Well well well, look who’s back!
After more than a year away from the United States, former daytime television host Ellen DeGeneres has quietly returned to California — despite previously signaling she was finished with the country following the 2024 election.
DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, recently purchased a $27 million luxury property in Montecito, one of Southern California’s most exclusive communities. However, sources say the couple does not intend to remain in the U.S. long term.
According to Fox News Digital, the move back to California was planned as a temporary stay for the winter months. An insider familiar with the couple’s thinking said DeGeneres and de Rossi still view England as their primary residence and are eager to return overseas once the season ends.
The couple relocated last year to the English countryside after selling their longtime Montecito estate in August 2024. At the time, the move was described as a part-time lifestyle change. That reportedly shifted after Donald Trump secured victory in the November 2024 presidential election.
During a later interview with British media, DeGeneres acknowledged that the election played a role in her decision to remain abroad, explaining that she and de Rossi arrived in the U.K. just before Election Day and decided not to come back after seeing the results.
Despite that stance, sources now say the couple missed several aspects of life in California, including the warmer climate and equestrian lifestyle. De Rossi is known for her interest in polo and horseback riding, factors that reportedly influenced their return to Southern California.
Meanwhile, residents in England’s Cotswolds region told People magazine that DeGeneres has rarely been seen in the area in recent months. While she was occasionally spotted around town last summer, locals say her appearances have become increasingly infrequent.
Those who did encounter her described her as courteous but private, noting that she largely kept to herself and was treated like any other resident rather than a celebrity.
Since relocating overseas, DeGeneres has largely stepped back from the public spotlight. She occasionally shares glimpses of farm life on social media, praising the slower pace, rural scenery, and what she has described as a simpler way of living.
Her departure from the United States also raised eyebrows within Hollywood. Comedian Rosie O’Donnell later said she was surprised to learn that DeGeneres had left the country because of President Trump, noting that DeGeneres had not previously been vocal about politics.
O’Donnell added that while their lives have moved in different directions, she wished DeGeneres well and hoped she finds peace wherever she chooses to live.
For now, DeGeneres’ quiet return to California has prompted renewed questions about how permanent her exit from the U.S. truly was — and whether her move abroad was a firm decision or simply a political reaction that softened with time.