Vincent Kartheiser: The Micro-Home Minimalist
Best known for his role as the slick, ambitious advertising executive Pete Campbell on the critically acclaimed series Mad Men, Vincent Kartheiser’s real-life philosophy could not be more different from his character’s materialistic pursuits. For a significant period of his career, Kartheiser embraced a minimalist lifestyle, making conscious choices to reduce his possessions and environmental footprint.
The most notable example of this was his home. Instead of buying a sprawling Hollywood Hills mansion, Kartheiser lived in a 580-square-foot “micro-bungalow” in Hollywood. The tiny, thoughtfully designed space was the subject of a feature in Dwell magazine, which showcased its clever, space-saving features, like a bed that retracted into the ceiling to create a living area. He explained that living in a small space forced him to be mindful of his possessions. “It’s a really beautiful thing to be forced to only have things that are useful,” he said.
Kartheiser also famously lived without a car for many years, relying on public transportation and walking to get around Los Angeles, a city notorious for its car-centric culture. This decision was partly for environmental reasons and partly to simplify his life. He told reporters that not owning a car removed the stress of traffic, parking, and maintenance.
His minimalism was a philosophical choice, a rejection of the consumer culture that his television character so eagerly embraced. While his living situation has since changed after his marriage to actress Alexis Bledel and the start of their family, his well-documented period of minimalist living remains a striking example of a celebrity intentionally opting out of the high-consumption lifestyle.
