Tom Hanks’ Pacific Palisades Home Narrowly Escapes Wildfire Destruction

Tom Hanks‘ $26 million Pacific Palisades home narrowly escaped destruction as wildfires ravaged the Los Angeles area this week. The actor’s four-bedroom, five-bathroom property, purchased in 2010 with his wife Rita Wilson, remained untouched while neighboring homes were consumed by flames, according to photos obtained by Page Six.

The couple’s son, Chet Hanks, shared his distress on Instagram, writing, “The neighborhood I grew up in is burning to the ground rn. Pray for the Palisades.” While the Hanks family’s current residence survived, a massive cliffside mansion directly above their property was destroyed in the blaze.

The Hanks family has deep roots in the Pacific Palisades area. They previously owned a Spanish-style villa built in 1929, which they purchased as newlyweds and sold in 2014 for $5 million. Tom Hanks also owns a 1,800-square-foot beach house in Malibu, purchased in 1991, though its current status remains unclear.

The Palisades Fire, which erupted Tuesday morning, has been part of a series of devastating wildfires across Los Angeles County. These include the Eaton and Hurst fires, which began Tuesday evening, and the Acton fire that engulfed the region Wednesday morning. The Hollywood Hills also caught fire near Runyon Canyon on Wednesday night.

As of Thursday, the wildfires have destroyed approximately 1,000 homes and businesses in the Palisades area alone, with hundreds more lost in the Eaton Fire. Approximately 180,000 people were under evacuation orders, though the Hollywood Hills evacuation has since been lifted. The fires have claimed five lives so far.

Celebrities have been particularly affected by the wildfires, with several high-profile individuals losing their homes. Khloé Kardashian, whose Hidden Hills and Calabasas neighborhoods were under evacuation warnings, expressed outrage at a suspected arsonist in an Instagram Story post. “You sick motherf**kers!” she wrote. “What the f**k is wrong with people?!?! Arson!!!!! May you be fully prosecuted!!! What scum!!!”

While the suspect was initially detained for possible arson, the Los Angeles Police Department later stated there was insufficient evidence for arson charges. The man was instead arrested on a felony probation violation. The investigation into the cause of the Kenneth Fire, which burned approximately 1,000 acres, remains ongoing.

Kim Kardashian also addressed the crisis, sharing a joint statement with her clothing company SKIMS on Instagram. “As our community faces the devastation of the Los Angeles fires, our hearts are with all those impacted,” she wrote. The statement announced donations to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and Baby2Baby to support first responders and displaced residents.

The wildfires have burned over 35,000 acres across Los Angeles, resulting in at least 10 deaths and widespread destruction. As the city continues to grapple with the aftermath, celebrities and residents alike are coming together to support recovery efforts and those affected by the disaster.