The rumors started as a low hum on social media before exploding into a full-blown tabloid frenzy. People were asking the same thing over and over: did ellen degeneres move out of the country for good? It wasn’t just idle gossip. Following the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, reports surfaced that the former daytime talk show queen and her wife, Portia de Rossi, had packed their bags, shuttered their Montecito estate, and headed across the Atlantic.
They did.
It's a massive shift for someone who was essentially the face of American daytime television for two decades. Ellen wasn't just a celebrity; she was a fixture of the California lifestyle. But the move to the South West of England—specifically the idyllic, rain-drenched hills of the Cotswolds—wasn't just a vacation. It was a permanent relocation. Or at least, as permanent as anything is in the world of ultra-wealthy real estate flippers.
The move to the Cotswolds explained
The timeline is actually pretty tight. Almost immediately after the election results were finalized, sources close to the couple began leaking that they were "disillusioned" and ready for a change of scenery. They didn't just pick a random spot on a map. They settled in Great Tew, a tiny, picture-perfect village in Oxfordshire.
If you've never heard of Great Tew, think of it as the "Montecito of England." It’s where David and Victoria Beckham have a massive estate. It's where Soho Farmhouse—the ultimate playground for the elite—is located. It’s quiet. It’s private. And most importantly for Ellen, it’s a world away from the paparazzi lines of Sunset Boulevard.
Why the sudden exit?
Why now? Why there?
Some folks say it was purely political. The timing certainly suggests that the election was the final straw. Ellen has never been shy about her leanings, and the shift in the American political climate reportedly felt like a personal affront to the life she and Portia had built. But it’s rarely just one thing, right?
Remember the "toxic workplace" scandal? That ghost still haunts her brand. Even though she finished her final season and did a stand-up special on Netflix titled For Your Approval, the vibe in the States had changed. She went from being the person who told everyone to "be kind" to being a punchline for "mean boss" memes. In the UK, specifically in the rural Cotswolds, she can just be a wealthy resident who likes gardening and dogs.
She's done with the "Be Kind" era. Honestly, she said as much in her special. She’s leaning into being "old and mean," or at least, being herself without the pressure of being America’s sweetheart. Moving to England provides a literal and metaphorical ocean of distance from the baggage of her talk show legacy.
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The Montecito fire sale
You can tell how serious someone is about moving by what they do with their dirt. Ellen and Portia are legendary real estate moguls. They buy, renovate, and flip mansions faster than most people change their oil.
When the news broke about them moving to the UK, it was accompanied by reports that they were putting their Montecito property on the market. This wasn't just a "let's rent it out" situation. They were decoupling from the California coast. For a couple that has owned dozens of properties in the Santa Barbara area, selling off their primary residence is a "burn the boats" moment.
Life in rural England vs. Hollywood
The Cotswolds isn't Hollywood. Not even close.
In Montecito, you have dry heat, palm trees, and the constant threat of wildfires or mudslides. In Oxfordshire, you have mud. Lots of it. You have grey skies and ancient stone cottages. It’s a different kind of luxury. It’s "wellies and wool sweaters" luxury, not "stilettos and green juice" luxury.
- Privacy: The UK has much stricter privacy laws regarding paparazzi than the US.
- Social Circle: They are rubbing elbows with British royalty (of the pop culture variety), including Jeremy Clarkson and the aforementioned Beckhams.
- The Pace: Life moves slower. There’s no "pilot season." There’s no ratings war.
It’s a bit of a cliché for disenchanted Americans to run to Europe, but for someone with Ellen’s net worth, she can actually pull it off without the logistical headaches of visa runs. Portia de Rossi was born in Australia but has spent her entire adult life in the US; the couple has the resources to make the transition seamless.
Addressing the "fleeing" narrative
Is she "fleeing"? That’s the word critics love to use.
If you look at the comments sections on news sites, half the people are saying "good riddance" and the other half are asking if they can come too. The narrative that she’s "fleeing" implies she’s running away from something she can’t face. And maybe she is. Facing a public that has soured on you is hard. Facing a political landscape you find abhorrent is exhausting.
But from another angle, it’s just a rich person doing what rich people do: going where they feel most comfortable. If the US no longer felt like home, and she had the means to buy a piece of the English countryside, why wouldn't she?
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The Jeremy Clarkson connection
One of the more surreal parts of this story is the proximity to Diddly Squat Farm. Yes, the one from Clarkson’s Farm. Ellen and Portia were spotted at Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog.
Think about that for a second.
The queen of daytime dancing and the guy who got famous for punching a producer and shouting about horsepower, sharing a pint in a rainy village. It’s a bizarre crossover episode. But it highlights the reality of her new life. She’s trying to integrate. She’s showing up at the local spots. She’s trying to be a "local," even if she’s a local with a nine-figure bank account.
Is this permanent?
In the world of celebrity real estate, "permanent" usually means "until we get bored."
However, this move feels heavier than her previous house hops. Usually, she moves five miles down the road in California. Moving 5,000 miles away is a statement. It’s a lifestyle pivot. She has explicitly told friends she doesn't plan on returning to the US to live.
The cultural impact of her departure
For some, Ellen leaving marks the end of an era. She was a trailblazer. The first openly gay lead in a sitcom. The woman who made it okay to talk about being yourself on afternoon TV. Her departure feels like a quiet, somewhat bitter end to a massive American story.
But for others, it’s a non-event. The world has moved on. The "talk show" format is dying, replaced by podcasts and TikTok creators. Ellen might have realized that her brand of celebrity simply doesn't fit the current American mold anymore.
What this means for her career
Don't expect a new talk show on the BBC.
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Ellen seems genuinely retired. She did her final tour. She did the Netflix special. She said her goodbyes. The move to the UK is the final act of that retirement. She’s likely going to spend her time doing what she’s always loved: interior design, animal rights activism, and probably buying up half the stone cottages in Oxfordshire to renovate them.
She’s basically becoming a high-end British landlord with a very famous face.
Realities of the Cotswolds transition
It’s not all tea and crumpets. The UK is currently navigating its own set of massive economic and social hurdles. It’s not a utopia. But for a multi-millionaire, those problems are largely invisible. When you have enough money, you can curate a version of any country that is perfect.
She won't be dealing with the NHS wait times or the soaring cost of heating a drafty apartment. She’ll be in a refurbished manor with state-of-the-art heating and a private staff.
Key takeaways on the move
To wrap your head around the "did ellen degeneres move out of the country" saga, you have to look at the intersection of her personal brand collapse and the US political shift.
- The Location: Great Tew, Oxfordshire. It’s the peak of English luxury.
- The Motivation: A mix of election results and a desire to leave her "mean" reputation behind in California.
- The Status: It’s a permanent relocation, evidenced by the sale of her Montecito home.
- The New Life: Low-key, focused on privacy, and significantly more "British" than anyone expected.
If you’re looking to follow in her footsteps (with a slightly smaller budget), the best way to understand her new world is to look into the Cotswolds lifestyle. It’s about heritage, quiet wealth, and an obsession with the outdoors. It’s a far cry from the neon lights of LA.
Next Steps for You
If you're fascinated by this celebrity exodus, keep an eye on the Montecito real estate listings. When high-profile stars start offloading "trophy properties," it often signals a shift in the local economy or a broader cultural trend. You can also track the UK Land Registry for Great Tew to see just how much of the village ends up under the DeGeneres-de Rossi umbrella. Watching how she adapts to the British "paparazzi-free" life will be the real test of whether this move was about finding peace or just finding a new place to hide.