Celebrities Who Have Lost Their Homes To Natural Disasters

Natural disasters such as fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes shake the core of humanity. To that end, a whole host of celebs and VIPs have lost their homes, or shall we say mansions, to the ravages of mother nature. In fact, the deadly 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu and surrounding areas took the lives of people and destroyed countless properties, including the home of Miley Cyrus. Luckily, Cyrus was filming out of the country when her Paradise Cove estate was lost to the blaze. According to Radar, Cyrus purchased the modern, two-story home for a sweet $2.525 million (it was listed at $2.75 million), but sold it for a loss at $1.7 to songwriter Matthew Wilder after the fire. 

However, it all worked out in the end as the songstress purchased another pad without any history of a fire. In fact, according to Dirt, Cyrus bought an estate in Hidden Hills during the pandemic for $4.9 million, but after some extensive remodeling, she also unloaded this home for a hefty profit. But, let's keep it in perspective: Cyrus also has homes in Tennessee and Studio City, California. Her killer Hidden Hills estate was featured in Architectural Digest, boasting plenty of photos. And while we can't say where the "Wrecking Ball" singer is staying now, we're sure it's somewhere posh and perfectly suited to her personality.

Miley Cyrus' ex-husband also lost his Malibu home to the Woolsey Fire in 2018. In fact, he posted a heartbreaking photo to Twitter showing what was left of his and then-fiancé Miley Cyrus' former love nest. It shows the burnt words "LOVE" situated in a sad, scorched display on the ground. Tragic! As per Cal Fire, this devastating inferno damaged 341 structures and took the homes of 1643 residents, including that of Hemsworth. 

According to Dirt, the "Hunger Games" star sold his 7.4-acre celeb home in Malibu to an unknown buyer for under almost half of the price he dished out for it in 2014. He bought the estate for $6.8 million in 2014 and sold it for $3.6 million in 2020 — definitely a hit to the Aussie actor's wallet, but one we're sure he can afford. And, since the property and Hemsworth's marriage to Cyrus are both a thing of the past, he probably just wanted out from down under the Malibu blues. Fortunately, Hemsworth has since purchased another home back in his native Australia in gorgeous Byron Bay. It definitely seems like things are looking up!

Shannen Doherty also lost her house to the Woolsey Fire in Malibu. The star, who enjoyed enormous fame in both "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Charmed," was devastated over the loss of her home — and the misfortune doesn't end there. Unfortunately, Doherty has also suffered other tragedies, as she has been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer as well. Plus, she got into legal proceedings with her insurance agency after the deadly fire. In fact, according to Page Six, back in February 2019, Doherty was awarded $6.346 million in damages after suing her insurance agency, State Farm, for refusing to repair her home. 

Specifically, Doherty sued the agency for failure to give adequate coverage to her decimated Malibu property. The final payout includes money that covered personal property, damages to the actual home, and emotional distress, in addition to her attorney's fees. Apparently, Doherty's attorney, Devin McRae, was pleased by the victory. Via People, he said "We are happy they saw the case the way we do. This should send a message to institutions that they should not forget they are dealing with human beings."

Robin Thicke and then-pregnant girlfriend (and now wife), April Love Geary, had minutes to collect their children and some items before fleeing their Malibu estate, which was straight in the path of the Woolsey Fire. At the time, Geary took to Instagram to express her horror at the fires. "Our house is somewhere in there," she shared. "I'm so sad but so thankful that we all made it out safe. Praying for everyone in Malibu, our city is up in flames."

According to Mirror, the $2.39 million home was purchased in 2015 after Thicke's divorce from Paula Patton. The stunning four bedroom, four bathroom home was situated on over two acres (a lot of acreage for Southern California!), complete with an equestrian compound. According to Trulia, the home was just under 2,400 square feet with views of the mountains, and naturally, the ocean. The property also featured a four-stall corral, tack room, and full size arena along with 60 fruit trees on a 7,000-square-foot lawn. We are confident that the "Blurred Lines" singer has moved on since the blaze.

