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The post California Wildfire Survivors Band Together—Against Their Insurers appeared first on Daily Real Estate News.

New images have revealed what has become of the celebrity homes that were tragically destroyed in the 2025 California wildfires—lifting the lid on which stars are already breaking ground on new builds and which are attempting to sell the land that was left behind after the deadly blazes.

The devastating fires, which broke out on Jan. 7, 2025, destroyed thousands of homes and claimed the lives of 31 people, according to official records.

The two largest blazes—the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire—ripped through entire communities, razing hundreds of properties, many of which remain nothing more than empty lots.

Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena were all heavily impacted by the blazes, which erased an estimated $8.3 billion in home value from these areas, according to a data analysis by Realtor.com®.

Dozens of Hollywood’s biggest stars lost homes in the fires, including Paris Hilton, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, and John Goodman.

One year on from the tragedy, several of those celebrities have already made moves to rebuild their homes, taking the earliest steps in what will likely be a yearslong process.

Meanwhile, others have made the decision to walk away from their properties, putting the remains of their homes on the market rather than spending time restoring the dwellings they lost.

Paris Hilton

Heiress Paris Hilton was left “heartbroken” after watching her Malibu mansion “burn to the ground on live TV” in the Los Angeles wildfires, revealing in a January 2025 Instagram post that her coastal mansion had been completely demolished by the Palisades fire.

The reality TV star, 44, whose family founded the iconic Hilton Hotels chain, opened up about her grief over the loss of the home, which she and her husband, Carter Reum, purchased for $8.4 million in June 2021, two years before they welcomed son Phoenix in January 2023 and daughter London in November 2023.

“Heartbroken beyond words,” Hilton wrote while sharing live ABC7 footage of the smoldering remains of her home. “Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience.

“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 later returned to the property, sharing footage of the burned-out shell that was left after the fires had finally stopped burning, revealing that only the front gate of the property was left intact.

Now, new images obtained by Realtor.com reveal that little has changed at Hilton’s Malibu home, with little more than a doorway and a wall left behind at the address on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Remnants of the decimated dwelling can be seen lying on the sand, alongside an abandoned kayak, although the majority of the rubble does appear to have been cleared away.

According to property records, the dwelling remains off-market, and its estimated value, according to Realtor.com, has dropped to $6.8 million.

Hilton, meanwhile, has purchased a stunning new dwelling in which to raise her family, an extraordinary property that was previously owned by actor Mark Wahlberg.

The mother of two forked out $63.1 million for the 12-bedroom, 20-bathroom estate in Beverly Hills. It boasts a sport court, skate park, five-hole golf course, resort-style pool, home theater, fitness center, library, and wine and cigar cellar.

“A rare opportunity to own one of Los Angeles’ most significant estates, combining modern updates with timeless grandeur, designed to rival any luxury resort experience,” the listing read.

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt

The longtime home of “The Hills” stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag was destroyed in the blaze after the former revealed that the fires were racing toward their three-bedroom property in a series of social media posts.

Pratt, 42, and Montag, 39, who share two sons, were able to evacuate along with their kids, but they later expressed their heartbreak over the loss of their beloved home, which they purchased for $2.52 million in 2017, according to property records.

Realtor.com estimates that the property’s value had soared to around $3.8 million before the blaze.

In a TikTok video posted by Montag after they evacuated, the mother of two sobbed as she opened up about her heartbreak at being forced to leave their home.

“It really comes in waves, but I just really want to go home,” she told her followers. “I want to see all my stuff and sit on my couch. I’m so homesick.”

She later revealed that she’d fled her property with only two pairs of jeans and two shirts, leaving everything else behind in a desperate bid to get her family to safety.

“The craziest thing when packing for a fire is that your brain just freaks out,” she admitted. “You’re like, ‘What do I need? What do I need?’ It’s so overwhelming.”

Montag added that she managed to grab more clothing for her two children, before noting that the most important thing is that the family made it out safely.

