Ellen DeGeneres, 68, and Portia de Rossi, 59, were recently photographed enjoying a yacht trip off Mallorca, Spain, amid ongoing speculation about whether they will remain in the United Kingdom or return to the United States. The couple moved to the U.K. shortly after Donald Trump's 2024 re-election, initially buying an $18 million home in England's Cotswolds region, according to the source. after severe flooding from Storm Bert and neighbor complaints about construction, they shifted to another nearby residence—while also quietly acquiring a $27 million mansion in Montecito, California, late last year.

From an $18 Million Cotswolds Dream to Flooded Reality

The couple's initial U.K. home, an $18 million property in the Cotswolds, was meant to be a permanent escape from U.S. politics.. But as the source reports, their stay was disrupted by severe flooding from Storm Bert and complaints from neighbors about building work at the property. These challenges forced them to move to a different residence about thirty minutes away, highlighting the practical difficulties of relocating abroad even for the wealthy.

The episode also underscores the gap between celebrity planning and real-world consequences. Flooding in the Cotswolds is not uncommon, and construction disputes with neighbors can drag on for years. According to the source, the couple has not ruled out a return to the U.S., and their subsequent purchase of a $27 million California mansion suggests they are hedging their bets.

The $27 Million Montecito 'Seasonal Retreat' — and What It Signals

Reports in the source indicate that DeGeneres and de Rossi quietly bought a $27 million mansion in Montecito, California, late last year. while some insiders claim they may spend several months annually at the Montecito property, others maintain that the couple plans to remain full-time in the U.K. and use the California home as a seasonal retreat. This ambiguity is central to the ongoing media scrutiny.

The Montecito purchase complicates the narrative of a clean break from the U.S. If the couple truly intended to stay in Britain permanently,why invest $27 million in a California estate? The answer may lie in the same poliitical calculus that drove them out: the desire to maintain a foothold in both countries, depending on how the political winds shift.

A 'Yes' to the BBC: Why the 2024 Election Was the Tipping Point

When asked by the BBC whether their relocation was directly because of Trump's re-election, DeGeneres replied simply, “Yes,” according to the source. That confirmation is stark and unambiguous, and it frames the entire saga as a political act. For high-profile figures like DeGeneres, the decision to leave the U.S. after the election was not just about personal comfort—it was a public statement.

Yet the couple's actions since then tell a more nuanced story. The source notes they have been seen at the Montecito home, and the conflicting signals from unnamed insiders suggest internal debate. The open question remains: Is the 'yes' to the BBC still true, or has the pull of California real estate and a return to normalcy begun to erode it?

What We Still Don't Know: Full-Time UK or Dual-Country Life?

The source leaves several key questions unanswered. First, which residence is the couple's primary legal domicile? That affects U.K. and U.S. tax obligations—a significant factor for multi-millionaires. Second, what will happen to the Cotswolds property? Reports of neighbor complaints and flooding suggest it may be difficult to sell, yet the couple has already moved once within the U.K.

Third, and most importantly, will the political climate in the U.S. change enough to lure them back? While the source reports their move was tied to Trump's 2024 election, the 2028 election looms, and a change in administration could reverse the calculus. The couple has not publicly addressed any plans beyond their current arrangements, leaving the door open for further relocation.