This past summer, journalist Geraldo Rivera apparently picked up a bargain for himself: a 12,800 square-foot mansion in Shaker Heights, an affluent suburb of Cleveland. Rivera and his wife—who had grown up in the area—paid, according to public record, $2.8 million for the home. Rivera is married to documentary producer Erica Levy. The couple plan to call the area home for the foreseeable future.
The house dates to 1968, and is designed in the French Provincial style: a very prominent entrance above a two-tier staircase, whitewashed brick exterior walls, a hipped roof, and stone balusters express the façade. The home is reached via a long driveway that traverses a bridge over a small stream.
The interiors open with a grand foyer with marble floors, an ornate crystal chandelier, and a winding staircase leading to a second-floor gallery. Room-to-room flow is effortless and pleasing, and warm tones dominate, with a great deal of finished wood, brick accents, plank hardwood floors, and beige walls defining the feel of the home.
The standout room of the house is the large solarium, which incorporates a living area, an indoor pool, and brick floors, skylights, tongue-and-groove ceilings, and numerous lanterns for ambiance. A smaller, second-floor solarium provides a reading alcove, with whitewashed brick enhanced by several painted embellishments.
The grounds extend to 1.4 acres, and include a step-down patio with raised plantings.
Rivera began his career as a lawyer, moved into journalism, and became a successful talk-show host and author. He has appeared regularly on Fox News since 2001.