Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have pulled their iconic Neutra-designed US property from the market amid a broader shift to their new life in the UK’s Cotswolds, highlighting challenges in luxury real estate sales and a significant lifestyle change influenced by political unrest.
Ellen DeGeneres has recently taken one of her remaining properties in the United States off the market after relocating to the UK with her wife, Portia de Rossi. The couple now resides in an $18 million farmhouse in the picturesque Cotswolds, two hours from London. This shift marks a significant step in their journey, as they have been steadily liquidating their US real estate assets since their move.
The property, initially listed in January for just under $30 million, was not sold despite earlier attempts, which included a listing at nearly $34 million in March 2024. After spending three months without attracting a buyer, the home was delisted and, although re-listed at a reduced price, it remained unsold. The estate, recognised for its modernist architecture designed by the renowned Richard Neutra, has undergone extensive renovations, a pattern consistent with the couple’s history of transforming properties.
Known as “The Brown House,” the estate has a storied architectural lineage, being one of the few remaining Neutra homes in the area. Built in 1955, it was originally owned by a single family for four decades before changing hands in 1994 for $1.42 million. The property saw significant appreciation when it was sold for $20 million in 2019 before DeGeneres and de Rossi purchased it for $29 million in 2020. Their vision for the home has aimed at restoring its architectural integrity while infusing modern comforts, described in listings as “a true encapsulation of living in a work of art.”
While Ellen and Portia have had notable successes selling other properties—like their recent sale of a two-bedroom villa in Montecito, which went for $5.2 million, exceeding its asking price by over $200,000—their struggle with the Neutra home highlights the challenges in the luxury real estate market, particularly in a period characterised by economic uncertainty.
In a broader context, their decision to relocate appears to have been influenced by socio-political factors, including the outcomes of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Reports suggest that the couple sought to distance themselves from the political climate in the US, thereby establishing a new life across the Atlantic. Their move to the UK has not been without controversy; they recently encountered local opposition regarding renovations to their new farmhouse, reportedly breaching some planning stipulations, although local authorities deemed the work satisfactory.
As the couple embraces their new rural life, the future of their remaining US property assets remains uncertain. This period of selling off American real estate not only signals a personal transformation but also reflects a growing trend among high-profile figures seeking refuge from the shifting cultural landscape in the United States.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s journey of real estate investment and disposition mirrors a larger narrative of adaptation amidst changing realities, a theme that resonates with many as they navigate life’s complexities.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.realestate.com.au/news/ellen-degeneres-takes-47m-us-home-off-market-amid-uk-move/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.realestate.com.au/news/ellen-degeneres-takes-47m-us-home-off-market-amid-uk-move/ – Ellen DeGeneres has removed one of her last remaining U.S. properties from the market after relocating to the UK with her wife, Portia de Rossi. The property, initially listed in January for $29.99 million, was previously on the market in March 2024 for $33.9 million. Despite multiple listings, the home failed to attract a buyer and was delisted. The couple has been selling several properties since moving to the British countryside, including a two-bedroom in Montecito sold for $5.2 million, exceeding its $4.995 million asking price. The Neutra-designed property, known as ‘The Brown House,’ was purchased in 2022 for $29 million and underwent extensive renovations. The couple’s relocation to the UK was reportedly influenced by the 2024 U.S. presidential election results, leading them to seek a new life abroad. The property remains one of the last homes they own in the U.S.
- https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/ellen-degeneres-portia-de-rossi-quit-america-england/ – Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have reportedly moved to the U.K. following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, with plans to sell their Montecito, California, home. The couple purchased the property in 2019 and have made it their primary residence. The decision to relocate was influenced by the election results, leading them to seek a new life abroad. The Montecito estate, listed for sale, is among the properties the couple is parting with as they establish their new life in the U.K.
- https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/821552/ellen-degeneres-struggle-part-29m-bel-air-mansion-permanent-us-exit/ – Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have listed their Bel-Air mansion for sale, marking a significant step in their decision to permanently relocate to the U.K. The property, initially listed in 2022 for $29 million, was relisted in 2024 at the same price. Despite the relisting, the house has not been officially sold as of January 2025. The couple’s move to the U.K. follows their sale of other properties, including a Montecito villa, as they establish their new life abroad.
- https://www.thewrap.com/ellen-degeneres-moved-great-britain-left-united-states-donald-trump/ – Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have relocated to rural England, selling their Montecito estate and planning to never return to the United States. The move was reportedly prompted by the election of Donald Trump as president. The couple had purchased the property in the Cotswolds before the election and have no plans to return to the U.S. The Montecito mansion, purchased in 2019, has been listed for sale as part of their decision to establish a new life abroad.
- https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/821063/ellen-degeneres-cuts-ties-with-us-lists-montecito-villa/ – Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have officially listed their Montecito villa for sale, marking their decision to cut ties with the U.S. The property, initially listed in 2022 for $29 million, was relisted in 2024 at the same price. Despite the relisting, the house has not been officially sold as of January 2025. The couple’s move to the U.K. follows their sale of other properties, including a Bel-Air mansion, as they establish their new life abroad.
- https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/ellen-degeneres-los-angeles-mansion-sold-profit/ – Ellen DeGeneres has sold a California megamansion for $96 million, marking one of her most significant real estate transactions. The sale comes just months after DeGeneres and de Rossi offloaded another property in Montecito, California, for $32 million. The Carpinteria estate, purchased in two parts in 2022, features stunning interiors, including an open-plan kitchen and living area, high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and red brick accents. The sale was reported to be the most expensive real estate deal ever closed in Santa Barbara County.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative discusses events up to and including 2024, referencing the 2024 US presidential election and recent real estate listings with dates up to March 2024. The UK move and property status are current as of early 2025, indicating the content is up-to-date with no recycled old news detected.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
There are indirect quotes and descriptive phrases regarding the property (‘a true encapsulation of living in a work of art’) likely from real estate listings, but no direct attributions to Ellen or Portia. The earliest references to these descriptions appear tied to the listing history from 2020 to 2024, consistent with available property sale records. No independent or original direct quotes from the couple found online, suggesting original reporting rather than recycled material.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a specialised real estate news platform (realestate.com.au), which focuses on property-related news and transactions. While reputable within its domain, it is not a major global news organisation. This leads to moderate reliability with a focus on detailed property transaction data but less on broader biographical verification.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Ellen and Portia’s property sales, price changes, and move to the UK align well with known patterns for celebrity real estate transactions and public information available about their relocation. The political motivation aspect is plausible given timing, but not fully verifiable from the provided text alone, so it remains reasonable but unconfirmed.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current and detailed, supported by credible transaction timelines and plausible events regarding Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s property dealings and move to the UK. The lack of direct quotes from primary sources slightly limits verification but does not undermine overall credibility. The real estate platform origin yields moderate source reliability consistent with specialised reporting.
