Singer John Legend has admitted that he and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, are considering walking away from their Los Angeles home in favor of returning to New York City. The “trauma” of the recent wildfires has left them doubting whether California is a safe home for their family.
Legend, 46, and Teigen, 39, relocated to L.A. from the Big Apple in 2022 and currently reside in a sprawling $6 million West Hollywood home with their four children.
The property survived the recent blazes that devastated multiple communities in the city, destroying more than 16,000 structures and claiming 29 lives. However, Legend says the ever-present threat of the next natural disaster has made them question their future on the West Coast.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Wall Street Journal, the “All of Me” singer recalled the “shock” he experienced upon returning to L.A. from a family vacation to the horrifying sight of flames and “billowing smoke” from the Palisades fire rising up above their hometown.
“Watching TV in the family room, our fears grew. When the Sunset fire began to expand on Jan. 9, the danger felt too close for comfort,” he went on.
Singer John Legend has admitted that he and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, have debated ditching California and moving back East to New York after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
(johnlegend/instagram)
Although their property was not damaged, Legend and Teigen admitted that the “shock” of the horrifying situation hit them when they returned to L.A. after a family vacation.(Realtor.com)
“That night, my wife and I gathered our four kids, four dogs, and bearded dragon and drove south to a hotel in Carlsbad.
“We didn’t return until the following week. Our home was safe, but many weren’t so fortunate, and the threat still looms. The fires were a collective trauma that shook everyone, including our kids,” the music mogul revealed.
Further in the interview, he confessed that he and Teigen have “always considered” moving back to New York City, which is where they lived until 2022. At the time, they sold their two penthouses and made history with one of the largest sales in the Big Apple at the time.
However, having put down roots in Los Angeles, he hinted that they are reluctant to move yet again while their children—Luna, 8, Miles, 6, and Esti and Wren, both 1—are still so young. But he said they may well make a move when their children are a bit older.
“Chrissy and I have always considered returning to New York, where we once lived. We probably will, once our youngest ones grow up a bit,” he explained. This is not the first time a natural disaster has caused him to consider leaving the West Coast.
“Every time nature shows its wrath, we wonder if it’s time to head back East. Who knows.”
The “All of Me” hitmaker confessed that he and his wife, who are parents to four young children, have “considered” moving back to New York City.
(johnlegend/instagram)
Legend noted that he “feels” for everyone who “lost their homes,” adding that he and Teigen are “always going to be aware we may have to pack up and go [from L.A.].”
(johnlegend/instagram)
The Palisades fire was one of multiple blazes that broke out in Los Angeles County at the start of January and collectively burned more than 57,000 acres, while claiming 29 lives, according to Cal Fire.
(Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
Legend noted that he “feels” for everyone who “lost their homes.”
The Palisades fire was one of multiple blazes that broke out in Los Angeles County at the start of January and collectively burned more than 57,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.
Pacific Palisades and Altadena were among the hardest-hit communities‚ with a new report by the University of California, Los Angeles, revealing that the blazes sparked in these areas—the Palisades and Eaton fires—might have caused up to $164 billion in property and financial losses.
“Million Dollar Listing” star Josh Altman previously admitted that he believes “65% to 70% of families won’t return to the Palisades or Malibu.
He told Fox News, “I think 65% to 70% of the people do not go back to the Palisades or Malibu. I can just tell you from gauging all these calls that I’m getting where people are asking me to send them listings and talk to them about different neighborhoods.”
Legend and Teigen are among the many stars who were living in California—and it remains to be seen how many of those A-listers will choose to relocate in the wake of the fires.
However, for now, they currently live in a stunning West Hollywood property, which they purchased for $5.1 million in 2020. Realtor.com currently estimates that it is worth just over $6 million.
Their home boasts a modern aesthetic and measures 3,440 square feet.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom property is the “perfect balance between light, space, comfort and warmth,” according to its original listing.
Legend and Teigen owned two penthouses in New York City’s NoLita neighborhood, one in the north and one in the south.
(Realtor.com)
They put both properties on the market for an asking price of $18 million in 2022. Less than 90 days later, the penthouses were sold for the asking price.
(Realtor.com)
Legend previously explained the couple’s decision to move to the West Coast while speaking to the Wall Street Journal.
(Realtor.com)
“Unique features include floating gardens with built-in drip irrigation, 50 ft frontage, fully automated smart home, pool & spa, and state of the art kitchen with high-end Miele appliances,” the listing adds.
The couple snapped up the lovely estate after they sold their previous property, which once belonged to Rihanna.
Legend and Teigen forked over $14.1 million for the seven-bedroom, nine-bath property in 2014 from Rihanna, who lived there from 2011 to 2014. In 2020, the couple listed it for $24 million.
The home, which features a Jacuzzi, outdoor kitchen, and expansive floor plan, was quickly snapped up by a lucky buyer for $16.8 million in 2021.
Prior to that California pad, Legend and Teigen owned two penthouses in New York City’s NoLita neighborhood, one in the north and one in the south.
They put both properties on the market for an asking price of $18 million in 2022. Less than 90 days later, the penthouses were sold for the asking price.
Legend previously explained the couple’s decision to move to the West Coast while speaking to the Wall Street Journal.
“We’ve realized that because of work and everything, we’re really mostly going to be in Los Angeles. So, we’re going to focus our homebuilding energy and renovation energy on what we’re doing in L.A.,” he told the outlet.
According to the publication, they purchased the first unit for $9.02 million in 2018 and the second for $7.7 million in 2020 in a building known as the Brewster Carriage House.