In the year since the fires broke out, Pratt has been engaged in a bitter war of words with California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the circumstances that led to the blazes—and the efforts to rebuild the communities that were destroyed.

Weeks after the fires broke out, Pratt and Montag, along with several other victims of the Palisades fire, launched a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Fire and Water, alleging that the city’s water supply operation and related infrastructure were responsible for the loss of and damage to so many homes.

While that litigation is ongoing, Pratt and Montag appear to have taken some small steps to rebuild their abode, with images showing that the land on which the property once sat has been fenced off, with some basic tenting added to the parcel.

Property records indicate that the home has not been put on the market since the fires broke out.

Interestingly, Montag previously admitted that she didn’t think she and her husband would be able to afford to rebuild.

“They’re saying it’s going to cost $5 million to rebuild the house that cost a third of that,” the former model told The Independent in a March 2025 interview.

“We just don’t have the finances, and I’m not sure we can keep our lot because you still have to pay a mortgage on it. I’m not sure what we’re going to be able to do.”

Ryan O’Neal

Late actor Ryan O’Neal‘s daughter, Tatum O’Neal, revealed a week after the fires ignited that his stunning $2.6 million Malibu home—once shared with his longtime love, Farrah Fawcett—had been destroyed.

In a post shared on Threads, Tatum, 62, confirmed that the property was “gone” and shared video footage confirming that the stunning home was reduced to little more than a pile of rubble.

“It’s the saddest ever so sad I could cry. My father’s house is gone Malibu gone,” she wrote, adding in a second post: “Gone gone gone gone. It’s so scary. I am so freaking sad.”

According to Realtor.com, Ryan, who died in 2023, had purchased the beachfront property in 1976 for just $151,000. The estimated value shortly before the fires had been calculated at over $2.6 million.

Surrounded by multimillion-dollar properties on an exclusive stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, the coastal abode offered three bedrooms and three baths across 2,344 square feet.

The 1952-era build included a fireplace and sat on a compact 6,764-square-foot lot, situated on the sand, steps from the water.

The back of the abode appeared to have showcased two-story glass walls overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with multiple decks boasting waterfront views.

The property was O’Neal’s primary residence until his death from congestive heart failure. It was also where he lived with Fawcett until her passing in 2009. Although the two never married, they were romantically involved for 17 years and had a child together, Redmond O’Neal, born in 1985.

More recent images of the property show that little progress has been made on rebuilding the home. However, the parcel on which it once sat has been fenced off, with large signs indicating that it is private and warning would-be trespassers away.

A few pieces of debris can be seen on the sand; however, the land has largely been cleared of any rubble.

All that remains of the original structure is a small white wall at the front of the parcel, as well as a few plants that were seen in the video shared by Tatum soon after the fires.

Property records show that the dwelling remains registered to a living trust in Ryan’s name—and has not been put on the market since the fires broke out.

Adam Brody and Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, who wed in 2014, purchased their modern five-bedroom, six-bathroom property in 2019, property records show. In its listing, the home, which totaled nearly 6,000 square feet, was described as an “impeccable” design with “sensational ocean views.”

The property boasted jaw-dropping views from its hillside location, while the interior had been impeccably curated by “powerhouse developer and interior design couple” David and Eliana Rokach.

“One of the best views that the Palisades has to offer, this new construction home has it all,” the listing noted. “With incredible attention to design and detail, this home offers the perfect floor plan flowing seamlessly from room to room, not to mention dramatic views from nearly every room.”

Before the fires, the property’s estimated value had soared close to $8.5 million. Current estimates suggest it is now worth just $4.6 million.

Brody and Meester have remained tight-lipped about the tragic loss of their home. However, records show that it has not been put on the market since the fires broke out.

Meanwhile, images taken of the bare parcel where their home once stood show that the area has been cleared of debris and that fencing has been put up at the back of the property.

