Together with her wife, Portia de Rossi, Ellen DeGeneres purchased the iconic Brown-Sidney House in Bel Air for $29 million – marking one of their most significant purchases to date. The property, which was designed by midcentury architect Richard Neutra, rightly has a reputation far beyond the esteemed Los Angeles neighborhood. However, its legacy extends beyond its Southern California postcode. With its connection to the pioneering architect and its prestigious location combined, this property is famed as one of the world’s best homes – a title that is only fitting for its multi-million dollar price tag. According to recently recorded tax records acquired by Dirt (opens in new tab), Ellen and Portia took part in a clandestine off-market deal to purchase the house from billionaire hedge fund trader Adam Levinson. The former owner reportedly made a healthy profit on the home after he bought it three years ago from fashion designer Tom Ford for $20 million. In the past three years, however, Ellen has made several notable real-estate of her own – famously buying back a ranch she previously sold in Montecito and investing in an iconic Robert Skinner-designed mid-century modern home in Beverly Hills. The host of her eponymously named talk show also sold an English Tudor-style property in Beverly Hills in 2021. Her latest investment, Brown-Sidney House, was built in 1955 in the center of Los Angeles’ most fashionable district (and with180-degree views of the neighborhood). Reports from Dirt suggest the estate has not been on the open market in a quarter century, and any more information about its size and its history beyond Tom Ford is limited. However, tax records indicate there is there are three bedrooms and six bathrooms, as well as a poolside cabana, naturally. While little is known about the intricate decorating ideas inside Brown-Sidney House, there is more information about the architectural assets that make the structure so significant. The report suggests that the property was painstakingly restored by Tom Ford, with the help of Marmol Radziner, a design-build architecture practice based in Los Angeles. Marmol Radziner’swebsite which has several photographs (opens in new tab) that show a glimpse into the home’s interiors. The firm speaks how a ‘palette of muted browns and grays, including dark brown casework throughout the home, and shares how the property is outfitted with modern amenities. It is not yet known whether Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi will reside in the property themselves – or whether they plan to flip the home sometime future. In this case, only time will tell.
