Ellen DeGeneres’ villa in the hills of Santa Barbara listed for $45,000,000.
“The house is always surprising. It reveals itself to you in new ways every day. It’s not overly manicured or tidy. It’s not overly precious or perfect. And it’s a home that manages to be both spacious and cozy at once.” – Ellen DeGeneres
Perched on a crest with views of the ocean, harbor, and mountains, Ellen DeGeneres’ villa in the hills of Santa Barbara was designed and built in the 1930s by celebrated architect Wallace Frost. Accessed via a private road and secured by 18th-century Spanish gates, the 16.88-acre grounds are strewn with trees, fountains, gardens, and eye-catching views.
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Australian–American actress Portia de Rossi, have listed their storied Santa Barbara villa for sale with Suzanne Perkins of luxury real estate brokerage Sotheby’s International Realty for $45 million.
Ellen and Portia purchased the villa in 2012 and expanded the estate through the acquisition of two adjacent properties, which now totals 16.88 acres. The secluded estate, secured by 18th-century Spanish gates off a private road, offers expansive views of the ocean, harbor, and mountains from nearly every vantage point.
The couple spared no expense in modernizing the historic property for a relaxed California lifestyle.
“The surrounding gardens and olive trees are almost as wonderful as the interior. The house truly feels like it was built out of the landscape, rather than plopped on a plot. It feels ancient, like it’s been there forever. Like that hill was never without the house. This is a home that honors nature, and I love that,”said Ellen DeGeneres.
A dramatic indoor-outdoor entertaining pavilion known as Jordan Hall was built from stone excavated on-site and hand-made iron windows. The couple also added a lap pool, sunken championship tennis court and installed state-of-the-art irrigation, mechanical, electronic and security systems.
The Main Villa includes 6 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms, 2 half baths, 9 fireplaces, 800-square-foot living room, formal dining room, modern kitchen, media room, multiple libraries and reading areas, guest annex, Roman swimming pool, elevated stone terraces, fountains, and exquisite gardens. The estate is strewn with olive and eucalyptus trees, aromatic plantings, fountains, gardens, and eye-catching sculpture including a Roman column dating from 200 B.C.
The secluded estate, secured by 18th-century Spanish gates off a private road, offers expansive views of the ocean, harbor, and mountains from nearly every vantage point.
Prominently featured in Ellen’s 2015 book Home and known as ‘The Villa,’ the estate dates to the 1930s when celebrated architect Wallace Frost, having recently returned from living in Italy, built the two-story, 10,500-square-foot residence for himself, emulating the classical style of 17th-century Italian villas with great accuracy. Decades later, acclaimed architectural designer John Saladino fell in love with its “mix of grandeur and modesty” and commenced a five-year meticulous restoration of the property for his personal use.
