Ellen DeGeneres is one of Hollywood’s most renowned multimillion-dollar property pioneers, with a passion for renovating, designing and selling.
The 63-year-old called time on her long-running talk show, The Ellen Show, this year, but in that same period the comedian and her wife Portia de Rossi have built a property empire worth a whopping $630million (US$450m).
Ellen and Portia have spent the past 17 years buying and selling luxury homes and mansions in Southern California.
Here is a rundown of their property portfolio.
Rancho San Leandro – Montecito, California – $20 million (US$14.3m)
Ellen and Portia bought and sold the Rancho San Leandro ranch three years ago.
They sold the 5.8-acre estate for $11 million in 2018 to Tinder founder Sean Rad in 2018 after purchasing it for $7.2 million in 2017.
The couple then re-purchased the ranch last year for $14.3million.
Its history dates back to the 1800s, with the property going through a restoration over time. It has two houses – the Adobe house and the Monterey house.
The Adobe house features a single master suite with two bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, breakfast room, a wine cellar and a game room.
The Monterey house has three bedrooms, a dining area, library, a gym and a terrace with a fireplace.
Heath Ledger’s ‘Treehouse’ – Los Angeles, California – $3million (US$2.1m)
Straight from the very beginning of her real estate journey, this very unique, mid-century property was purchased by DeGeneres in 2004 for US$1.275million just after The Ellen Show got its start on television.
It was also the same year that Ellen and Portia began their relationship.
This glass-walled Hollywood Hills pad is primarily an outdoors residence with 2,000 square feet of outdoor living spaces – hence the name ‘The Treehouse’.
It was constructed in 1951 and has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, polished concrete floors, wood-beamed ceilings and a fireplace.
DeGeneres sold the property only a year alter to late Aussie actor Heath Ledger in 2005 for $2.1million.
It was later bought and owned by Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson, who put it back on the property market in 2019.
Dennis Miller’s Cape Dutch compound – Montecito, California – $70million (US$49m)
In 2020, the couple purchased this 4.3-acre private estate in 2020 for $70million (or $49m US).
The home was designed and previously owned by American talk show host Dennis Miller and his wife Slim Paley for nearly a decade.
Sitting on the estate is a 9,000-square-foot mansion built in the South African Cape Dutch architectural style, reports Dirt.
The property also features a guest house, a garage, an infinity pool, a pool house and a barn.
Ariana Grande’s Tudor mansion – Montecito, California – $9.5 million (US$6.75m)
This English Tudor home was snatched up by Ellen and Portia in 2016 for $3.6million with the intention of flipping it.
The 1.35-acre lot was originally two barns built in Surrey in the 1700s before it was brought over to the United States in the 1980s.
This gorgeous, historical home has an orangery, library, exposed brick fireplaces, wood beam ceilings, two kitchens, a gym and a workshop.
Singer Ariana Grande bought the estate in 2020 for US$6.75 million.
Adam Levine’s former home – Beverly Hills, California – $66million (US$47m)
Ellen and Portia sold this Tudor-style mansion that previously belonged to singer Adam Levine for $66million (or US$47million) in 2021, making a $2million profit.
The 1930s-built, two-storey property has five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, steel doors and windows, wide-plank reclaimed wood floors.
It also features a 50-foot living room with stone fireplace and white plaster walls, a large dining room with a bar, library, two kitchens, a gym and a theater with a bar.
Outside there’s a resort-like pool, tennis court, guest house and an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven.
Ellen originally bought the stunning pad in 2019 and renovated it.
Salt Hill house – Montecito, California – $47million (US$33.3m)
This contemporary Asian-inspired estate was bought in 2019 for $27million and sold a year later for $47million (US$33.3m).
It is located in the hills of Montecito, California, like many of Ellen’s previous properties.
It was built in 2011 and features five bedrooms, 10-bathrooms and large glass doors that open to a veranda with a panoramic vista stretching nearly 50 miles along the coastline.
Outside on the 8.2 acre lot this is a pond, guest house, pool and gym.
Nickelodeon House – Montecito, California – $9.8million (US$7m)
Ellen and Portia purchased this property for US$6.7million in 2018.
Four bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms are included in this 2010-built mountainside pad.
It is seated on 40 acres in the Santa Ynez mountain range and Toro Canyon Park.
The pair sold it to Brian Robbins, president of Nickelodeon, in 2019 for $9.8million (US$6.98million).
Maguire beach house – Carpinteria, California – $32million (US$23m)
Ellen and Portia bought this Santa Barbara County beach house in 2017 for US$18.6 million.
