After relocating to the British countryside a year ago following Donald Trump’s election win, Ellen DeGeneres has now purchased a $27.4 million property in Montecito, California.
This new acquisition has sparked questions about whether her time abroad is coming to a close.
DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, finalized the purchase of their California home in late November through a trust that’s been linked to DeGeneres’ real estate ventures, according to reports.
This off-market deal took place about a year after they moved to the Cotswolds, where they initially intended to stay for only part of the year.
Acquired from producer Brian Grazer, this Montecito property marks DeGeneres’ first significant investment in the U.S. since her overseas move, while their English residence remains on the market.
The contrast between these two situations has led to speculation about whether the couple might settle down in Southern California instead of continuing in the English countryside.
For over 20 years, DeGeneres has been an active player in the luxury real estate scene, regularly buying, renovating, and selling properties for profit.
Initially embracing life in England, she rapidly renovated two homes and spoke positively about country living. However, her recent purchase in California suggests a shift back toward U.S. life.
Since arriving in the UK, the couple acquired two rural properties, one of which is a historic farmhouse that was quickly renovated before they relocated to a more modern residence nearby.
“When we decided to live here full-time, Portia knew she couldn’t live without horses,” DeGeneres previously noted. “We needed a house with horse facilities and pasture.”
In spite of those efforts, the initial farmhouse, spanning 43 acres, was sold in roughly six months.
This latest purchase is particularly significant, as DeGeneres had sold off most of her California properties prior to this, making it her first large U.S. buy since moving abroad.
Documents outlining the property describe extensive grounds with multiple reception areas designed to enhance indoor-outdoor living.
Although they renovated the property extensively, it was listed on the market after they decided it no longer met their needs.
The choice to sell their English home aligns with DeGeneres’ return to the well-known territory of Montecito, where she and de Rossi resided for many years before their overseas venture.
The new estate encompasses around 3 acres and features a main house along with two guest cottages, all set behind gates and hedges for privacy.
Grazer purchased the property in 2012 for $7.6 million and completed its main renovations in 2015.
As the transaction was private, there are no publicly available images of the home, and it’s unclear if DeGeneres plans to use this property as her main residence or as an investment.
There has been no response from DeGeneres’ representatives regarding requests for comments.
Recently, she’s reduced her California real estate holdings, selling several notable properties, including a Carpinteria estate that went for $96 million last summer.
In public discussions, DeGeneres has openly addressed the reasons for the couple’s move overseas, particularly the political climate at the time.
“We arrived here the day before the election, and when I woke up in the morning, I had messages from friends with crying emojis, and I thought, ‘He’s won,'” she remarked at a July event in the UK. “We were like, ‘We’re here to stay.'”
She has also expressed fondness for living in the UK.
“We moved here in November, which wasn’t exactly ideal, but it was the first time I ever saw snow,” she shared. “We love it here. Everything is better, the treatment of animals, the courtesy of people. I really love it here.”
