old has already started looking for a job elsewhere since he did not sign an exclusivity contract with the network.

In fact, reports claim that some networks are already looking at hiring the disgraced TV host.

“Executives at different networks are already discussing if Billy is hire-able and if they can bring him on to any of their shows as a personality,” the alleged source claimed. The report added that executives are still speculating if the public “would need a break from him before bringing him on a show.”

NBC released a statement on letting go of the Today co-host, “Billy Bush will be leaving The Today Show’s 9 a.m. hour, effective today. While he was a new member of the Today team, he was a valued colleague and longtime member of the broader NBC family. We wish him success as he goes forward.”

For his part, Billy Bush also released a statement which stated, “I am deeply grateful for the conversations I’ve had with my daughters, and for all of the support from family, friends, and colleagues. I look forward to what lies ahead.”

[Featured Image by Craig Barritt/Getty Images]

Share this article: Controversial TV Host Billy Bush To Take On $600K Loss In Selling Chelsea Home?
More from Inquisitr