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Renato Cariani Reveals Behind the Scenes of the Transformation of Neymar’s Former House into a Mega Mansion Worth R$ 70 Million, with 2,800 m², Lake-Shaped Pool, Elevator Closet, and a Shopping-Worthy Playroom
Renato Cariani and Júlio Balestrin visited Thiago Nigro’s luxurious mansion in Alphaville, a property that the financial expert purchased from Neymar and is undergoing a complete renovation.
The visit took place a few months ago, where the duo showcased in detail the grandeur of the project, transforming the former residence into a 2,800 m² mansion with a lake-pool, cinema, playroom, gym, office with studios, and a series of high-standard environments planned for family use and daily comfort.
Renato Cariani and Júlio Balestrin
The visit begins with Renato Cariani and Júlio Balestrin arriving in Alphaville, in a residential area that, according to them, “stands out for its nature.” The feeling described by Renato Cariani is being “in a grove,” with many trees around.
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The group — which also includes the technical team and the host — jokes about the size of the lot and the number of parked cars. “Is it just me or is the whole block this house?,” comments one of them in surprise.
On their first tour of the ground floor, the visitors notice the scale of the project. Nigro mentions that nearly 60 people work daily, and that the construction has already lasted about eight months at the time.
The comparison “two soccer fields” arises to measure the usable area on display. The general feeling is that it is less of a “house” and more of a “neighborhood,” as they joke.
Where the Renovation Started and Where It’s Going
Thiago explains that the residence already had a metallic structure and about 1,800 m² of built area when he bought it.
The family decided to redo “all 1,800 m²” and add another 1,000 m², resulting in a total of 2,800 m² of built area.
The intervention is not cosmetic: he says his wife started out asking for “a little difference,” and the plan evolved into a complete redesign of spaces, facades, and uses.
Outdoor Area: Lake with White Sand, Gazebo-Spa, and 4-Meter Screen
Outside, the most talked-about project is the lake that will serve as a pool — “our pool is the lake.”
The proposal includes white sand around it, scattered light points, and travertine marble coverings.
Nigro also reveals there will be a 4-meter LED screen built behind a false wall that rises to the height of the gazebo. The family intends to watch shows and series in this space, with powerful sound to complete the experience.
Next to it, the gazebo functions as a spa and gets a tasty comparative detail: at around 50 m², it is “larger” than the first apartment Nigro lived in — he remembers the 31 m² and the “cramped” life he had when he worked as a waiter.
Materials and Costs: Floors, Stones, and the Construction Bill
The numbers that come up during the tour are substantial. Nigro talks about 1,400 m² of travertine floors purchased for the overall project.
When asked about the price per square meter, he mentions something “around R$ 700,” and concludes: “almost R$ 2 million just for the floor”. He then notes that “stone is very expensive” and that the total amount for the stones is even higher than that for the floors.
This leads to a discussion about acquisition, construction, and appreciation.
Renato Cariani estimated that the house would be worth R$ 40 million, with another R$ 20 million for construction, reaching R$ 60 million — arguing that the deal would only make sense if the final property could be valued at least R$ 100 million.
Nigro responds that the reasoning “makes a lot of sense,” mentions that he has financed at rates he considers advantageous in relation to the returns on his investments and argues that real estate tends to at least keep pace with inflation.
At one point, he states, “we have already invested R$ 19.5 million here,” but quickly aligns the expectation: “We should finish at around 25 [million]” for construction.
Therefore, he estimates the total expenditure at something like “almost 70” (adding purchase and renovation).
House Operations: Staff, Dedicated Kitchen, and Routine
In a support area, there is the staff kitchen — “a bit Greek,” with a table, refrigerator, and visual integration — and the governess’s room.
Nigro lists the current personnel situation: 15 staff members including cooks, a gardener, nannies, a driver, and security; he believes the team should grow “by a couple” after the move, more to handle the maintenance of spaces than due to a change in routine.
He also mentions that the bed “has to always be fresh,” referring to the demand for daily comfort and the cadence of services in the house.
Vertical Integration: Elevator for 12 People and Circulation
The previous renovation done by Neymar, according to Nigro, included a larger elevator, with a capacity for 12 people.
Nigro says he will keep the equipment. Due to scaffolding and work fronts, ascent that day is done via a temporary staircase.
The final circulation will have the elevator in the center and new ramps/frames as the environments are completed.
