It’s an expensive addiction! Although she already owns at least four other Montecito homes, including the $21 million Villa Tragara and a $14.3 million ranch dating back to the 1800s, Ellen DeGeneres has done it once again, grabbing two more lavish properties the way a mere mortal financier might buy two t-shirts at a local mall.
Both purchases immediately follow the sale of DeGeneres’ spectacular mid-century modern home in Beverly Hills, which fetched an estimated $8.8 million a few weeks ago.
And the latest acquisitions were made via two separate deals from two different (non-famous) vendors, although the two deals were completed within days of each other. Both houses are also located in the same small neighborhood pocket of Montecito, with one house located just around the corner from the other, although they do not share a property line.
Photos and details of both houses are relatively sparse, as neither was officially listed on the market; records reveal that DeGeneres shelled out a total of $13.5 million to add the two to her collection, which now includes half a dozen properties in Montecito alone. In addition to Villa Tragara and this ranch, there’s also a charming mid-century bungalow near Montecito’s Butterfly Beach and another historic cottage tucked behind giant hedges.
It’s not yet clear what DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi plan to do with their latest two Montecito purchases, but an educated guess would be that their design team will quickly decorate both homes in their laid-back, minimalist decor style before flipping them. . for sale at a high price.
Built in 1915, the oldest home was described in the listing as a “classic cottage” that last sold in 2020 for just $2.2 million. The one-story, U-shaped residence features two bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms on 1,910 square feet, all encased in dark gray walls that contrast perfectly with white trim and a bright red front door. DeGeneres paid $5.4 million for this location, per recording.
