What the Reports Claim
- The claim is that Scooter Braun, the music manager, is set to move into Harry & Meghan’s neighbourhood in Montecito, California, after purchasing a house formerly owned by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. (The Celeb Post)
- The property in question is described as the Villa Tragara, which Ellen & Portia had briefly owned. The sale is reported at around $36 million. (The Celeb Post)
- The story positions Braun as joining an already “star-studded neighborhood”—Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom, etc.—so Hirsch & Meghan will gain a new high-profile neighbour. (The Celeb Post)
What’s Confirmed / Verified
- Scooter Braun is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry (manager to artists like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, etc.). So if true, his move would be notable.
- The Villa Tragara is a known property in Montecito that had been owned by Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. (HELLO!)
- Montecito is known to be a celebrity enclave; Harry & Meghan’s neighbours include Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, Ellen & Portia, etc. This part is well documented. (HELLO!)
What Seems Unclear or Speculative
- Whether or not Scooter Braun has actually completed the purchase. Often stories like this emerge based on “pending sale,” “under contract,” or “reports say” — which doesn’t always mean the transaction is fully done. The sources (The Celeb Post etc.) are not always first-hand / real-estate-law sources. (The Celeb Post)
- The timeline: when he would move in, whether renovations might be needed, etc., is not detailed.
- Whether Braun will be considered a “Hollywood neighbour” in the sense of being very publicly associated with Harry & Meghan socially (i.e. whether their paths will cross in any meaningful way), or whether this is just geographic proximity.
Context: Montecito & Celebrity Neighbours
To give context around why this story resonates:
- Montecito, in Santa Barbara County, is a high-profile area many celebrities prefer because of privacy, landscape, climate, and being somewhat removed from the hustle of Los Angeles while still in Southern California. Harry & Meghan moved there in 2020 after stepping back from royal roles. (HELLO!)
- Their celebrity neighbours list is long: Oprah, Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom, Ellen DeGeneres & Portia, and previously Ariana Grande, etc. (HELLO!)
- These sorts of “new neighbour” stories are common in celebrity real-estate coverage; sometimes they are confirmed through property records, sometimes more speculative.
Case Study: Similar Past Moves
To illustrate how these stories typically play out, here are a few past similar instances, some of which are confirmed, some speculative:
| Instance | Celebrity | Property / Location | Outcome / Confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Levine & Behati Prinsloo | Moved into Montecito close to Harry & Meghan | Estate bought in Montecito, about $22.7 million in 2021. This was reported and appears confirmed. (¡HOLA!) | |
| Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom | Purchased property in Montecito in 2020 | Confirmed: their house is well-documented. (Vogue) | |
| Ariana Grande | Sold a Montecito home formerly owned by Ellen & Portia in 2022 | Sale was confirmed; new owner under trust, identity not always public. (HELLO!) |
Assessment: How Likely This New Neighbour Story Is True
Given what is known:
- There is some credible basis for the claim: Villa Tragara is a property that existed in that area; there are media reports naming Scooter Braun as buyer.
- But it remains at the rumor / “reporter sources say” stage, rather than solid legal/real estate documentation that’s publicly accessible.
- If true, this would not be unusual—celebrities buying neighbouring properties in Montecito is not rare. It does add to the “circle” around Harry & Meghan, but doesn’t necessarily imply anything beyond property proximity.
Implications If True
If Scooter Braun is moving in next to Harry & Meghan:
- They would have another high-profile entertainment executive neighbour. That can lead to increased media attention, possibly social interactions (if proximity and personalities align).
- It may reflect rising property values and demand in Montecito. Celebrity real-estate transactions in that area tend to ripple into local market pricing.
- For Harry & Meghan, this may be seen in the media as further cementing their place in Hollywood / Californian celebrity culture (if that’s something they embrace) — but could also further the narrative that they are “celebrity neighbours” more than “neighbors seeking privacy,” depending on how public Braun is.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s residence in Montecito, California, has become a focal point for celebrity real estate, attracting high-profile neighbors. One notable addition is music mogul Scooter Braun, who purchased the 12,000-square-foot Villa Tragara from Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi for $36 million in 2022. This Moorish-style estate, modeled after Spain’s Alhambra palace, boasts luxurious amenities such as ocean-view bedrooms, a Turkish-style hammam, and extensive outdoor spaces including a swimming pool and olive tree orchard. (Architectural Digest)
Braun, known for managing artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, joins a neighborhood that includes Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, and Rob Lowe. His acquisition of the villa further solidifies Montecito’s status as a haven for A-list celebrities. (Visit Santa Barbara)
While the Sussexes have maintained a relatively low profile, they have been seen attending events with other celebrities, such as dining with Ed Sheeran at Soho House in New York City. This suggests that their social circle continues to include prominent figures in the entertainment industry. (People.com)
In summary, the arrival of Scooter Braun as a neighbor further enhances Montecito’s reputation as a celebrity enclave, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the heart of this exclusive community.
