These Celebrities—Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal And More—Had Homes Destroyed Along With Historic Landmarks

Thousands of structures have been leveled by the wildfires that continue to burn across Los Angeles County, affecting the homes of several celebrities in the Pacific Palisades—where the average home lists for more than $3 million—and damaging prominent local landmarks.

The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center burns during the Eaton fire in Pasadena, California.

AFP via Getty Images

Key Facts

Palisades Charter High School, featured in movies like “Teen Wolf,” “Carrie” and “Freaky Friday,” was damaged by the Palisades Fire, including classrooms, bungalows, tennis courts and the school’s baseball field, a Los Angeles Unified School District official told the New York Times.

Several structures at the Will Rogers State Historic Park, a 300-acre property once owned by former actor Will Rogers until he died in 1935, were destroyed in the Palisades Fire, including Rogers’ former home, according to California State Parks.

The Getty Villa, a museum near the Pacific Coast Highway featuring Greek and Roman art and antiquities, said it would remain closed through at least Monday and is still “safe and intact,” though trees and vegetation at the museum had reportedly burned.

The Topanga Ranch Motel, a bungalow home built by news publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1929 located in Topanga State Park, was destroyed by the Palisades Fires, according to state park officials, who previously signaled plans to restore the home for public use.

Theatre Palisades, a community theater founded in 1963, sustained “serious” damage and said in a notice it would suspend operations until further notice, saying, “We will rise again.”

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, founded in the early 20th century, told congregants its buildings were lost to the fire, though the facility’s Torah scrolls were safe, officials said.

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What Other Landmarks Were Damaged By The Los Angeles Wildfires?

The Altadena Golf Course, founded in 1910, sustained serious damage and the course’s clubhouse “did not survive the fire,” course officials said. Reel Inn, a popular seafood restaurant in Malibu, said the building had been destroyed by the Palisades Fire. The Malibu Feed Bin, a pet supplies and gifts shop founded in 1966, told its customers its location was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.

What Celebrity Homes Have Been Destroyed By Wildfires—including Eugene Levy, Adam Brody?

Actor Adam Brody and his wife, actress Leighton Meester, evacuated their home in the Pacific Palisades, reportedly worth about $6.5 million, before it burned down. Paris Hilton said she evacuated her home in Malibu before it was reportedly lost in the Palisades Fire. Jamie Lee Curtis said she likely lost her Pacific Palisades home, appearing on “The Tonight Show” while calling for people to offer assistance to “anyone who lives in Los Angeles.” Actor and the Pacific Palisades’ honorary mayor Eugene Levy told the Los Angeles Times he fled his home as the “smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon.” James Woods shared videos of his neighborhood as it became engulfed in flames and told CNN he evacuated his Pacific Palisades home on Tuesday before saying it likely burned down. Billy Crystal and his wife Janice, who moved to the Pacific Palisades in 1979, reportedly lost their home to the fire. Others who have homes in areas affected by evacuation orders include Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore, Vice President Kamala Harris, Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

Big Number

$3.3 million. That’s the median home price in the Pacific Palisades, according to Redfin. Prices in the neighborhood exceeded $5 million in 2023 before steadily decreasing into 2024.

Key Background

A series of wildfires in Los Angeles County began Tuesday and rapidly spread to tens of thousands of surrounding acres. At least five people have died in the wildfires, according to Los Angeles County officials, who warned the blazes have the potential to continue spreading amid strong winds. The National Weather Service said a red flag warning—indicating fire risk conditions like warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds—would likely persist into Friday. More than 130,000 have been forced to evacuate, as at least 2,000 homes, businesses and other buildings have been destroyed by fire so far. FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said the agency is “closely monitoring” the wildfires, and President Joe Biden has approved federal funding to assist those impacted by the fires.

Luxury House