Robert Friedland appears intent on buoying Santa Barbara’s ultra-high-end real estate market single-handedly. Just five months ago, the multibillionaire mining tycoon, known for his role as chairman of Ivanhoe Mines and as a business mentor to the late Steve Jobs, made headlines when he acquired an oceanfront estate on Carpinteria’s prestigious Padaro Lane for approximately $47 million.
Now, Friedland has made another significant purchase. Records indicate that the charismatic 73-year-old was the buyer who recently paid a substantial $32 million for a stunning Montecito compound formerly owned by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. Although located only about four miles northwest of Friedland’s new Carpinteria property, this compound does not boast oceanfront views.
While the $32 million sales price ranks among the highest amounts paid for a home in the Santa Barbara area over the past year, it falls short of the $46.5 million initially sought by DeGeneres. However, it represents a substantial increase from the price DeGeneres paid for the property less than a year ago, in June 2023. True to her style, DeGeneres oversaw a swift yet comprehensive renovation, transforming the estate into a chic, minimalist retreat exuding understated luxury.
Originally built in 1919 and dubbed Pompeiian Court, the main house and its sprawling 8-acre grounds are shielded from public view by a massive iron gate and a quarter-mile-long driveway lined with mature olive trees. Described as a “classic Roman courtyard residence,” the compound comprises a rare single-story main house and four additional structures, including two guesthouses, a poolside cabana, and an art studio.
The property features formal gardens, ancient oaks, towering eucalyptus trees, and rows of Italian cypresses. The swimming pool and full-size tennis court are discreetly nestled away from the main house, while meandering pathways wind through the estate, passing by fountains, secluded seating areas, and a chardonnay vineyard.
In addition to his two new Santa Barbara mansions, Friedland owns two adjacent estates in Beverly Hills, Zsa Zsa Gabor’s former Bel Air property, a luxury flat in Singapore, and an oceanfront residence in Thailand.
Meanwhile, DeGeneres and de Rossi still retain multiple other properties in the Santa Barbara area, including a sprawling estate atop a Carpinteria bluff and several smaller homes scattered throughout Montecito.
