Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have made their first public appearance at their lavish new $27.4 million home in Montecito, California. The celebrity couple quietly acquired the property in November, and recently shared a playful video on Instagram showcasing their backyard festivities.
A Glimpse into the Montecito Estate
In the video posted on Friday morning, the stars were seen dancing in costumes to the BT Express song "Do It," with DeGeneres captioning the post, "6-7 is out. 6-8 is in. @yourchilltias," referencing the influencers Your Chill Tias. The footage offers a rare look at the expansive grounds of their newly purchased mansion.
Transatlantic Lifestyle Plans
Despite this significant investment in California real estate, sources close to the couple confirm they will not be residing in the state full-time. According to a report from UsWeekly, DeGeneres, 68, and de Rossi, 53, intend to maintain their primary residence in rural England, where they settled in 2024, while spending several months each year in Montecito.
A source told Us Weekly: "They are still planning to live full-time in the UK but will spend a few months of the year in Montecito." The couple, married since 2008, relocated to the Cotswolds after contemplating the move for some time, with another source noting, "They had visited before and looked at homes but weren't sure when they would do it. When they found the right place, they jumped on it."
Embracing Life in the United Kingdom
DeGeneres has publicly expressed her admiration for the UK lifestyle, telling broadcaster Richard Bacon, "It's absolutely beautiful. We're just not used to seeing this kind of beauty. The villages and the towns and the architecture - everything you see is charming and it's just a simpler way of life." She added, "It's clean. Everything here is just better - the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here."
The former talk show host, who ended her long-running program in 2022, detailed their rural experiences since moving in November 2024, including seeing snow for the first time and keeping chickens and sheep. Notably, DeGeneres attributed their relocation to the re-election of President Donald Trump, stating, "We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, 'He got in'. And we're like, 'We're staying here.'"
Property Details and Acquisition
Realtor.com reports that the Montecito estate was previously owned by Hollywood producer Brian Grazer, who purchased it in 2012 for $7.6 million and completed construction on the main residence in 2015. The sale was handled privately through an off-market deal that closed in late November, facilitated by a trust associated with DeGeneres' property holdings, which explains the absence of interior photos on real estate websites.
Public records reveal the property features:
- A gated entrance with a winding driveway leading to a motor court and extended garage.
- Three acres of land including a lush lawn, mature trees, and a terrace.
- A pickleball court with a cabana house and a mini forest with over a dozen trees.
- A lap pool with a hot tub and ample space for outdoor dining and living areas.
- An 8,700-square-foot primary residence and a smaller guest house.
This acquisition marks another chapter in the couple's transatlantic journey, blending their new English countryside life with seasonal retreats to their California dream home.
