A number of celebrities are among those who have lost their homes in huge wildfires that have ravaged southern California. The fires – which have claimed 27 lives and destroyed more than 12,000 homes, cars and mobile homes – are regarded as the worst in Los Angeles’ history.
Three of the biggest blazes – named the Eaton, Hurst and the Pacific Palisades fires – started burning more than a fortnight ago.
The largest destroyed huge swathes of the Palisades, a neighbourhood home to a number of A-listers. While the Hurst blaze has now been successfully put out, the Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn – and, on Wednesday, January 22, authorities confirmed another has broken out, sparking fresh evacuation orders.
Here is a look at some of the famous faces whose homes have been destroyed.
Paris Hilton
In an Instagram post, the socialite said she was “heartbroken beyond words” to watch her $51m (£41m)beachfront Malibu home “burn to the ground on live TV”. Her family – including her infant children Phoenix and London – managed to evacuate safely.
“This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London,” she wrote. “While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe.”
Mel Gibson
Hollywood star Mel Gibson’s $14.5m (£11.7m) mansion of 15 years has also been left in ruins because of the Pacific Palisades fire. “It was my home, and I had a lot of personal things there that I can’t get back. All kinds of things from photographs to files, just personal things I had over the years,” he told Page Six. “We’ve lived there for a long time.”
Despite his loss, the Mad Max star was able to make light of the situation: “I went home and said to myself, ‘Well, at least I don’t have any more of those annoying plumbing problems.”
Eugene Levy
Schitt’s Creek and American Pie star Eugene Levy, 78, was forced to flee his home on January 7, telling the LA Times: “The smoke looked pretty black and intense off Temescal Canyon. I couldn't see any flames but the smoke was very dark.”
Images obtained by People the next day showed Levy’s home reduced to a pile of ash and rubble.
Anthony Hopkins
Welsh film legend Sir Anthony Hopkins was also among the thousands to lose their homes in the fires. “As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of these fires, it’s important we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give,” the 87-year-old said in an Instagram post.
Sir Anthony bought the $6m (£4.8m) four-bedroom Pacific Palisades home in 2021 but photos have shown that all that remains is a fence that once surrounded it.
Adam Brody and Leighton Meester
Images obtained by the Daily Mail showed the actors’ home, where they lived with their two daughters, reduced to rubble and ashes just days after the couple attended the Golden Globes together.
Brody and Meester purchased the five-bedroom Pacific Palisades property for $6.5m(£5m) in 2019.
Diane Warren
Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren had lived in her beachside home for 30 years.
Sharing the last image she took there before the fires broke out, she wrote on Instagram: “It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite. [sic]
“There's a rainbow shining on it which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. The animals and the rescue ranch are OK tho which is the most important thing. Stay safe everyone.”
Warren later posted an image of the piano, where she wrote many hit songs. “Thinking about the songs thru the years I worked on here and some crazy memories,” she said. “To all my friends and to everyone who lost their homes, sending U all love and strength.”
Ricki Lake
Lake – who became a household name thanks to her famous Nineties talk show – revealed on social media that her Malibu “dream home” was destroyed in the Pacific Palisades blaze.
“The description ‘dream home’ doesn’t suffice. It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together … The loss is immeasurable. It’s the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event,” the 56-year-old shared on Instagram on January 9. She went on to reveal that celebrity medium Tyler Henry predicted that her home would be destroyed by “fire and water” three months ago.
Billy Crystal
When Harry Met Sally actor Crystal and wife Janice told People their Pacific Palisades home burned down on January 8. They had lived there for 46 years.
“Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love,” Crystal said in a statement. “Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing.”
Heidi and Spencer Pratt
The Hills stars have lost their home after it was engulfed by flames; however, they managed to evacuate the property safely earlier in the day along with their entire family.
Before doing so, Spencer Pratt shared a video on his Instagram story showing fire officials attempting to control the blaze by dropping water from above on to the nearby mountainside.
Zooey and Emily Deschanel’s family home
Siblings Zooey and Emily Deschanel’s childhood home, which was one of the oldest in the Palisades, was destroyed.
Zooey wrote on Instagram: “It was not a mansion but it was cozy and lovely and unique and perfect to me.
“One of my friends growing up called it ‘The Church’ because the 14 foot ceilings with stained glass windows in the living room cast colorful shadows at the end of the day. And to me it was holy, a sanctuary where we felt most safe.”
“The streets of my childhood in Pacific Palisades have been all but erased as we knew them,” the New Girl actress added. “So many people have lost so much.”
Mandy Moore
Nineties pop star-turned-actress Mandy Moore shared a video of the scorched streets of her neighbourhood, Altadena, on Instagram, writing that her family had lost their home. “Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family,” the 40-year-old said. “My children’s school is gone. Our favourite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too.”
Moore faced an online backlash after sharing a GoFundMe fundraiser for her brother-in-law, whose home was also engulfed by flames, telling critics to “kindly F OFF”.
Miles and Keleigh Teller
Keleigh Teller thanked loved ones and fans for their support after she and husband Miles were forced to evacuate their home.
Sharing a picture she took of the house as they left, she wrote: “To everyone reaching out I can’t thank you enough, your kind hearts have meant the world, I’ll never forget them. Community has come out stronger than I could imagine, pacific palisades I love you beyond measure you are a little slice of heaven, we will come back stronger than ever.”
Keleigh added she “wish[ed] I grabbed my wedding dress ... wish I did a lot different but it doesn’t matter, stay safe, get out.”
John Goodman
Photographs obtained by People magazine revealed Roseanne star John Goodman’s home has been destroyed.
The actor and his wife Beth split their time between California and New Orleans, and it is unclear if they were in LA at the time of the fires.
