Montecito, California is one of the most exclusive little known gems that many celebrities now call home. Montecito is an area in Santa Barbara, California that many call a paradise for celebs. The hillside homes in this area have spacious land and amazing views, and is 80 miles west of Los Angeles. While these exclusive homes are not that far from the city, this lavish neighborhood is for celebs who enjoy their privacy and want to have a certain level of isolation. Wondering what it would take to live the life of these wealthy celebs? Most houses in this area range between a cool $2 million and 20 million. For a list to check out the most grandeur estates in this Santa Barbara community, check out these celebs who all live in Montecito.
Oprah Winfrey’ ranches: $86 million
Topping off the list with a celeb with one of the biggest presences in Montecito, Oprah Winfrey owns not one, but three properties in this exclusive neighborhood. In 2001, she purchased her Montecito property, a 42-acre ranch for $50 million. She then purchased a neighboring ranch in 2015 for $29 million, and a third 4-acre ranch in 2019 for $6.85 million. Her entire compound of properties is affectionately called, “Promise Land.”
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s ranch: $14.3 million
Back in 2018 Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi sold their historic ranch, called Rancho San Leandro, to Tinder co-founder Sean Rad in 2018. The property dates back to the 1850’s, they originally bought it for $7.2 million in 2017, sold it to Rad for $11 million, and then bought it back for $14.3 million. The couple has bought and flipped several properties in the area, and their current home of Rancho San Leandro is located right next to Winfrey’s home “Promised Land.”
Ariana Grande’s home: $6.75 million
In June 2020, Ariana Grande purchased a home in Montecito for $6.75 million. The home she purchased is called the Porter House, and she bought it from DeGeneres and de Rossi. It’s a renovated 5,500 square foot property that was actually originally built in Surrey, England. It originates back to the 1700s, and it was moved from England and reconstructed into a Tudor-style home in California.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s home: $14.7 million
In August of 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle purchased their Montecito estate for $14.7 million. It sprawls over 18,000 square feet and has 16 bathrooms, nine bedrooms, a tea house, chicken coop, guest house, pool and tennis court. Prior to the purchase of their home and after moving to California, mogul Tyler Perry welcomed the couple to his Beverly Hills mansion, and provided them with much needed security detail.
Rob Lowe’s homes: over $50 million
Rob Lowe has lived in Montecito with his wife for over 25 years. They have owned several homes in the area, and just sold one last year for $45 million. The newest home they own is worth $13 million, is 6.7 acres, and is just down the road from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s estate. Rob says that since, the royal couple moved in, the neighborhood has changed. “When Oprah moved in, that began the sort of resurgence of Montecito,” Lowe said. “And now that the royals are there, the good news is property values go up, the bad news is the lines are longer at Starbucks.” He added that even though Markle and Harry “keep a low profile,” they have created a lot more interest in and attention on the neighborhood.
