Ellen DeGeneres, the legendary TV show host who recently announced that she was quitting television and that it was the “last time” people would see her, has reportedly sold her enormous $96 million Southern California compound to a billionaire. It comes only two years after DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, spent $70 million on two neighboring pieces of land. The couple, who live separately, have since sold their Carpinteria plots, which overlook the Pacific Ocean, to a billionaire mining magnate.
According to public records, Robert Friedland, who chairs the Ivanhoe Mines company, purchased the land. Friedland, who has a net worth of $3 billion, has purchased property from DeGeneres before, too. Just this year, Friedland purchased a 1919 estate owned by DeGeneres, known as Pompeiian Court, from the TV star.
Where Is Ellen Going?
It’s unclear why DeGeneres is selling her properties, but the move is likely connected to her recently announced plans to leave television and Hollywood behind for good. Earlier this year, E!News announced that DeGeneres had retired from public life and that she plans to keep a low profile with her actress wife. DeGeneres appeared to confirm the news during a stand-up set she performed in California on July 1, during which she told the audience that she was “done” with the entertainment industry.
“This is the last time you’re going to see me,” DeGeneres said. “After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
The announcement follows a series of scandals involving DeGeneres and former employees who allege that the star was abusive. In July, 2020, dozens of former employees of the Ellen Show claimed that executive producers engaged in “rampant sexual misconduct.” That same year, DeGeneres was forced to defend herself against accusations of a “toxic” work environment.
Speaking to a virtual audience at the time – this was during the pandemic – DeGeneres directly addressed the rumors.
“As you may have heard, this summer there were allegations of a toxic work environment at our show, and then there was an investigation,” the host said.
“I learned things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people who were affected.”
