Honestly, we’ve all heard it before. Every four years, like clockwork, a handful of Hollywood’s biggest names swear they are done with the United States if their candidate doesn’t win. It’s basically a tradition at this point, right up there with "I'm moving to Canada" Google searches spiking on election night. But the celebrities who said they'd leave the country 2024 actually faced a very different reality once the dust settled.
Some stars didn't just post a black square or a crying emoji—they actually called the movers. Others, well, they're still hanging out in Beverly Hills.
The big exodus: Who actually left?
You’ve probably seen the headlines about Ellen DeGeneres. She didn't just hint at leaving; she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, basically vanished from Montecito. They high-tailed it over to the Cotswolds in England.
It wasn't a sudden "we're moving tomorrow" thing, though. They actually bought their farmhouse back in June 2024, but the election results were the final nail in the coffin. Ellen recently popped up at a Q&A in Cheltenham and straight-up confirmed it. When asked if the election influenced the move, she just said, "Yes." She’s apparently loving the "simpler way of life" over there, which is a bit ironic coming from someone with a $15 million estate, but hey, to each their own.
Then there is Rosie O’Donnell.
💡 You might also like: Is Randy Parton Still Alive? What Really Happened to Dolly’s Brother
Rosie has been in a feud with Donald Trump for, what, two decades? She didn't wait around. On January 15, 2025, she posted a TikTok revealing she’d moved to Ireland with her daughter. She's even applying for citizenship because her grandparents were Irish. She told The Washington Post that her kid is so happy there that she promised they’d stay even after the next election cycle.
- Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi: Relocated to the UK.
- Rosie O’Donnell: Settled in Ireland.
- America Ferrera: Spotted school hunting in South West London; reportedly "sick" over the political climate.
- Courtney Love: Permanently moved to the UK and is seeking British citizenship.
The "It’s complicated" list
You might have seen the "news" that Eva Longoria fled the country because of the 2024 election. That one is kinda tricky.
Technically, yes, she lives in Spain and Mexico now. But she actually called into The View’s podcast to clear the air because she was annoyed with the "clickbait." She’s been living abroad for about three years for work—specifically for her shows Land of Women and Searching for Mexico. She did say the US feels "dystopian" right now, but she insists she’s a "proud Texan" and didn't leave just because of the vote.
It’s a subtle difference, but she’s clearly tired of being the poster child for the "I'm leaving" movement.
📖 Related: Patricia Neal and Gary Cooper: The Affair That Nearly Broke Hollywood
What about the people who stayed?
Cher is the queen of this. Back in 2016, she said she’d move to Jupiter. This time around, she told The Guardian she’d definitely leave the country if Trump won. As of right now? No reports of her selling the Malibu mansion or boarding a rocket.
Sharon Stone is another one. She gave a pretty fiery speech at a film festival in Italy recently, calling Americans "ignorant" and "arrogant" after the results. But despite her love for Italy, there’s no official word that she’s actually moved her primary residence there yet.
Why does everyone care so much?
People get worked up about this because it feels like a slap in the face to regular folks who don't have $20 million to just "escape" to a villa in Madrid. Eva Longoria even acknowledged this, calling herself "privileged" to have the option.
When a celebrity says they're leaving, it’s usually out of a mix of genuine fear for rights—like the concerns Ellen raised about LGBTQ+ marriage—and a bit of dramatic flair. For most of them, it's easier to stay in the Hollywood bubble than it is to actually deal with the paperwork of a foreign visa.
👉 See also: What Really Happened With the Death of John Candy: A Legacy of Laughter and Heartbreak
The practical reality of "leaving"
If you're actually thinking about following in their footsteps, it’s not as easy as just buying a plane ticket.
- Citizenship by Descent: This is how Rosie O’Donnell is doing it. If you have a parent or grandparent from a country like Ireland or Italy, you might be able to snag a passport.
- Golden Visas: This is the celebrity favorite. Countries like Spain or Greece (where Kimberly Guilfoyle recently moved for an ambassador role) often let you live there if you invest a few hundred thousand dollars in real estate.
- Work Visas: This is what Eva Longoria used. If you're filming a multi-season show in Europe, the government is usually happy to let you stay.
The reality is that for every star who actually moves to the Cotswolds, there are ten who just vent on X (formerly Twitter) and then show up to the Oscars a few months later.
If you're looking for actionable steps based on this "exodus," the best thing to do is look at the actual residency laws of the countries these celebs are picking. Most are choosing the UK, Ireland, or Spain. If you don't have a Hollywood paycheck, you'll need to look into digital nomad visas, which are becoming way more common in places like Portugal and Italy.
Check the official embassy websites for "Digital Nomad Visas" or "Residency by Investment" to see what the actual requirements are. Just remember, unlike Ellen, you probably won't have a private jet waiting to take your horses with you.