Stefanos Kasselakis: The Ancestral “Jewel” of Ekali Now Renting for Up to €20,000 a Month

One of the most striking villas in the northern suburbs of Athens—the ancestral home of Stefanos Kasselakis—has entered a new chapter.

The impressive three-storey residence in Ekali, now owned by shipowner Haris Vafias, is available for rent at a monthly price ranging between €10,000 and €20,000, following a full-scale renovation completed around a year and a half ago.

Set on a four-acre plot at the corner of Panos and Terpsichoris streets, the 1,600-square-metre villa has long been considered one of the area’s standout properties. In the mid-1990s, passers-by would often stop to admire the imposing residence, its entrance marked by a large letter “O”—a detail that led many to believe the house once belonged to Aristotle Onassis. In reality, the owner was Thodoros Kasselakis, a businessman active in ship painting.

At the time, his son Stefanos was just eight years old, spending his childhood years in the expansive property that would later become widely known as his family home.

A property changes hands

Three decades later, following a series of legal and financial developments, the villa changed ownership. After initially being acquired by an insurance company, the property was eventually purchased by shipowner Haris Vafias, who viewed it as a strong investment opportunity.

According to sources close to the new owner, there is no intention to sell the residence. Instead, Vafias opted for an extensive renovation of the villa, completed approximately 18 months ago, with the clear aim of placing it on the rental market.

The house is partially furnished—sufficient for a property of its scale—while allowing future tenants the freedom to tailor the interiors to their personal style. The rental price varies between €10,000 and €20,000 per month, depending on the length and terms of the lease.

Notably, the villa has not been listed on major luxury rental platforms. Instead, the owner is said to prefer a discreet, private approach when engaging with potential tenants interested in what is considered a prime “fillet” property in Ekali.

The long legal saga

The villa has also been at the centre of a lengthy legal dispute involving Stefanos Kasselakis’ father. The issues date back to 2004, when tax authorities determined that the property—formally registered to an offshore company based in Monrovia, Liberia—was in fact beneficially owned by Kasselakis’ parents.

Thodoros Kasselakis contested the income and large real estate taxes imposed on him, seeking through the courts to avoid paying €4,016,269. The case ultimately reached the Supreme Court, which issued its ruling last July.

According to the decision, Kasselakis must pay the original amount to the Greek State. With surcharges accumulated over a 21-year period, the total debt now exceeds €12 million.

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