Legendary actor, director, and Oscar-winning producer Mel Gibson has revealed that his $14.5 million Malibu mansion was reduced to ashes during the raging wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County.
Speaking with Elizabeth Vargas by phone, Gibson opened up about the emotional toll of losing his longtime home, describing the devastation with both sorrow and surprising humor.
Elizabeth Vargas:
Mel joins me by phone right now. Mel, I am so sorry to be talking to you under these circumstances. I’m looking at video of the ruins of what was once your home. I’ve got to ask—how are you doing?Mel Gibson:
I’m doing good. It’s just a thing. But it is obviously… it’s devastating. It’s emotional. You lived there for a long time, and you had all your stuff. You remember George Carlin talking about your stuff? I had my stuff there, and now it’s all gone. I’ve been relieved of the burden of my stuff because it’s all in cinders.
Gibson revealed that he was in Austin, Texas, recording a podcast with Joe Rogan when the fire broke out. Despite being miles away, he sensed something was wrong.
Mel Gibson:
I was in Austin. I was doing a Rogan podcast. I was ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighborhood was on fire. I thought, “I wonder if my place is still there.” But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t. I went home and said to myself, “Well, at least I don’t have any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore.”Elizabeth Vargas:
When did you drive up? Did you take this video that we’re looking at?Mel Gibson:
Yeah, I took some of it. Rose took some too, and the chickens survived. It was amazing.Elizabeth Vargas:
That is amazing.Mel Gibson:
They were fine. We gave them some grain and water, and they’re happy, laying eggs and all. They weren’t roast chickens.Elizabeth Vargas:
Where was Rose during all this? Was she with you in Austin?Mel Gibson:
No, we evacuated. I left on a plane as the winds were picking up, and I went to Austin. Of course, whenever I leave town, a fire breaks out. It was the same last month—flames were 200 yards away from my house. But this time, they came from the other direction and really nailed me. I’ve never seen a place so perfectly burnt. You could put it all in an urn.
The destruction wasn’t limited to Gibson’s property. His neighbors, including fellow actor Ed Harris, also faced catastrophic losses.
The actor also believed someone had set the fire intentionally.
Elizabeth Vargas:
What about the rest of the neighborhood, Mel? Your neighbors, the people you’ve lived next to for quite some time—how did they fare?Mel Gibson:
Some of the neighbors really got it hard. I know Ed Harris, the actor who lived down the street—his place is gone, I think. Many of my friends up and down the street lost their homes. It was random, though. Not every place, but quite a few. A dozen homes are just nonexistent now—nothing but chimneys and a few roof tiles. You don’t dare walk around because of the nails. Vehicles are gone. Everything is completely toasted. It’s like someone did it on purpose to destroy every aspect of it.
Authorities have declared the blaze one of the worst fires in Los Angeles history, with containment efforts hampered by fierce winds and dry conditions. Gibson reflected on the systemic issues contributing to the disaster, citing poor forest management and inadequate water resources.
Despite the overwhelming loss, Gibson remains focused on what truly matters—his family and their safety. While he is unsure if he will rebuild, he remains philosophical about the situation.
Elizabeth Vargas:
When you hear that this fire is 0% contained… they’re calling it the worst fire in LA history. What’s your reaction?Mel Gibson:
Those winds were something else. When did we last have winds like that? That’s crazy. I guess the water wasn’t doing what it should, and the forests weren’t cleared like they should’ve been. It’s the perfect storm—the perfect firestorm. My place looked like Dresden.Elizabeth Vargas:
Yeah, it does look like Dresden. What are you going to do now? Are you going to try and rebuild there?Mel Gibson:
I don’t know. I mean, I’ll clean it up because it’s toxic. And, of course, the land is beautiful—it has a beautiful ocean view. Hey, anybody want to buy some land? Five acres.Elizabeth Vargas:
Yeah, get it cheap. Ha-ha.Mel Gibson:
We’ll go through the usual motions, I guess. There’s some insurance, maybe. I can’t even tell you anymore. But it’s emotional. I lived there for about 14 or 15 years, so it was home to me.I had a lot of personal things there that I can’t get back—photographs, files, just personal mementos, and clothing. Pretty cool stuff. But that can all be replaced. These are only things. The good news is that my family and the people I love are all well, happy, and healthy, and out of harm’s way. That’s all I really care about.
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