Sandbags can be seen laid across the entrance to the driveway, while a charred fence separates the dwelling from its neighbors.

Eerily, the only remaining sign that a home once stood in the location is a mailbox that still rests at the entryway to the property.

Anthony Hopkins

The legendary actor took a significant loss in the sale, having originally snapped up the dwelling for $6 million in 2019, just one month after he sold a dwelling in the same neighborhood.

In its listing, the plot was described as an “extraordinary opportunity to create a custom legacy estate with sweeping ocean views.

“Embrace the spirit of renewal and envision the possibilities—whether a modern architectural statement, a serene family retreat, or a cutting-edge sustainable design,” the description continued.

“[It] is more than land—it’s an opportunity to craft something truly exceptional in a neighborhood celebrated for its community, lifestyle, and legacy.”

Before the Palisades fire tore through his property, Hopkins, 88, is understood to have made extensive renovations to the home, which originally boasted four bedrooms and five bathrooms, offered 3,557 square feet of living space, and sat on a sizable 10,262-square-foot lot.

An image taken of the destruction revealed that just a few beams and pillars remained of the property, which was one of several homes on the street that were destroyed by the flames.

It marked yet another heartbreaking loss for the actor, whose London home was also destroyed in a fire in 2000—while his former Malibu residence, which he sold for $10.5 million in 2020, only narrowly escaped the terrifying Woolsey fire in 2018.

New images of the bare parcel that was left after the blazes reveal that little progress has been made on the construction of a new home, although the plot has been completely cleared of rubble.

Billy Crystal

Billy Crystal, 77, confirmed in a January 2025 statement to People that the Pacific Palisades home where he and wife Janice had lived since 1979 had been razed.

“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy,” he told the outlet.

“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. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”

He ended his statement with a message of hope: “We pray for the safety of the firefighters and first responders. The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home.”

Crystal and his wife purchased the four-bedroom, six-bathroom home, which was built in 1936, for $435,000. Realtor.com estimates suggest that it was worth upward of $7.5 million before it was destroyed, with some valuations putting its worth at $9 million.

An image of the smoldering remains of the couple’s property that was published by People reveals that the entire structure had collapsed in the blaze, leaving nothing but a smoking pile of rubble behind.

The property’s tennis court appears to have been the only thing left intact in the immediate aftermath of the fires.

New images obtained by Realtor.com show that the parcel where Crystal’s home once stood has been completely cleared—although the stone entryway that once guided guests to the dwelling remains unscathed.

It is unclear whether Crystal plans to rebuild his home. However, while the property is not currently on the market, photos show a “for sale” sign stationed outside its entrance.

John Goodman

Hollywood legend John Goodman‘s longtime California home also succumbed to the devastating wildfires. An image taken on Jan. 8 revealed that the sizable dwelling had been destroyed by the blaze, which also consumed other properties in the actor’s neighborhood.

The “Roseanne” star, 72, purchased the Pacific Palisades property in 2007 for $4.6 million. It is understood that the actor carried out extensive renovations in the years since, expanding the property and adding new amenities.

Goodman and his wife, Anna Beth Goodman, are not thought to have been staying at the home when the fires broke out—having moved their primary residence to New Orleans years earlier.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in June, the actor opened up about the loss of his property, admitting to the publication that his spouse had “taken care” of much of the admin involved in the clean-up at their California address.

“Unfortunately, I lost my house in January. My wife has taken care of a lot of that because she’s a lot better at it than I am,” he explained.

Soon after, Goodman and his spouse sold their longtime New Orleans home, having put the property on the market for $5.45 million in February 2025. They ultimately offloaded the dwelling for the much lower price of $4 million on Sept. 26.

Although he has not revealed his reasons for selling the property in Louisiana, Goodman did tell The Hollywood Reporter that he had been spending a lot of time in South Carolina for work—although he urged more productions to pick up work in Los Angeles once again, expressing a desire to return to the city.

