Hollywood actor Mel Gibson, who is 69 years old, has unfortunately lost his house in California due to the terrible Palisades fire.
The actor and director was in Austin, Texas, recording an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience when the wildfire broke out, ultimately destroying the house he had lived in for 15 years.
Criticized Governor Gavin Newsom
The BBC reported that the fire quickly spread through Gibson’s area, setting houses on fire. Luckily, his girlfriend, Rosalind Ross, and their seven-year-old son, Lars Gerard Gibson, managed to get out safely before the flames got to their home.
During his conversation with Joe Rogan, Gibson was already aware that his neighborhood was in danger. He said that the place was really burning and was worried about how California Governor Gavin Newsom wasn’t doing anything about it. The director, who won an Academy Award, took a shot at Newsom, saying, “I bet all our tax money went to Gavin’s hair gel.”
After coming back to California, the 69-year-old actor shared that his $14.5 million mansion in Malibu was totally gone. In an interview with Elizabeth Vargas Reports on NewsNation, he talked about how he felt: “I was thinking, ‘I wonder if my house is still standing.’ When I arrived home, it turned out it wasn’t there at all.”
Bought the property in 2008
Mel Gibson has been trying to sell his huge property for a long time, even lowering the price by $3 million.
The expansive mansion was built in 1996 and Gibson bought it back in 2008 for $11.5 million. According to Daily Mail, the five-bedroom property featured a grand, old-world charm, complete with a castle-like turret.
The actor expressed his thankfulness that his family was safe, but he also said that losing his belongings was really hard for him.
“I had many personal items there that I just can’t replace,” Gibson said.
There were all sorts of things, like pictures, documents, and personal items I collected over the years, plus some clothes. It was pretty neat stuff, but honestly, it can all be replaced.
These are just material things. The good part is that my family and loved ones are safe, happy, and healthy. That’s what really matters to me.
Gibson talked about the destruction in his area, saying, “I’ve never seen such a complete burn.” He mentioned that other famous people, like his neighbor Ed Harris, might have lost their homes too. There were also reports that Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal’s properties were destroyed in the fire.
“Totally burned up”
“It was totally burned up,” the Braveheart star said about his own house.
Mel Gibson even made a dark joke while chatting with Vargas.
“I went home and thought, ‘Well, at least I don’t have to deal with those annoying plumbing issues anymore,’”
He also mentioned that his “chickens made it through, which was amazing.”
California wildfires have continued to impact many residents, including high-profile figures like Gibson. The destruction serves as another stark reminder of the ongoing wildfire crisis in the state. Commenting on the authorities’ response, he told Fox News, ”Apparently, some people were asleep on the job, mainly our leaders.”
Kids have to deal with that for the rest of their lives. They are really hurt by it. Someone needs to take responsibility for what happened.
Check out the video below to hear more from Gibson and other famous people who have gone through similar losses.