Honestly, trying to keep track of Ellen DeGeneres’s address is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. One minute she’s the queen of California real estate, and the next, she’s posting Instagram clips of "house sheep" in the muddy English countryside. If you've been wondering where do ellen live, the answer just got a whole lot more complicated in early 2026.
Basically, the "never coming back" narrative hasn't aged well. After a very public and somewhat dramatic exit from the United States in late 2024, Ellen and her wife, Portia de Rossi, are officially playing both sides of the Atlantic again.
The Cotswolds Era: Sheep, Rain, and "Simpler Living"
Most people think Ellen is still hunkered down permanently in England. It's true that in November 2024, following the U.S. presidential election, the couple packed up and headed to the Cotswolds. This isn't just some random rural spot; it's the "Beverly Hills of the UK," filled with rolling hills and famous neighbors like the Beckhams and Jeremy Clarkson.
💡 You might also like: Kristin Chenoweth Engagement Ring: Why It Is Not Your Average Celebrity Diamond
They initially bought a historic stone farmhouse called Kitesbridge Farm for about $20 million. Ellen being Ellen, she didn't just move in and buy some tea. She brought in a small army of 70 workers to renovate the place. But here’s the kicker: they lived there for about five minutes.
Actually, it was more like a few weeks before they realized the "tired" finish of the old farmhouse wasn't for them. They listed it for $30 million in mid-2025 and moved into a much more modern, glass-walled mansion just a few miles away. This new spot is where she films those clips of her dogs, Kid and Sport, running around with views of gray, misty hills in the background.
- The Vibe: High-end rustic with floor-to-ceiling glass.
- The Neighbors: Local villagers who reportedly "don't bother her," though she did have a minor spat with the local council over a single-story extension that people feared might mess with some ancient Roman ruins.
- The Animals: Portia's horses were flown over, plus a flock of sheep and some chickens.
The Plot Twist: The $27 Million Return to Montecito
Just when everyone thought she’d traded the California sun for British drizzle forever, Ellen dropped $27.4 million on a new Montecito mansion in late 2025. The deal closed in November, exactly one year after she "fled" the country.
This isn't just an investment property. It’s a massive three-acre compound she bought off-market from Hollywood producer Brian Grazer. It has three separate structures, including a main house and two guest cottages.
You’ve gotta realize that Montecito is her soul home. She’s bought and sold dozens of properties there over the last twenty years. Even though she told people at a Q&A in Cheltenham that "everything is just better" in the UK, the lure of the Santa Barbara coastline clearly hasn't faded.
Rumors are swirling that the couple got "bogged down"—literally—by the British weather and some flooding issues at their first UK property. It turns out, even with millions in the bank, constant rain and "technical breaches" with local building councils can get old pretty fast.
Real Estate as a High-Stakes Hobby
To understand where do ellen live, you have to understand that for her, a "home" is often just a project. Along with Portia, she has flipped roughly 50 homes since the mid-2000s, raking in an estimated $190 million in profit.
They don't just buy houses; they "reimagine" them. When they moved to England, they sold off almost everything in the States, including a Carpinteria estate for a massive $96 million and a couple of smaller Montecito homes. Taking a "loss" of a few million on a Richard Neutra-designed house in LA didn't seem to slow them down much.
Current 2026 Status:
- Montecito, California: A $27.4 million gated compound with six bathrooms and total privacy.
- The Cotswolds, England: A modern, glass-fronted estate where they still spend a significant amount of time.
- The "Old" Farmhouse: Their initial UK purchase (Kitesbridge Farm) which has been on the market for $30 million.
Why the Move Happened (and Why It’s Changing)
Ellen was pretty blunt about why she left. In July 2025, she confirmed that the 2024 election results were the primary trigger. She wanted a simpler life and voiced real concerns about the direction of LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S.
But life in a "small village" has its own set of headaches. Between the flooding, the neighborly disputes over construction, and the sheer logistics of moving world-class horses across an ocean, the "permanent" move seems to have shifted into a "dual-continent" lifestyle.
What This Means for the Future
If you’re looking for her today, she’s likely splitting her time. She’s mentioned she might go back to work soon, which usually means being closer to the industry hubs.
While she gushed about the "polite people" and "better treatment of animals" in the UK, the recent $27 million splurge in California suggests that "home" is a flexible concept when you have that kind of net worth. She isn't just living in the Cotswolds; she's maintaining a foothold in the most exclusive enclave of Southern California.
For the most accurate way to keep up with her current location, your best bet is to look at her recent social media posts. If there’s a double rainbow and a stone walkway, she’s in England. If the hedges are ten feet tall and the sun is blinding, she’s back in Montecito.
📖 Related: What Really Happened With Larsa Pippen and Future
Check out the latest real estate filings in Santa Barbara County if you want to see if she's bought anything else this month—honestly, with her track record, she probably has.