“Eventually, I need to get back there. I don’t know what’s going to happen with filming in Southern California, but people are crazy not to. It’s got everything,” he said.

New photos of the parcel where Goodman’s California property once stood indicate that the actor may be making moves to rebuild. They show that the land has been carefully fenced off, with new dirt laid down and all evidence of rubble cleared away.

Property records reveal that the actor and his wife still own the home.

Mel Gibson

Hollywood legend Mel Gibson was one of the first celebrities to begin rebuilding in Malibu, with photos taken in June revealing that the actor had made serious headway in creating a new dwelling where his former home once sat.

The images revealed that the area has been carefully tended to, with what appeared to be a new foundation being laid.

Meanwhile, the landscaping around the dwelling was revived—making way for lush vegetation to once again surround the opulent property.

It marks an interesting twist in Gibson’s relationship with the property, which he purchased in 2008 for $11.5 million. He had made two attempts to sell it, most recently in 2019, when he listed it for $14.5 million.

Soon after the fires, Gibson hit out at the governor over the handling of the incident, telling podcast host Joe Rogan: “In 2019, I think Newsom said, you know, ‘I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest’ and do all that kind of stuff. He didn’t do anything.”

He also revealed to NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas that he was not home when the fires broke out, explaining that he arrived back at his dwelling to find that it had burned to the ground.

“When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there. I have never seen a place so perfectly burnt,” he shared. “There was a dozen places or so that were just nonexistent. I mean, nothing but a chimney and a few roof tiles, and you dare not walk around for the nails and the whole deal. The vehicles were gone, everything. My place looked like Dresden.”

Now, new photos of the dwelling reveal the progress that has been made over the past seven months, showing a large dumpster set up to collect debris, with new dirt laid down where debris once sat.

A fire pit can be seen occupying an area that once served as an outdoor entertaining space, while a stone wall that once circled the property remains intact.

It is unclear whether Gibson’s plans for the dwelling may have been affected by the recent news of his breakup from longtime partner Rosalind Ross. The actor confirmed at the end of December that the former couple had gone their separate ways after nine years together.

The duo, who began dating in 2014 after meeting through a mutual friend, share an 8-year-old son, Lars, and expressed their determination to continue co-parenting.

“Although it’s sad to end this chapter in our lives, we are blessed with a beautiful son and will continue to be the best parents possible,” they said.

It is unclear whether Gibson and Ross split before the home was destroyed in the fires, with the duo telling People that they had quietly separated around one year before the news was made public.

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Hollywood heavyweight Mel Gibson and his longtime partner, Rosalind Ross, have announced that they have separated after nine years together—almost one year to the day since the actor lost his Malibu mansion to the California wildfires.

Gibson, 69, and Ross, 35, shared the news via a joint statement to People, in which they confirmed that they quietly split one year ago, around the same time that their property was destroyed in the devastating blazes.

The couple, who began dating in 2014 after meeting through a mutual friend, share 8-year-old son Lars and expressed their determination to continue co-parenting.

“Although it’s sad to end this chapter in our lives, we are blessed with a beautiful son and will continue to be the best parents possible,” Gibson and Ross told the outlet.

The actor has eight other children. He shares daughter Hannah and sons Christian, Edward, William, Louis, Milo, and Thomas with ex-wife Robyn Moore, and daughter Lucia, 16, with Oksana Grigorieva, whom he separated from in 2010.

The news of Gibson and Ross’ split comes nearly a year after the actor’s longtime Malibu mansion burned to the ground in the devastating California wildfires.

The “Braveheart” star purchased the hilltop dwelling in 2008 for $11.5 million and has made two attempts to offload it in the years since, most recently in 2019 for $14.5 million.

However, after delisting the property in July of that same year, Gibson seemed content to hold on to the enormous five-bedroom, five-bathroom abode, only for disaster to strike in January, when the home was decimated by the Pacific Palisades fire that tore through more than 23,000 acres, destroying hundreds of houses in the process.

