Oprah Expands Her $100M+ Montecito Kingdom by Purchasing Jeff Bridges’ $6.9M Ranch

Published: November 9, 2019 | By: American Luxury Staff

In 2014, to augment his main Montecito estate with a ranch that could presumably act as both guest house and equestrian-specialty auxiliary property, actor Jeff Bridges picked up this Spanish-style for $6.9 million. A substantive renovation followed in 2016 before the estate went up for sale in April of this year asking $8 million.

And suddenly in walked Oprah, carrying $6.9 million, and full circle was—apart from renovation costs and closing fees—achieved for Mr. Bridges. As for Oprah’s ever-growing Montecito property, another piece of the puzzle was put into place.

Oprah’s holdings in the area date back to 2001, when she paid some $50 million for the ‘Promised Land’—a sprawling estate on 42 acres that includes a 23,000-square-foot mansion. In 2015, she acquired a 23-acre neighboring compound for $29 million.

The house dates to 1919, and its rustic L.A.-hinterlands period feel is very much intact. It was designed by architect James Osborn Craig who, with his wife and fellow architect Mary, helped raise the Spanish-style house to high residential architectural fashion beginning in the second decade of the last century.

Original features abound, and include hardwood floors, fireplaces—five of ’em, with matching kiva style in the living room and master bedroom—doors, tile, and windows. Batten shutters, a clay tile roof, and rusticated—or at least rough—stucco distinguish the exterior, while the interiors present a great deal of competing wood grain, a variety of old and new tile, and dramatically vaulted ceilings.

The lot spans nearly four acres, with water features, park-like landscaping, a pool with pool house, fruit trees, spa, and stables and other outbuildings.

6315 November 9, 2019 Real Estate November 9, 2019