Office: View, Three Studios, and an Arcade
On the upper floor, Nigro’s office occupies a large glass area overlooking the lake.
On Fridays, he plans to work from home — “influencer day,” medical consultations, and couple commitments.
The space includes three studios for recording in different settings, a meeting table, the main work table, and an arcade machine.
The flooring will be carpeted “very pleasantly,” and the idea is for the environment to allow for seamless transitions between work and recording without moving.
Cinema, Automation, and Network: The Technical House
In another wing, there’s the cinema: a screen that descends from the ceiling with automatic blackout, two levels of sofa-type seating, and a support room with a popcorn machine.
Right next to it, the automation room provides a glimpse of the infrastructure: abundant cabling, labeled equipment, documentation for each wire, and a reinforced wireless network.
The comment is that each router costs around “R$ 800 to R$ 1,000.”
Children’s Rooms: Sofia’s Universe
Sofia’s room, the couple’s daughter, is cited as an example of scale and detail. The space is spacious, with an area for friends to sleep, playful elements, and a private bathroom.
The view is also highlighted as one of the charms of the house. Nigro contextualizes that his daughter is used to having a large playroom since their previous home, which helps to set expectations until everything is ready.
In the children’s leisure area, the tour reveals the transformation of an old squash court into a “shopping-style” play area: two levels, a slide, and a structure with high ceilings.
Next to it is a study room for creative activities — he mentions painting “Bobby Goods” with his daughter and humorously discusses the success of a coloring book that outperformed his own release in the overall rankings.
Master Suite: Closet, 4-Meter Bed, and “Room Service”
In the master suite, there are unusual solutions. The closet has a store-like scale, with LED lighting, specific drawers for accessories and watches, and a shoe rack positioned for easy access. There’s a secret passage connecting the daughter’s room to the parents’ room, designed for nighttime movements.
In the bedroom, the highlight is the 4-meter mattress (the bed will also have a wide upholstered frame), designed to accommodate the entire family.
The bathroom includes a fireplace in the intimate area and a glass shower with an open view of the greenery. The bathtub will face the same landscape.
In a light-hearted moment, the group pauses in front of a toilet “worth 40 grand,” which cleans, sterilizes, features ultraviolet rays, and has automatic functions. The joke about “assets” and “investment” garners good laughs.
Another structural detail is the dumbwaiter (or small service elevator) that connects the staff kitchen, on the lower floor, to the suite: food arrives “like room service.” Nigro mentions that the house has a printed menu for the week, a practice that organizes the routine.
Environmental Comfort: Heated Floors “Throughout the House”
When asked about thermal comfort, Nigro states that he installed heated floors throughout the house — which leads to playful comments about “heated gym floors” and even “dog floors.”
Routine, Values, and Purpose of Living
In the midst of budget back and forth, Nigro advocates two pieces of advice he carries: invest in a good pillow and a good bed, since a third of life is spent sleeping; and live well, because a large part of the remaining time happens at home.
He reiterates that the family wants to “have a bunch of kids,” that his wife is pregnant, and that the idea is to live there for many, many years, not “to flip for sale.”
The conversation about liquidity arises when someone asks if there are houses worth R$ 100 million for sale in Alphaville.
The answer is that there are few evaluations in that range and, in the market, perhaps “one for sale.” Nigro acknowledges that it’s a property of low liquidity, but rejects the term “white elephant” and emphasizes that the project was designed for personal use, close to the office, and for long-term residence.
Neymar and the Property’s Previous History
Throughout the tour, the visitors inquire about Neymar. Nigro says the player bought the property and “used it a lot,” even if initially as an investment.
He comments that Neymar’s sister lived in the house for quite some time and that there was her resistance to moving out, but, by their father’s decision, the move happened.
Spaces for Faith and Community Routine
In a reserved room, Nigro presents the prayer room. The space will have Jerusalem stone coverings and a large mat on the floor to allow comfort when kneeling.
He sums up the family’s vision: there are “physical attacks” and “spiritual attacks,” and for the latter, the response must also be spiritual, with prayer and discipline. The cleaning of the space, he says, will be done by his wife, who considers it an intimate area.
Nigro also remarks that the house frequently hosts cell meetings on Thursdays, gathering “all couples” with their children — which helps explain the emphasis on playrooms, cinemas, and large social areas.
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