After a turbulent time in the Cotswolds, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have made a dramatic move from their £15 million property.
The couple has decided to leave behind their dream home in favor of a new, safer mansion just down the road. But what exactly led to this surprising decision?
A Fresh Start in the Cotswolds
When Ellen and Portia purchased their 43-acre property last year, they were hoping to escape the stress of life in the U.S. and embrace a peaceful, secluded existence in the English countryside.
However, things quickly went south for the couple. Not long after moving in, their new home was hit by extreme flooding, leading them to rethink their country retreat.
The floods, caused by Storm Bert last November, were so severe that the property was completely surrounded by water.
The River Thames tributary near their home had broken its banks, leaving the area impassable.
The couple found themselves stranded, as five feet of water flooded nearby roads, cutting off access to the outside world.
It wasn’t long before Ellen and Portia realized the idyllic country life they envisioned wasn’t quite what they’d hoped for.
The Struggles of Country Living
It wasn’t just the flooding that threw the couple off. As they settled into their new rural life, they faced a few unexpected challenges.
One of the more amusing issues was their vintage Land Rover Defender, which turned out to be too wide for the village’s restricted roads.
The couple reportedly had to take a 1.5-mile detour just to get into town!
By the end of last month, it was clear that they were ready for a change.
Reports surfaced that the pair was already searching for new properties in the area, looking for somewhere safer and more fitting for their needs.
A New Home on Higher Ground
Ellen and Portia found what they were looking for in a stunning new property perched on a hilltop in Oxfordshire, just a 30-minute drive from their previous home.
This new mansion comes with the peace of mind that comes with a ‘sustainable drainage system’ and, importantly, no flooding risk.
The couple has shared photos of their new home on social media, showing off the breathtaking views from their property.
Ellen even posted a heartwarming image of Portia taking a photo of a rainbow, captioning it, “My wife, a rainbow, and my wife taking a photograph of a rainbow.”
It seems like the couple is enjoying their fresh start, embracing their growing family of chickens and the beauty of their surroundings.
The Dark Past of Their New Home
However, while the couple is settling into their new life, there’s a dark side to their new property that they might not be aware of.
The house was built on the site of an old farmhouse with a gruesome history—a murder took place there several years ago, and the area is still known for it among the locals.
While the farmhouse was demolished, the story of the crime still lingers, with longtime residents remembering the infamous event.
Despite this, Ellen and Portia seem happy in their new home, which boasts modern features like floor-to-ceiling windows, an infinity pool, a cinema, a gym, and a massive master suite.
The minimalist design offers panoramic views of the countryside, and the couple is enjoying the spaciousness and luxury of the property.
Ellen’s Love for Expensive Homes
This isn’t Ellen’s first time making a big move—she’s well-known for her love of luxurious real estate.
Over the years, she’s bought and sold over 50 properties, including a £24 million mansion in Montecito, California, once owned by Brad Pitt.
Recently, she put two homes in Montecito up for sale, signaling that she might be winding down her California real estate portfolio.
While their new home in the Cotswolds is undeniably stunning, it’s clear that Ellen and Portia’s journey in the UK countryside has been anything but simple.
Still, it seems like they’re ready to embrace this new chapter—hopefully with fewer floods and more rainbows.