Mel Gibson’s $14.5M Malibu Mansion Destroyed While Filming Podcast—His Heartbreaking Return to ‘Nothing’
Mel Gibson Returns Home to ‘Nothing’ After $14.5 Million Mansion Burns Down During Joe Rogan Podcast
Mel Gibson shared his sadness after losing his $14.5 million Malibu mansion to the wildfires raging through Los Angeles.
The 69-year-old actor said in an emotional interview on Elizabeth Vargas Reports that he returned to find his home completely destroyed after filming a podcast with Joe Rogan in Austin, Texas.
“I knew my neighborhood was on fire while I was doing the podcast,” Mel recalled. “I wondered if my house was still standing, but when I got home, it wasn’t there.”
He added, “It’s obviously devastating and emotional. I’ve lost so many personal things—photographs, files, clothes, memories from over the years. But in the end, they’re just things. What really matters is that my family and loved ones are safe.”
Mel also joked about the loss: “Well, at least I don’t have to deal with any plumbing problems anymore.”
The actor had been trying to sell the mansion for years, even lowering the price by $3 million. The five-bedroom home, built in 1996, had a unique medieval castle design with a turret and scenic views.
On Joe Rogan’s podcast, Mel spoke about his fears for society and the impact of the fires. He criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to properly maintain the state’s forests, though he acknowledged the current fires started in urban areas.
“Everything is pointing to a collapse,” he said, referencing the book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond.
Mel also shared how his son Milo, a volunteer firefighter in Malibu, sent him a video of their neighborhood in flames, describing it as an “inferno.”
Despite losing his home, Mel isn’t without options. He revealed he has another home in Costa Rica and is considering moving there. “I love it there,” he said.
The ongoing fires are some of the most destructive in Los Angeles history. Entire neighborhoods, including Pacific Palisades, have been wiped out, leaving thousands of residents displaced.
Over 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, and hundreds of thousands are without power. Extreme winds of up to 100 mph have made firefighting efforts more challenging, spreading embers and flames far from the original fire sites.
Water supply issues also added to the crisis. Firefighters struggled to maintain water pressure due to burst pipes and high demand, though city officials insist water never ran out.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass admitted the system wasn’t designed for a disaster of this scale. Meanwhile, residents and officials are working together to recover from this tragedy.
