While Mel Gibson was recording Joe Rogan’s podcast, his $14.5 million Malibu estate was destroyed by fire. The actor shared how he returned home to find it reduced to rubble, as the destructive wildfires continue to sweep through Los Angeles.
Mel Gibson opened up about the devastation he faced when he returned home to find his $14.5 million Malibu mansion destroyed by a wildfire while he was in Austin, Texas, filming Joe Rogan’s podcast.
The 69-year-old actor shared his emotions during an interview on NewsNation’s *Elizabeth Vargas Reports*, revealing the shock of losing his home in the wake of the fires.
While filming the podcast, Mel was uneasy, knowing that his neighborhood was burning. He thought about whether his house had survived.
When he arrived home, he found it was gone, but humorously remarked, «At least I haven’t got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore.»
Despite losing many irreplaceable personal items, including photographs and files, Mel stayed focused on the silver lining: his loved ones were safe and healthy.
Mel, who had been attempting to sell the property for years, had dropped the asking price by $3 million. The mansion, purchased for $11.5 million in 2008, had five bedrooms and a turret, giving it a majestic, castle-like feel.
The actor, who has been vocal about his concerns for society, expressed his worries during his appearance on *The Joe Rogan Experience*.
He warned that civilization could be heading toward a collapse, citing factors like the current wildfires ravaging Los Angeles and the broader challenges society faces.
He also criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to properly manage the state’s forests, though the fires themselves started in urban areas.
Mel’s son, Milo, who serves in the Malibu volunteer fire brigade, sent him a video of their neighborhood engulfed in flames.
Despite the destruction, Mel is not facing homelessness, as he owns another property in Costa Rica, where he expressed his fondness for living.
Ironically, the restaurant and bar where Mel was infamously filmed making a drunken, antisemitic rant in 2006, Moonshadows Malibu, also fell victim to the fires.
Amid the ongoing crisis, Mel vented his frustrations with California’s leadership, sarcastically commenting on the state’s mismanagement and its tax allocation.
Meanwhile, the fires continued to rage, causing widespread devastation in Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas.
Fierce winds carried embers and debris, and firefighters struggled to keep up with the unprecedented demand for water.
With over 180,000 people under evacuation orders and thousands without power, the fires have become one of the most destructive in the region’s history.
