Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal are among celebrities who have lost homes to the devastating wildfires raging in Los Angeles, US. The Palisades fire has engulfed upscale neighbourhoods, destroying multi-million-dollar properties and forcing widespread evacuations. Other celebrities affected include Mandy Moore, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.
The uncontrollable blaze has scorched over 70 sq km across Palisades, Eaton near Pasadena, and San Fernando Valley. Parts of Hollywood faced evacuation orders on Wednesday, as a new fire erupted in the hills, adding to the destruction.
Blazes burning around Santa Monica and Malibu have consumed some of the most expensive real estate in the US, affecting areas with a median home value of over $2 million, according to AccuWeather Inc. The disaster is expected to cause between $52 billion and $57 billion in damage and economic losses, according to a Bloomberg report
Hotel heiress Paris Hilton confirmed that her Malibu home was destroyed in the wildfires, by sharing a video of the extensive damage on her X profile. Hilton expressed her thoughts of seeing so many people waking up without their homes, and described the devastation as unimaginable.
Heartbroken beyond words 💔 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… pic.twitter.com/aeJAgJrymA
January 9, 2025Other notable celebrities, including Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler, and Steven Spielberg, were forced to evacuate, waiting to learn the fate of their homes, as per an AP news report.
Veteran actor James Woods shared a video on X, showing flames near his property. He expressed the emotional toll of the situation, stating that losing everything at once “tests your soul.”
To all the wonderful people who've reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned. Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully. I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly houses on our little street are not. pic.twitter.com/xZjvsIg6Fg
January 7, 2025Similarly, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester lost their $6.5 million property to the flames, while Anna Faris' multimillion-dollar mansion was reduced to debris. Schitt's Creek star, Eugene Levy's house also succumbed to the flames, and Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins, reportedly lost his home, too.
Miles Teller, best known for his role in Top Gun: Maverick, and his wife, Keleigh Sperry and legendary songwriter Diane Warren, who composed classic hits including If I Could Turn Back Time also lost their homes.
Actor Cameron Mathison also shared a clip of his house reduced to smouldering ruins. "We are safe. But this is what's left of our beautiful home," the General Hospital star wrote.
This infrared satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows burned structures and active fire burning from the Palisades Fire in Tuna Canyon Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Source: PTI)
Hollywood Disrupted
The devastating Los Angeles wildfires have disrupted the entertainment industry, forcing cancellations and delays. The Critics Choice Awards were postponed to Feb. 26, while Oscar nominations were delayed to Jan. 19, with an extended voting window.
Premieres of Better Man and The Last Showgirl were cancelled, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations were announced via press release. Universal Studios Hollywood closed, halting filming for Hacks, Ted Lasso, and Suits LA. Disney paused production on Grey's Anatomy and Doctor Odyssey, while Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired a repeat due to the disaster.
Damage So Far
According to the Los Angeles Times, five people have died, and 1,100 structures were destroyed in the wildfires. While officials have not estimated the total damage, evacuation orders affected 70,000 residents, and 30,000 structures remain at risk, Associated Press reported.
The fire has so far devastated Temescal Canyon, a popular hiking area near multimillion-dollar homes. Flames crossed Sunset Boulevard, damaging parts of Palisades Charter High School, featured in productions like Carrie (1976), Freaky Friday (2003), and Teen Wolf.
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