James Van Der Beek’s Multimillion-Dollar Ranch Deal Gets New Context After Friends’ Support Revealed

New details have emerged about James Van Der Beek’s $4.8 million purchase of a Texas ranch, indicating that the late actor received financial support from close friends to complete the deal before his passing.

Van Der Beek is said to have finalized the acquisition of the property, where he was living with his family, just one month before he succumbed to cancer.

In the wake of his death, parties close to the actor launched a GoFundMe campaign to support his family.

News of the multi-million-dollar deal later sparked criticism online, although fresh information regarding the source of funds is now starting to calm those concerns.

A report confirming that Van Der Beek had finalized a $4.8 million ranch purchase prior to his death was published by Realtor.com and quickly gained traction online.

Not all reactions to the news were positive.

On social media, some questioned why the family would turn to GoFundMe for financial support if they were able to secure such a property for millions of dollars.

“Give me a break, they have a multi-million-dollar ranch and set up a Go fund me for millions,” one user wrote on X. “I work with the homeless. This is a pathetic grift for a super-rich person to get more money.”

In the wake of the online backlash, a source close to the actor moved to clarify how the down payment for the Van Der Beek family ranch was secured.

According to People, only a portion of the property’s reported $4.76 million valuation was paid upfront.

This initial deposit was reportedly raised with the help of Van Der Beek’s close friends, not solely from his personal funds.

“James secured down payment for the Texas ranch for the family with the help of friends through a trust so they could shift from rent to mortgage,” the family representative is quoted as saying.

The Van Der Beek family has been living on the ranch that their patriarch purchased shortly before his death, after relocating from their previous home in Los Angeles, California, in 2020.

The Van Der Beeks chose Austin as their destination, a city where the actor had filmed his big-screen breakout role in “Varsity Blues” decades before.

In an interview with City Lifestyle, Van Der Beek had reflected on this connection.

“When we were flying here for our anniversary, I felt an energy to Austin,” he said. “The energy was the same energy that I’d felt shooting ‘Varsity Blues’ here when I was 21, and I realized, ‘Oh, I can go be there. We can drop in and bring our family to that.’”

According to Realtor.com, the Van Der Beek family ranch sits on about 36 acres of land in the Austin/Spicewood area of Texas.

The main house measures approximately 5,149 square feet and includes five bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The outlet also describes features, including a commercial-style kitchen and multiple balconies.

Beyond the main house, the property is also said to include several cabins, a swimming pool, and an outdoor living area.

There is also a barn suited for hosting events, along with a private tram that provides direct access to the nearby Pedernales River.

Less than a week after Van Der Beek’s passing, the GoFundMe campaign established to support his family is already nearing the $3 million mark.

The initiative was initially launched with a $1 million goal, which was quickly surpassed. Organizers later adjusted the target to $1.5 million as donations continued to pour in.

Iconic Hollywood figures, including Steven Spielberg and Zoe Saldana, are among the notable names believed to have contributed to the campaign, as The Blast reported previously.

In a statement shared on the campaign’s official page, “Friends Of The Van Der Beek Family” acknowledged the outpouring of support.

“In the middle of deep grief, your support has been a light,” the message reads. “It reminds us that love is real, that community is strong, and that James’s spirit continues to bring people together.”