Nick Lachey and his wife Vanessa Minnillo don't make headlines for much these days, even though Nick is still active in Hollywood. The pair are busy raising their three kids, and they're better known for being a model couple and near-perfect parents than anything else.
But there's a unique connection between Nick Lachey and his family and one star who wouldn't have entered Nick's orbit if it weren't for her death.
Nick Lachey Bought Jenni Rivera's Home
Fans know that Nick is worth millions, and he can afford just about any property -- including a $4.15 million Los Angeles-area house. But the Encino home didn't belong to just any old millionaire.
Back in 2016, Nick Lachey bought the late singer Jenni Rivera's home. The American songstress, who performed in Spanish, passed away after a plane crash in Mexico. Though rumors lingered that the star was still alive, the wreckage of the plane proved otherwise.
Jenni passed away in 2012, and by 2016, her family was getting ready to list their home on the market. They had lived there since 2008, and anyone who loved Jenni knows how much her family and togetherness meant to her.
It's clear there were memories wrapped up in the home, but Nick had a unique way of recognizing Jenni and her family as they moved on from the property.
Nick Wrote A Special Letter To The Sellers
Nick went into the home sale knowing who the house had previously belonged to. But rather than tossing his checkbook at the Rivera family, Nick made a heartfelt gesture by writing the family a letter.
He explained, "It was a very, very special home to them and for them to have to part with it, I can only imagine. It was a very emotional process." So, Nick and Vanessa wrote that they hope to create their own memories in Jenni and her family's honor.
Even more touching, Lachey noted that this wasn't a "business thing" to him. Instead, he recognizes homes as "chapters of our lives" and wants to respect not just the home, but the family who once lived there.
It's a sweet sentiment, but it likely also helped that Nick paid a pretty penny for the home. Jenni bought her house in 2008 for $3.3 million, and Nick paid nearly a million more than that.
Of course, there is a not-so-sweet side to the story.
Where Does Nick Lachey Live Now?
Nick and Vanessa may have loved their Encino home, but it wasn't their forever abode. In late 2020, the couple bought a new property in Tarzana. The selling price for Jenni Rivera's former home? More than $6.5 million.
These days, the Lacheys are living in a $5M home formerly owned by Randall Cobb. As for Jenni's old home, no word on who may have purchased it after the Lacheys moved out -- fans just know they likely turned a profit on the house.