"Baywatch" actor David Chokachi also lost his celeb home in the Malibu Woolsey Fire. He posted to Instagram to express his sadness at the unfortunate event. "Sad to lose a magical house, full of memories we will have forever. Point Dume will rise and rebuild, even stronger," he shared. "Love and strength to all our Malibu family. And special thanks to the firefighters and all the Point Dume warriors who have fought tirelessly to protect our community."

Chokachi was also an actor on MTV's "Beyond the Break" and the series "Witchblade." While on "Baywatch," the star got to show off his perfect bod and SoCal tan, and he found that transitioning to "Beyond the Break" allowed him to surf and bring attention to issues affecting the ocean. In an interview with The Hollywood Times, Chokachi also discussed his role in the movie "Last Call in the Dog House" — yet another in his claims to fame! We assume he has moved on from the Malibu fire in typical "Baywatch" survivor fashion.

Imagine the shock and horror you must feel to return to the site of your former home, only to find it has been in the middle of an inferno with a burnt up car in the driveway to boot! This is precisely what Gerard Butler experienced as the Woolsey Fire took over his stunning Point Dume, Malibu house. Butler took to Instagram to share photos and his thoughts on the whole scary ordeal. "Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California," he lamented. "Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you @LosAngelesFireDepartment." 

The $6.45 million home split into two compounds was purchased by the star in May of 2016. With a caring countenance, Butler joined other celebs who wanted to support fire victims by donating to the fire department. On Twitter, Butler said, "My heart aches for all those who lost their homes and their lives in California. I was one of the lucky ones, my home was only partially destroyed. A lot of people lost everything and will have to rebuild from scratch."

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Camille Grammer had a real life problem happen when the Woolsey Fire ravaged her Beverly Hills-neighboring home located in Malibu, as noted by People. Camille saw firsthand how surreal a natural disaster can be when her mansion was enveloped in flames during the inferno.

In 2016, the former Playboy model spent $3.3 million on the property and then sold it to an LLC at a $2 million loss — but all is not lost! Camille and her husband, David Meyer, now share a beachfront home that, according to The New York Post, is worth a whopping $6.5 million. Indeed this housewife has lived in the best of homes throughout Beverly Hills, Malibu, and beyond. In fact, while Camille was still married to "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer, she reportedly lived in one of the priciest homes out of all the "Real Housewives." However, home is where the heart is, and this is most evident per Camille's heartfelt Instagram post after the fires in 2018. "My family home will remain in my heart as I start to rebuild anew wherever that will be," she revealed. "My heart is with my family and friends."

Scott Derrickson is the famous director of the 2016 superhero movie "Doctor Strange." He is also yet another unfortunate person in a long line of celebs who lost their home in the Woolsey Fire, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Indeed, the fire also burned parts of Thousand Oaks, California where Derrickson's home was located. He took to Twitter to express his thankfulness to those who had supported him and offered him their pad for a place to stay. "Just a quick update to say that I'm overwhelmed by the incredible outpouring of love and support," he tweeted. "Thank you to everyone who messaged me, and for the dozens upon dozens of you who offered us a place to stay. We are blessed and grateful to be safe and so loved." At least most of the VIPs who lost their homes seem to have good friends who show up when disaster strikes.

As for "Doctor Strange," the film starred a multi-talented array of actors including Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachael McAdams, Benjamin Bratt, and Tilda Swinton. The movie was a hit and made over $677.7 million at the box office, so we're sure the director was able to get through his losses and build himself another fabulous home in SoCal.

Kim Basinger is yet another famous actress who lost her home in the Woolsey Fire in 2018. The power of a fast-moving fire cannot be taken for granted; a blaze can incinerate everything in its path and leave nothing behind. Such was the destiny of the gorgeous "9 ½ Weeks," "8 Mile" and "L.A. Confidential" star, according to the Daily Mail. Basinger's daughter, Ireland Baldwin (with Basinger's ex, Alec Baldwin), hurried over to her mother's Malibu home during the ordeal but found resistance from the police. 

