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aris Hilton's recent $63 million purchase of Mark Wahlberg's former estate in Beverly Hills might seem extravagant, but what wasn't reported at the time was that she and her husband Carter Reum took out a mortgage on the property. The 12-bedroom, 20-bathroom home came with a $43.75 million mortgage from JPMorgan Chase at an interest rate of 5.25%, which may seem unusual for someone worth an estimated $300-400 million.

    However, real estate experts say this type of arrangement is more common than you'd think among the ultra-rich. Evan Harlow, a real estate agent, notes that many high-net-worth individuals choose to take out mortgages even when they could afford to pay cash. Public records show celebrities like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg have all financed their homes.

    The reasoning behind this approach is that it allows the wealthy to keep their money liquid and working for them in investments or businesses rather than tying it up in one property. As Harlow explains, "Sometimes the smartest financial move isn't paying everything off, but keeping your money flexible and working for you." This mindset is reflected in how ultrahigh-net-worth individuals view mortgages as a tool to be used strategically, rather than a burden.

    In fact, using a mortgage can help free up capital for higher-yield investments or business ventures. Harlow cites an example of one of his clients who purchased a $3 million property with a jumbo loan, choosing to keep their cash in the market where it was earning returns well over the mortgage rate. For these individuals, taking out a mortgage is simply another lever they can pull in their overall wealth strategy.