Ellen DeGeneres Lists Montecito Home for $5M After U.K. Move.
Ellen DeGeneres is continuing to part ways with her U.S. properties after making the move to the United Kingdom. The comedian and former talk show host has officially listed one of her final remaining homes in Montecito, California, for $5 million, just months after she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, left the U.S. behind for a fresh start abroad.
According to Realtor.com, DeGeneres, 67, and de Rossi, 52, placed the two-bedroom, two-bathroom Montecito property on the market on March 10, just over four years after they originally purchased it for $2.9 million.
Photo - Realtor.com
The couple, well known for their savvy real estate dealings, have bought and sold more than a dozen homes in Los Angeles and Montecito over the past decade. However, since their highly publicized move to the Cotswolds—a picturesque countryside region about two hours outside of London—they have been systematically selling off their U.S. real estate holdings.
This latest listing follows another significant sale attempt in January 2025, when DeGeneres relisted a five-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom Montecito mansion for $29.99 million. The decision to offload these properties suggests that DeGeneres and de Rossi are fully committed to their new life in the U.K., despite encountering some challenges since their move.
Ellen & Portia’s Move to the U.K. and Neighbor Disputes
While the couple appears to be settling into their new home, their transition to life in the Cotswolds has not been entirely smooth. Reports have surfaced suggesting that DeGeneres has clashed with neighbors over construction work on her new property.
According to the Daily Mail, DeGeneres has already found herself in a “planning clash” with a well-known neighbor after allegedly committing a “technical breach” during the construction of an extension at their new home.
Furthermore, local officials have raised concerns that the extension could “increase flood risk in the village” and potentially “disturb Roman remains” in the area. These objections have fueled tensions with the couple’s new neighbors, marking an unexpected obstacle in their transition to British countryside life.
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Despite these setbacks, DeGeneres and de Rossi remain focused on creating a dream home in the U.K. Reports indicate that the couple has been eyeing a 10,000-square-foot mansion in the area as a potential new residence.
A source revealed to the outlet:
"Ellen and Portia have had several issues with the place they initially moved into. First there was the flooding, of course, then there was an issue with some locals complaining about some building work carried out at the property."
"So the upshot seems to have been that they started to have a look around and then this property came up. They looked at it several times. And they liked it more each time they looked."
This suggests that the Hollywood power couple may already be preparing for yet another big move within the U.K.
Photo - Realtor.com
Details on the Montecito Home for Sale
The Montecito home that DeGeneres and de Rossi recently listed for $5 million is described as an elegant yet simple retreat.
The 1,691-square-foot property offers a seamless blend of “simplicity” and “sophistication,” according to its listing. The primary suite is particularly noteworthy, featuring its own private patio, spa-like bath, and spacious closet area.
The home boasts plenty of natural light, enhanced by sun-drenched patios, a chef’s kitchen, and a courtyard with a fire pit. The listing also highlights that the property comes with a sound fence for added privacy and a spacious backyard, with potential for adding a pool or a guest house.
This latest listing follows another major sale attempt in January 2025, when DeGeneres put a five-bedroom Montecito mansion back on the market for $29.99 million after failing to sell it the previous year.
Photo - Realtor.com
DeGeneres & de Rossi’s Real Estate Empire
DeGeneres and de Rossi have long been known for their passion for real estate, frequently buying and flipping high-end properties in California.
In August 2024, the couple finalized the sale of a $96 million estate in Carpinteria, CA, which they had initially purchased in two separate transactions. The first was a $41.7 million mansion, and the second was an adjoining $28.2 million vacant lot. Combined, these purchases created a 10-acre bluff-top estate with breathtaking ocean views.
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Earlier in February 2024, DeGeneres also sold another Montecito home for $32 million, a property located near Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It had originally been listed for $46.5 million but ultimately sold for much less than anticipated.
Vanity Fair later reported that Montecito locals blamed DeGeneres, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle for driving up housing prices in the area, stating:
"[The Montecito locals] attribute the increase in housing prices to [Meghan and Harry] as much as DeGeneres and point to out-of-towners coming in, driving too fast, and taking up all the street parking by local trails like the one Meghan was photographed hiking on while Harry was in the U.K. for Charles’s coronation.”
Photo - Realtor.com
Why Did Ellen DeGeneres Leave the U.S.?
DeGeneres and de Rossi’s decision to relocate to the U.K. was not entirely unexpected, as they had been gradually distancing themselves from Hollywood in recent years.
In November 2024, news broke that their move was largely motivated by the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, which saw Donald Trump returning to the White House. Reports suggested that DeGeneres was deeply unhappy with Trump’s victory and made the final decision to “get the hell out” of the U.S. shortly after the election results were announced.
DeGeneres had publicly supported Vice President Kamala Harris during the election, endorsing her campaign on Instagram in August 2024.
TMZ reported that the decision to leave the U.S. had been brewing for some time, though DeGeneres and de Rossi had quietly purchased their Cotswolds home months before their official relocation.
Photo - Realtor.com
Conclusion
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s move to the U.K. marks the latest chapter in their ever-evolving real estate journey. With one of their last Montecito properties now listed for $5 million, they appear committed to fully embracing their new life in the British countryside.
However, their transition hasn’t been entirely smooth, as local disputes, flooding concerns, and new property considerations continue to make headlines. Despite the challenges, the couple remains firm in their decision to leave the U.S. real estate market behind in favor of a fresh start across the pond.
With DeGeneres’ history of buying, flipping, and selling luxury homes, it’s likely that her real estate ventures won’t stop anytime soon—even if they now unfold on the other side of the Atlantic.
