You’ve seen the headlines, right? The ones claiming the queen of daytime is gone for good. It’s the kind of news that stops you mid-scroll because it feels like the end of an era. Honestly, it kind of is.
If you’re asking is ellen leaving the us, the short answer is she already did. But as with everything in Hollywood, the "why" and the "what now" are way more tangled than a simple plane ticket to London.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi didn’t just pack a suitcase; they basically liquidated their California life. We’re talking about moving horses, chickens, and a massive real estate portfolio across the Atlantic to the English countryside.
The Cotswolds Shift: Why Ellen Actually Left
Let’s be real—Ellen has been through the wringer lately. After the "toxic workplace" allegations that dog-piled on the end of her talk show in 2022, she was pretty much "canceled" in the eyes of many. She even joked about being "kicked out of show business" during her final stand-up special, For Your Approval.
But the final straw wasn’t a bad review. It was a ballot box.
In a very candid appearance at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham back in July 2025, Ellen finally admitted it. She told broadcaster Richard Bacon that the 2024 election results were the catalyst. She and Portia arrived in England the day before the election. They woke up to a flurry of crying emojis from friends.
"He got in," she recalled thinking. "And we're like, 'We're staying here.'"
It wasn’t just politics, though.
The couple had already been house-hunting in the Cotswolds a month prior. They bought an $18 million farmhouse before the first vote was even cast.
What started as a "let's spend four months a year here" plan turned into a permanent relocation. Ellen’s been raving about the "simpler way of life." She mentioned seeing snow for the first time—which, for a lifelong Californian, is a big deal—and how people are just... politer.
Is She Coming Back? The 2026 Plot Twist
Here is where things get interesting. Just because you move to a farm in England doesn't mean you stop being a shark in the real estate market.
By January 2026, the "permanent" move started looking a bit more like a "temporary hiatus." Reports surfaced that Ellen and Portia dropped $27.4 million on a new mansion in Montecito, California.
Wait. Didn't they just leave?
The "Boredom" Factor
Living in a 10,000-square-foot farmhouse in the rain sounds romantic until you actually have to do it. Sources close to the couple have whispered to outlets like The Economic Times that rural life was getting—well, boring.
- Social Isolation: Most of their inner circle (think Jennifer Aniston and Kris Jenner) are still in the 90210.
- The Weather: Let's face it, the Cotswolds in January is a far cry from the Santa Barbara sun.
- Career Itch: You don't run a top-rated talk show for 19 years and then just become a full-time "chicken lady" without getting a little restless.
What This Means for Her Career
Ellen isn't retired. Not really. She recently signed with WME, a massive talent agency, to represent her in everything except her comedy tours. That’s a move someone makes when they’re planning a comeback, not when they’re settling into a quiet life of knitting in the UK.
She’s been seen taking Zoom calls and "carefully" plotting her next phase. She told a crowd in Cheltenham that she misses the show "a lot."
But the landscape has changed. She knows a daytime talk show might not work anymore. People watch clips on their phones now. They don't sit on a couch at 4:00 PM to watch a monologue.
Marriage and Rights
There’s also a deeper, more personal layer to the is ellen leaving the us saga. Ellen mentioned that she’s worried about the future of same-sex marriage rights in America. She even hinted that she and Portia might get married again in the UK just to ensure their union is protected under a different legal system.
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It’s a heavy reason to move. It’s not just about "hating Trump" or "fleeing cancel culture." It’s about feeling safe.
The Current Status (Early 2026)
So, where do they live right now? It's a bit of a "both" situation.
They sold their initial Cotswolds farmhouse because it was too small for Portia’s horses. They moved into a larger, more modern estate in the same area. But with the new $27 million purchase in Montecito, it looks like they’re setting up a "dual-continent" lifestyle.
They haven't officially moved back to the U.S. full-time, but they’ve kept the door wide open.
Actionable Takeaways: What You Should Know
If you're following the Ellen exodus, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the Real Estate: Ellen uses houses like chess pieces. If she sells the new Montecito mansion in six months, she’s staying in the UK. If she keeps it, she’s coming back.
- Check the Tour Dates: She still does "In Conversation" events in the UK. These are the best places to hear her unfiltered thoughts.
- Look for the WME Project: Keep an eye out for a streaming deal. That’s the most likely path for an Ellen 2.0.
Ellen’s departure from the US was a reaction to a specific moment in time—a mix of political exhaustion and personal burnout. But for a woman who has spent four decades in the spotlight, the quiet of the English countryside might just be the "refresh" she needed before the inevitable return to the stage.