It has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, cedar-shingled roof, contemporary interiors and window-lined walls.
They sold the 1979-built luxury pad in 2019 for $23 million.
Beverly West residences – Los Angeles, California – $17million (US$11.85m)
Ellen and Portia spent US$13.2million in 2014 on two adjacent condos at the Beverly West tower along LA’s Wilshire Boulevard.
One was a 4,158-square-foot two-bedroom, three-bathroom condominium, and the other was a 3,800-square-foot two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom condominium, reports Realtor.com.
Ellen and Portia ended up losing US$1.3million on these properties, selling both condos in 2017 for US$11.85million in total.
It is the only property purchase the couple failed to turn a profit.
House designed by John Elgin-Woolf – Beverly Hills – $22million (US$15.5m)
This gorgeous Beverly Hills home was designed by architect John Elgin-Woolf in the Hollywood Regency style in 1962.
It features stunning views of the city and the ocean from the vast living room and outdoor patio areas. Inside there’s three bedrooms and four bathrooms.
The TV host snatched up the pad in 2015 for US$15million before renovating and selling it in 2019 for US$15.5million.
Wallace Frost house – Montecito, California – $48million (US$34m)
Another property in Montecito, California, this Italian-style stone villa was purchased in 2013 for US$26.5million.
It was constructed in 1934 by famed architect Wallace Frost.
It has six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a media room, multiple libraries and a guest annex.
There’s also an entertainment pavilion dubbed ‘Jordan Hall’, two pools, walking trails and a tennis court.
Ellen never wanted to sell this home, writing in her interior-design book Home: ‘I really do hope we live here forever.’
However, the couple ended up offloading the property for US$34million in 2017.
Will Ferrell’s house – Los Angeles, California – $13million (US$9m)
The former talk show host sold this traditional LA home to comic actor Will Ferrell through an agent in 2006 for US$9million.
She originally snatched it up from Will and Grace producer Max Mutchnick in 2003 for $6million.
The 2.25 acre estate has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, a pool house and a guest house.
Ferrell still reportedly owns the property.
Skouras residence – Beverly Hills, California – $28million (US$20m)
Ellen and Portia purchased this house off the president of Fox West Coast, Charles Skouras and his wife Diane Skouras in 2012 US$17.4million.
The Skourases had resided at the luxury home for decades.
It was designed by famed architect Harold Levitt in 1956 and has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half bathrooms, a high-ceilinged foyer, floor to ceiling windows, bar, game room, music room and library.
The pool and outdoor lounge areas are the highlight features of the property with stunning views outside.
Ellen and Portia sold this gorgeous house for US$20 million in 2013.
Honeymoon home – Thousand Oaks, California – $15 million (US$10.85m)
Possibly one of the most unique properties in their expansive portfolio, Ellen nabbed this home just after she got married to Portia in 2008 for US$8.5million.
This 7,000-square-foot house is located in Thousand Oaks, California, and sits on 26 acres of pastures, fields, stables and riding trails.
The main dwelling has eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
There are also eight cottages, an art barn, a romantic barn, yoga pavilion, tree house, tennis court and more.
DeGeneres and de Rossi did extensive renovations on the prized home before they sold it in 2013 for US$10.85million.
Brody House – Holmby Hills, Los Angeles – $77million (US$55m)
This sprawling 12,500-square-foot estate was initially built for art collector Frances Brody and her husband, real estate developer Sidney.
They sold it in 2010 to an investor who went on to restore the pad with LA Conservancy.
Ellen and Portia spent US$40million on the contemporary Californian home in 2014.
The couple offloaded it six months later for US$55 million, turning a $15million profit.
Ryan Seacrest’s house – Beverly Hills, California – $51million (US$36.5m)
This is the home where Ellen and Portia tied the knot at in 2008 after California legalised same-sex marriage.
The couple nabbed it for US$29million and bought two nearby properties to turn the area into an estate.
It has a contemporary main residence, two guest pads, a pool, a pool house with a gym and garage.
There are also stunning city and ocean views that can be pictured across the estate’s three acres.
Ellen and Portia sold the residence to media personality Ryan Seacrest in 2012 for US$36.5million.
Brad Pitt’s beach house – Malibu, California – $18million (US$13m)
The house that was previously owned by Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt was picked up by Ellen in 2011 for US$12million.
Pitt had previously shared the 1.23 acre Malibu beach home with his now ex-wife Angelina Jolie.
The stunning pad was built in 1962 and features five bedrooms, three bathrooms, three fireplaces, a walk-in refrigerator, tennis court and an outdoor pool.
Ellen sold it in 2012 for $13million.
