Rising from the Ashes: How LA Celebrities Rebuilt After Devastating Wildfires
Rising from the Ashes: How LA Celebrities Rebuilt After Devastating Wildfires
One year ago, wildfires swept through Los Angeles, leaving a trail of destruction and heartache. The fires claimed 440 lives and destroyed over 16,000 structures, affecting both everyday residents and celebrities alike. Stars such as Paris Hilton, Mandy Moore, and Miles Teller lost their homes in the blaze. More than half of the structural damages occurred in Pacific Palisades, where the wildfires began on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, burning for three weeks and devastating the affluent community.
The Road to Recovery
In the year since the fires, the residents of Los Angeles have worked tirelessly to rebuild what was lost. Here’s a look at the lives of the celebrities whose homes were destroyed in the fires and how they’ve persevered.
Paris Hilton: Rising from the Ashes
Paris Hilton, an iconic figure in Los Angeles, was left heartbroken when she watched her $8.4 million Malibu mansion burn to the ground on live TV. She shared her grief on Instagram, writing:
I’m standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable. When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock—I couldn’t process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces.
Paris and her husband, Carter Reum, were raising their two kids, Phoenix and London, in the Malibu home. Phoenix even took his first steps there. After the fires, Paris pledged $150,000 for the GoFundMe Wildfire Relief Fund and helped raise $800k for relief efforts. Since their loss, the family has recovered. The reality TV star purchased a 12-bedroom, 20-bathroom estate in Beverly Hills, previously owned by Mark Wahlberg, for an astonishing $63.1 million.
Mandy Moore: Strength in Community
The 41-year-old actress lost her Altadena home in the LA fires. She lived there with her husband, Taylor Goldsmith, and their three children, August “Gus,” Oscar “Ozzie,” and Louise “Lou,” who was only a few months old at the time of the fire. Mandy took to social media, writing:
We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone. My in-laws. My brother and sister-in-law – 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends. Feeling weird survivor’s guilt.
On Wednesday, January 7, she shared an update on her devastating loss, writing to her 5.4 million Instagram followers:
There is so much I could say but I’ll just leave it with this. I can’t believe it’s been a year. The trauma and grief is still so palpable. Our neighborhood. Our town. Our friends. Our sense of safety was compromised and it takes time to earn that back.
Mandy is participating in A Concert for Altadena, benefitting the Altadena Builds Back Foundation. Joining her are Brad Paisley, Brandon Flowers of The Killers, and John C. Reilly.
Miles Teller: Gratitude Amidst Loss
Top Gun: Maverick actor Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh, lost their Pacific Palisades home worth $12.1 million. Keleigh shared a photo of their house on social media before it became encased by flames, expressing her gratitude for those who had helped.
For more information on how to help wildfire relief efforts, visit The American Red Cross.