Ireland, a model and the only daughter of Alec and Basinger, wrote a series of accounts of her frustrating ordeal on Twitter (via Entertainment Tonight). "'So many friends and friends and family of friends are losing everything they own in these fires," she lamented. "My mom and her partner lost their Malibu home in #Woolseyfire and thankfully, they are both safe."

Neil Young, the famous rock and roller, also lost his home in the Woolsey Fire, as noted by Variety. This was the second SoCal home the veteran rocker lost to a California fire, too. However, Young blamed then-President Donald Trump for his lack of concern about climate change and the ensuing fires. Young went on a rant against Trump on his website. "Fire fighters have never seen anything like this in their lives. I have heard that said countless times in the past two days, and I have lost my home before to a California fire, now another," he revealed. "Imagine a leader who defies science, saying these solutions shouldn't be part of his decision-making on our behalf."

Young went on to write that he felt that Trump prioritizes his own personal beliefs over the individuals he should be helping. Hopefully, Young and his wife, director and actress Daryl Hannah, made a rebound from the furious fire that destroyed so many celeb homes. And to think Young lost two homes to mother nature! That hurts!

Sir Richard Branson's extravagantly luxurious compound on his own island in the Caribbean called Necker Island has endured the wrath of mother nature twice as well. First, in 2011 a tropical storm created lightning which struck the house and left it in shambles. According to BBC, Branson said the fire "completely destroyed" the home. Then in 2017, tragedy struck Branson's resort again when the Category 5 Hurricane Irma ripped through the property, leaving rubble in its wake. "We felt the full force of the strongest hurricane ever in the Atlantic Ocean," Branson penned in an essay for Virgin. "But we are very fortunate to have a strong cellar built into Necker's Great House and were very lucky all of our teams who stayed on Island during the storm are safe and well."

Since then, the damaged property has been rebuilt and is even more gorgeous. Is that even possible for such an incredible estate? One of the 50 British Virgin Islands, Necker Island is 74 acres of phenomenal beauty owned entirely by Branson. It is even up for rent at various times throughout the year for those who can stay for a minimum stay of seven nights! According to the Virgin Limited Website, your stay even includes all your meals and drinks along with a dedicated staff (plus much more, of course).

Suzanne Somers from "Three's Company" also lost her Malibu house to a furious fire, but this one happened in 2007. According to Reuters, the fire was fueled by the wind. It also destroyed three other homes and damaged four others. "We'll rebuild and I really think we'll learn something great from this," Somers shared. "What else can you do with tragedy but look for the opportunity to grow? It was a beautiful house. It was a beautiful place to live." Indeed, the fire left the home charred to the ground. 

Somers' destroyed home was only two hours away from popular Palm Springs, where she and her husband, Alan Hamel, owned another beautiful celeb home until they sold it in 2021, according to the New York Post. It was listed at $8.5 million. Perhaps that's where they went after the fire scorched their Malibu home? According to the New York Post, their former Palm Springs home was the perfect party pad, but it seems they wanted something a bit more ecological. Cheers to celebs who care about the environment!

Rachael Ray was at home with her husband, John Cusimano, in Lake Luzerne, New York when a fire broke out in her chimney in 2020. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a neighbor warned them that a blaze had taken over their roof and they quickly left. "We lost a huge part of the physical evidence that we exist, all of the things we had created — paintings and pictures and music, plus everything we were gifted over the years or collected together as a couple; paintings that were made for us and letters that were written to us," Ray lamented.

Ray was recording her show at home during the COVID-19 pandemic when the fire started, and continued to film in her guest house that still remained after the main structure was destroyed. "It was taken down to the foundation basement," she continued. "When I was shooting the beginning of season 15, I was watching — from out of the window of what used to be our guesthouse for friends — them truck away our lives."