Ever since he stepped out of the limo, everyone has been asking the same thing: where is Grant Ellis from? If you’ve watched a single episode of The Bachelor, you probably know he’s a charmer. But finding out where he actually calls home is a bit of a journey in itself.
He’s a Jersey boy at heart. Specifically, Grant Ellis was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. If you know anything about Newark, you know it’s a place that builds a specific kind of grit. It isn't just a suburb; it's a city with a real pulse. Grant didn’t just grow up there; he thrived in the local basketball scene, which is legendary for being tough and competitive. Most people see the polished reality TV star on screen and forget he spent his formative years navigating the "Brick City" streets.
The Jersey Years: High School to College
Grant wasn’t just some kid playing pickup games. He was a legit standout at Hudson Catholic Regional High School.
If you follow high school hoops, you know that program is a powerhouse. He was actually the first player from that school to land a Division I scholarship, heading off to play for the Iona Gaels in New York back in 2012. He eventually transferred to Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut, where he finished up his degree in criminal justice in 2017.
Honestly, his "where is he from" story is really a tour of the tri-state area.
- Born and bred in Newark, NJ.
- Played high school ball in Jersey City.
- Briefly lived in New Rochelle, NY for Iona.
- Graduated from college in New Haven, CT.
It's a very specific East Coast trajectory. You can still hear that New Jersey rhythm in the way he talks, even though he's spent a lot of time away from the coast recently.
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Why is he in Houston now?
This is where the confusion usually starts. If he's from Jersey, why does the show keep talking about Texas?
Basically, Grant moved to Houston, Texas, a few years back. The move wasn't just for a change of scenery. He actually moved to Houston to help take care of his grandmother. That’s the kind of detail that makes people fall for him—he’s a family guy through and through.
In Houston, he completely pivoted his life. He left the professional basketball world behind—he’d been playing overseas in the Dominican Republic—and jumped headfirst into the world of finance. Today, he’s a day trader. He’s mentioned in interviews that while he loves the Texas heat and the fact that there are no state income taxes, he still misses the food and the people back in Newark.
"I don't miss the cold weather, and I don't miss the taxes," Grant told The New York Post, "but I miss my hometown and the friends I grew up with."
Family Ties in Newark
You can’t talk about where Grant is from without talking about his mom, Renee. She’s the one who actually signed him up for The Bachelorette.
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His Newark roots are tied deeply to his family's story. During his time on Jenn Tran’s season, he was incredibly open about his father’s 30-year struggle with addiction. While that’s a heavy topic, Grant used it to show how much he values his upbringing in New Jersey. It shaped him into a guy who wants to be "the man my father wasn't."
He also has an older sister, Taylor, who is a successful model. They’re a tight-knit Jersey family, even with Grant living thousands of miles away in the South.
The 2026 Update: Where is he living now?
If you're trying to keep up with his current zip code, things got interesting after his season of The Bachelor aired in 2025.
After getting engaged to Juliana Pasquarosa on the show, the couple announced they were planning a move to Boston. Juliana is an East Coast girl through and through, and Grant seemed more than happy to move back toward his roots. However, as of early 2026, the couple has since split.
Currently, Grant has been splitting his time between Houston and New Jersey. He still has his professional ties to the trading world in Texas, but his heart (and a lot of his family) remains in the Garden State.
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What most fans get wrong
A lot of people assume he's just another "athlete turned influencer" from a wealthy background. That’s not the case.
Growing up in Newark gave him a perspective that many contestants on the show lack. He’s seen the hard side of life. He’s dealt with the "pro sports or bust" pressure that a lot of inner-city kids feel. When an injury ended his basketball career in the Dominican Republic, he didn't just mope around; he used that Newark hustle to teach himself the stock market.
So, when someone asks where is Grant Ellis from, the answer is Newark. But the meaning behind it is about resilience.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check his Instagram: He frequently posts clips of his workouts in both Houston and New Jersey gyms.
- Watch his season: Pay attention to the "hometown" episodes to see the specific Newark spots he takes his dates to.
- Follow his trading updates: He occasionally shares finance tips that reflect the "hustle" mentality he picked up back home.
He might live in a high-rise in Houston or be scouting apartments in Boston, but he will always be the kid from Newark who made it out.