When we think about celebrities, we know them as being famous for their skills and growing sizeable bank accounts, because they're so in demand. This is certainly true for comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. She's been around in Hollywood for decades, some of those years better than others. Still, once she got her own talk show, her name was solidified, and her super-celebrity status was achieved. She, and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have the best of the best in everything — from careers, status, and of course, homes.
According to Variety, Ellen and Portia are more than actors and comedians in terms of careers. Both of them have dipped into real estate — specifically buying homes, fixing them up, and then selling them for a profit. The publication reports they've done this several times, so when one of their many properties comes on the market, it's likely a fancy home that would wow someone who had enough money to buy it — like their home in Montecito, California.
The two have listed one of their properties in the "posh seaside enclave of Montecito." This home was purchased in 2019 for $27 million, and after expanding the lot and doing a total makeover, they're ready to sell it for a whopping $39.9 million. Looking through the photos of their newly renovated mansion, it's clear these two have an eye for what's up and coming for the finer things in life. They're sitting on a gorgeous piece of property — both inside and outside.
We've got the photos to prove it, so come take a tour of the $39.9 million Montecito abode.
An Overhead View
From up here, we can get a feel for just how big this space is. This home is 8,500 square feet, which isn't as large as other celebrity homes, but they make good use of it. With three bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms, there's enough space to make each room oversized and comfortable. Add to that the beautiful views on the 9.3-acre lot, and it's a homeowner's dream — and no neighbors to be seen.
Serene Garden
Right in the front yard of this massive home, it's clear right away that it's all about being calm and leaving any stress at the door. The whole space is professionally landscaped to give the eye something to be drawn toward, no matter where we're looking. It looks beautiful, whether it's early morning, the brightest part of the day, or long after the sun has gone down.
Koi Pond
This home screams calm, serenity, and nothing says that more than this koi pond, which is just outside the home. It's like a welcome into a home — a taste of what's to come on the inside where everything is all about the finer things in life that bring peace and joy. It's surrounded by thick foliage, and no detail has gone overlooked.
Wide Open Spaces
While the eye first goes to the massive open rooms, the open concept that makes the 8,500 square feet seem even larger is the ceiling here that is the major selling point. (Yes, the ceiling — because no space in here has been forgotten.) This is intricately crafted wood ceiling treatment is not something we'd find in any cookie-cutter home, so this is anything but.
State-of-the-Art Kitchen
While at first glance, this kitchen looks like it's a standard kitchen with nothing to really admire, we have to look at the details here. The kitchen is crafted in expensive black marble — from the countertops to the large island, which pairs well with the deep brown hardwood floors and state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances. Also, that full wall-to-wall window means all the light floods this space.
Upscale Bathroom
Given this massive home has far fewer bedrooms and bathrooms than a typical celebrity mansion, that makes it so each room can be three or four times the size that we would expect. This sizable bathroom comes with an oversized shower and marble that goes from the shower, across the whole floor, and onto the vanity.
Bathroom With a View
There's a reason this home is worth so much, and part of that is thanks to the location. Looking through the main bathroom window that Ellen and Portia own, it's clear that this isn't just a regular bathroom. It's got a multimillion-dollar view to go with it, and sitting to take a relaxing bath comes with incredible views we can't even get with a photograph.
Home Library
Of course, a space that's all about staying under as little stress as possible has a beautiful and large space just for books and reading. The deep brown hardwood floors from the living room and kitchen continue in here. The honey brown built-in bookcases bring some brightness into this space — accentuated with the light-colored wall on one side, and the clerestory windows at the top of the wall to let in light.
So much space in here to read and relax.
Office or Lounge
Here, we can see the same ceiling as in the living room open space, so it's likely the same treatment in several areas of the home. In this office or lounge room, the eyes automatically go toward the wall-to-wall windows with the black trim, adding a modern touch into the area that's designed to calm all the senses.
Outside Lounge
So much of this home's worth is in the view that can be seen from any space outside and inside. This comfortable and calm outside lounge is staged to take advantage of the sunrise or sunset. The firepit keeps everyone comfortable while they're enjoying each other's company.
Several Buildings
In total, Ellen and Portia's home is nestled on 9.3 acres, and with that comes a lot of space for extra buildings off the main house. This space could either be the stand-alone detached cabana or gym. In this bodyguard suite, a 24-hour security person stays in the 1,400-square-foot guesthouse. Either way, the whole glass side lets in a lot of light, and we're guessing it's gorgeous in there.
Green Everywhere We Look
We often spend a lot of time looking at the interiors of celebrity homes, which makes sense because they are impressively decorated. But there's a lot to be said for outdoor spaces, and this one is a large part of why this home is being sold for close to $40 million. It's a lot of private green space in an area where any sort of land is expensive.
Garden Space
The inside of the home is beautiful, gorgeous, and next-level, but we can't forget about the landscaping. It's got beautiful expanses of lush lawns, along with hundreds of mature trees, which include many large oak trees that offer lots of shade and make the views even more stunning.
One-of-a-Kind Pool
This pool is a huge selling point for the home, because it's basically an art piece in which one can swim and lounge. This pool is called a "negative-edged on all sides," which means it gives the illusion that there are no walls, and it goes on forever. This pool is an interesting shape — making it point toward the Pacific Ocean to help it feel like it's one with all the other water. Still, it's the homeowner's special space.
Another View of the Pool
We can see the interesting shape of the pool from this angle. It appears to rise up as it gets closer to the Pacific Ocean. We've never seen a pool like this before. So often in celebrity homes, the pools are massive, bright blue, and this is an interesting pool that's almost like an art piece right in the middle of the backyard that can actually be used, too.
Conversation Chairs With a View
Here we can get an idea of how much space to relax, unwind, and marvel at the Earth is for Ellen and Portia when designing this home to sell. Given the people who would be able to afford its price tag are likely going to be successful people, with a whole lot of stress to go with it, everywhere in the home and on the property is designed to bring the heart rate down and give space to just be.
