Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest
Oprah's latest real-estate acquisition has quite the pedigree. The media mogul, who has called her Montecito, California, ranch home base for nearly two decades, recently bought a stunning neighboring Spanish Revival–style compound that belonged to the actor Jeff Bridges.
According to Variety, Oprah waited six months to put in her offer—Bridges and his longtime wife, Susan Geston, first listed the home in April for $8 million—ultimately paying $6.85 million for the four-acre complex, which is more or less what the couple paid for the spread five years ago.
With the purchase, Oprah has not only expanded her so-called Promised Land ranch to a whopping 70 contiguous acres but also added several amenities to the mix: The compound comprises five separate structures, including a main house, a guesthouse, a poolhouse, a carriage house, and a gated equestrian facility with stables and a tack room. The entirety of the estate was recently restored following the devastating 2017 mudslides, meaning that the buildings are a mix of both original 1919 detailing and more contemporary furnishings.
The main house was originally built by local architect James Osborne Craig, and features hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings; most of the leaded windows are original installations, and five semicircular fireplaces help add warmth to the rustic space. The kitchen is a highlight of the home, with skylights embedded into high exposed-beam ceilings for added natural light. The master suite is also impressive, with a bay window perfect for perching with a good book; a fireplace; and French doors that open out onto the backyard.
The master bathroom blends classic and contemporary aesthetics, with a deep-soaking claw-foot tub set into bay windows and a separate glass-enclosed steam shower. A connected customized walk-in closet even has its own sitting area and vanity. Outside, the pool and spa area is surrounded by a red brick terrace that is shaded by large oak trees. The adjacent poolhouse features multiple rooms under its vaulted ceiling space, including a bathroom and changing facilities, a family room, an office, and a sauna. Clerestory windows flood the family room and office space with natural sunlight.
Elsewhere on the property, the carriage house has an attached workshop and garage, and the impressive equestrian barn features white stucco walls and bright red tiles. It also has its own well, which is a plus given the often dry conditions in the area.
In addition to her expansive Montecito home, Oprah has several impressive properties throughout the country, including a 43-acre Orcas Island compound that she bought last summer for $8 million; a $14 million ski chalet in Telluride, Colorado, that she bought in 2015; and a 163-acre ranch on Hawaii’s Maui island.
