Ellen DeGeneres is officially back on American soil—and not quietly. After months spent living in the English countryside following Donald Trump’s election victory, the former talk show titan and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have returned to California with a splashy $27.4 million mansion purchase in Montecito.
The move marks a dramatic reversal from what was once framed as a near-permanent exit from the United States. Just months ago, DeGeneres openly acknowledged that Trump’s win played a direct role in their decision to leave the country, admitting the couple arrived in England right before Election Day and decided to stay after waking up to the results. At the time, the retreat felt final.
But now, the pair appear to have closed the chapter on their political exile. Property records show DeGeneres and de Rossi quietly secured an 8,700-square-foot estate in November 2025 in an off-market deal with producer Brian Grazer. The three-acre property, tucked away in one of Montecito’s most exclusive enclaves, features sprawling gardens, a tennis court, and luxury amenities befitting Hollywood royalty.
During their time abroad, the couple embraced a slower, pastoral lifestyle in Gloucestershire, complete with farm animals, village living, and snowy winters that DeGeneres once described as charming and refreshing. But behind the scenes, the novelty reportedly wore off. Insiders say the cold weather, distance from friends, and stalled career momentum began to weigh heavily—especially for de Rossi, who was eager to return to acting.
Sources claim DeGeneres made no secret of her growing homesickness, frequently telling friends how much she missed California sunshine, familiar faces, and the entertainment world she once dominated. By late last year, the plan to return had already taken shape.
Their Montecito comeback signals more than a real estate upgrade—it’s a symbolic homecoming. While their departure reflected raw political frustration, their return suggests that lifestyle, relationships, and career gravity ultimately pulled them back. For Ellen DeGeneres, the England chapter may be over—but the spotlight, it seems, was never too far away.