At the time, Gibson hit out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the handling of the wildfires.

“In 2019, I think Newsom said, you know, ‘I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest’ and do all that kind of stuff. He didn’t do anything,” Gibson said during an appearance on Joe Rogan‘s podcast.

He also revealed to NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas that he was not home when the fires broke out, explaining that he arrived back at his dwelling to find that it had burned to the ground.

“When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there. I have never seen a place so perfectly burnt,” he shared. “There was a dozen places or so that were just nonexistent. I mean, nothing but a chimney and a few roof tiles, and you dare not walk around for the nails and the whole deal. The vehicles were gone, everything. My place looked like Dresden.”

While some fire victims have chosen to walk away from their destroyed properties—opting to sell the land rather than go through the arduous process of rebuilding—images of Gibson’s home suggested that he was fully committed to rebuilding the mansion that he had called home for more than 15 years.

Photos obtained by Realtor.com® in June revealed that Gibson had made serious headway with preparing for a new structure to be built—indicating that the remaining rubble of his former property had been completely cleared.

The images showed that the area where the home once sat had been carefully tended to and what appeared to be a new foundation had been laid.

Meanwhile, the landscaping around the dwelling was revived—making way for lush vegetation to once again surround the opulent property.

Similarly, the property’s pool house—which was also destroyed by the fires—had been cleared out to make way for a new foundation.

The images indicated that Gibson was planning to build a structure that is similar to the property that once stood on the 5.5-acre plot. It had boasted soaring wood-beamed ceilings, wood floors, and stone archways.

When the home was last put on the market in 2019, listing agent Sandro Dazzan described the property as having “the warmth of an old-world estate,” while also boasting a “light and airy beachy vibe.”

The original estate offered 6,578 square feet of living space, including a five-bedroom, five-bathroom main house, a pool house that was being used as a gym, and a detached guesthouse above a three-car garage.

While Gibson—who has an estimated net worth of $425 million—might be able to re-create the hilltop sanctuary that once stood on his property, he noted shortly after the wildfires that the most important and meaningful things he lost in the fire were irreplaceable.

“It’s emotional. You know, I lived there for about 14, 15 years, so it was home to me, and I had a lot of personal things there that, you know, I can’t get back,” he told NewsNation.

“All kinds of stuff. Everything from photographs to files to, you know, just personal things that I had from over the years, and clothing, and you know, cool stuff.”

He did manage to see some humor in the situation, telling Vargas that he was trying to view the incident as an opportunity to look to the future and move on from the aspects of the home that weren’t so enjoyable.

“I went home and I said to myself, ‘Well, at least I haven’t got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore,'” he said.

Gibson also expressed his gratitude that his loved ones were safe and had not been harmed in the wildfires, which claimed the lives of 30 people.

“The good news is that those in my family and those I love are all well, and we’re all happy and healthy and out of harm’s way. That’s all I can care about, really,” he added.

The actor was one of dozens of celebrities who lost their homes to the January wildfires, with stars such as Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Paris Hilton, Cameron Mathison, Billy Crystal, and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag all confirming that their properties had been destroyed.

In March, a report from the UCLA Anderson Forecast put the estimated property and capital damage from the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires at $76 billion to $131 billion, with insured losses potentially reaching $45 billion. 

Meanwhile, homeowners in the areas that were affected by the wildfires are facing a daunting task in rebuilding their properties, a costly process that involves a great deal of red tape.

By the end of March, only four permits had been approved for homeowners wanting to rebuild, a number that was quickly criticized by local leaders, despite Mayor Karen Bass hailing it as a major milestone in the city’s recovery.

The first permit was issued by the city on March 5, clearing the way for homeowners to fix up their wrecked properties in the star-studded Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where some 6,800 homes either burned to the ground or were seriously damaged.  

Among the first three permits approved by the city, two were for complete rebuilds: one in the Palisades section and another overlooking Pacific Coast Highway.

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