Montecito

Thanos is coming to Santa Barbara County! After decades of clashing with just about everyone in the greater Marvel Universe, the supervillain is retreating to the posh seaside neighborhood of Montecito, where records reveal Hollywood actor Josh Brolin has just shelled out $7.1 million for a decidedly demure and quietly elegant spread in the foothills of the San Ysidro mountains.

Last sold in the summer of 2022 for $6.8 million, the 2.8-acre spread transferred to Brolin in an off-market deal, so photos and details are unfortunately scant. But dated listings indicate the oak tree-shaded estate consists of a nearly 6,000-square-foot, East Coast traditional-style house originally built in the 1930s, plus a separate aviary, an equestrian riding arena, a barn and several large patios ideal for entertaining.

The all-white and clapboard sided house is a sprawling single-story affair, and it offers a total of five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. Inside, the vaulted and skylit ceilings overlook interior spaces flooded with natural light. Renovated in recent years, the public areas display a mix of hardwood and terracotta tile flooring, while nearly every room features at least one set of French doors opening to various parts of the outdoor gardens. As for the primary bedroom suite, it sports direct access to the backyard, plus a dedicated sitting area, walk-in closet with custom built-in cabinetry, and a spa-style bathroom.

But the outdoor spaces are the real magic infused into this real estate equation. Whimsically meandering pathways and staircases lace the terraced grounds, which are studded by dozens of mature sycamores and the aforementioned oaks. The gardens feature mostly native and drought-tolerant plantings, ideal for the often arid Southern California climate, and naturally the entire property is walled and gated for privacy and security.

What the estate notably lacks, according to our research, is a swimming pool and spa—somewhat of a disappointment in the north of $7 million price range. But there’s certainly more than enough space to add those things, if desired, and we doubt Brolin will miss them. The 56-year-old Los Angeles native is much more a fan of surfing than relaxing around a backyard pool.

In addition to their new Montecito digs, Brolin and his wife Kathryn also maintain a mansion in the Atlanta suburbs and a spacious but relatively unassuming house in California’s Simi Valley. More

Robert Friedland seems determined to single-handedly keep Santa Barbara‘s ultra-high-end real estate market afloat. Five months ago, the multibillionaire mining tycoon—he’s the chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, and was also a business mentor of the late Steve Jobs—paid about $47 million for an oceanfront estate on Carpinteria’s prestigious Padaro Lane.

Now Friedland has done it again—records show the charismatic 73-year-old was the buyer who just paid a lofty $32 million for a spectacular Montecito compound sold by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. is located only about four miles northwest of Friedland’s new Carpenteria pad, but is not oceanfront.

Today, the century-old estate is undoubtedly among the grandest compounds in Montecito, with 8-acres of manicured grounds.

Jason Rick / Blake Bronstad

While that $32 million sales price is still among the highest prices paid for a Santa Barbara-area home over the past year, it’s significantly less than the $46.5 million DeGeneres wanted. But it’s also nearly $10 million more than the former talk show host paid for the place less than one year ago, back in June 2023. As is her modus operandi, DeGeneres and her team of skilled contractors and designers gave the place a quick yet complete makeover, transforming it into a trendily minimalist and soothingly neutral retreat that embodies quiet luxury.

Completed in 1919 and known as Pompeiian Court, the house and its 8-acres of manicured grounds are cloaked from public view behind an enormous iron gate and a quarter-mile-long driveway that culminates in a motorcourt surrounded by mature olive trees. Described as a “classic Roman courtyard residence” in the listing, the compound includes a rare single-story main house, plus four additional structures: two guesthouses, a poolside cabana and a petite building that currently functions as an art studio.

Once overwrought, Pompeiian Court’s interiors are now chicly minimalist, albeit still sumptuous.

Jason Rick / Blake Bronstad

Other highlights include formal gardens, ancient oaks, towering eucalyptus trees and rows of Italian cypresses. Both the swimming pool and full-size tennis court are romantically hidden out of sight from the main house, and meandering pathways lace their way around the premises as they bypass fountains, secluded sitting areas and a chardonnay vineyard.

In addition to his two new Santa Barbara-area mansions, Friedland also owns two side-by-side Beverly Hills estates, plus Zsa Zsa Gabor’s former Bel Air property, a luxury flat in Singapore and an oceanfront home in Thailand.

As for DeGeneres and de Rossi, they’ve still got multiple other Santa Barbara-area properties, including a vast estate atop a Carpinteria blufftop and several smaller homes scattered around Montecito.

Click here for more photos of Montecito’s Pompeiian Court. More

Today’s real estate market is sluggish, but Zoe Saldana has not been deterred by the slowdown. Last week, the Daily Mail revealed—and property records confirm—that the prolific Hollywood actress, 45, was the buyer who earlier this year paid $17.5 million for a historic estate in prime Montecito, complete with sweeping mountain and ocean views.

Built circa 1930, the home was designed by prolific Santa Barbara architect George Washington Smith. In 1933, following Smith’s death, the Spanish Revival-style villa was expanded by Lutah Maria Riggs, the noted pioneer who became Santa Barbara’s first licensed female architect. In the 90 years since, much of the estate’s original period details have survived — the light fixtures, tilework and windows remain largely intact — though the place has also seen upgrades over the years.

Owned by the same family for the past several decades, the house first hit the market last December, asking $18.9 million. It’s perhaps not surprising that Saldana saw the place as a prime candidate for an overhaul—as noted by Siteline Santa Barbara, the quirky old house has a very atypical floorplan. There are two guest bedrooms on the main floor, neither of which currently sports an ensuite bathroom. The kitchen, while large, appears to have undergone an unfortunate 1980s remodel. And upstairs, there’s a third guest bedroom that is only accessible via traipsing through the carpeted master bedroom.

The rambling 1930s mansion is surrounded by lush grounds equipped with a swimming pool and full-size tennis court.

Google Earth

Still, some quirkiness is to be expected in an old house, and charm abounds here. There are rambling hallways that seem to go on forever, a gorgeous wood-paneled library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, intricately crafted ceilings, and grand public rooms with big windows.

And then there are the 4.7 acres of grounds, where vast terraces spill out to gardens containing dozens of ancient oaks, charmingly overgrown flowers and grassy lawns. A proper north/south tennis court abuts a classically oval swimming pool. Also on the estate are a detached art studio, a guesthouse with ocean views, two three-car garages and a two-bedroom staff apartment attached to the main house.

In addition to their newly-acquired Montecito classic, Saldana and her husband Marco Perego also maintain a lavish tennis court estate in the mountains above Beverly Hills. That property, once owned by Kimora Lee Simmons, was up for grabs at $16.5 million over the fall but is now available for longterm lease at a princely $47,500 per month. More