Here at VGT, we have been following the events of the past few days very closely. As of this publication, the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires continue to to burn, causing massive destruction to the Los Angeles area, erasing thousands of homes. The situation is ongoing, and the extent of the devastation may not be known for several more days.

As VGT’s Content Editor, my work often consists of making small updates to the values and features of celebrity homes. Today, I have made one edit, several times, “This home was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades Fire.” The square footage no longer matters; the gyms, saunas, and theatres are all gone. The homes have been destroyed.

VGT was founded twenty years ago as it is now, “a place to share amazing, beautiful, and interesting locations”. A great many of these are people’s homes. It is usually fun to click around the magnificent neighborhoods, daydreaming of wealth. Admittedly, our site is often used for gawking and gossip. But thousands of you have have come here for the first time today, perhaps for morbid curiosity, but we think mostly to try to better understand the extent of this tragedy. Many of the victims are wealthy, many are public figures, but every one of them has been forced to flee as their homes vanish. It’s heartbreaking.

Our site, at least for now, shows the affected houses as they were–amazing, beautiful, and interesting. In time, the satellite images will show desolate, debris-filled hills. In even more time, new amazing, beautiful, and interesting structures will emerge and we hope that you will join us again then.

If you have been affected by the fires and you need help, or are looking for ways that you can help those in need, ABC 7 in Los Angeles has put together a better list of resources than we could. Please consider donating money or time, if you are able.

As we close the books on 2024, it’s important to reflect on those things, and people, we lost recently. Let’s take a moment and remember some of the most important and influential people who passed away this year.

Jimmy Carter

Born in 1924, Jimmy Carter lived to be 100 years old before passing away on December 29, 2024. Carter served as the 39th president of the US during a turbulent time in global affairs, including the Iran hostage crisis, a domestic oil shortage, escalation in the Cold War, and the successful Camp David Accords, which ushered in an era of peace between Israel and Egypt.

However, his legacy will not reflect his time as president nearly as much as his remarkable life after leaving office. He and his beloved wife Rosalynn set an example of service, dedicating much of their time to Habitat for Humanity projects, teaching in their local Sunday school, and drawing attention to important international human rights causes.

The couple owned and lived in one home for most of their married life, expect when in the military or away for public service. Rosalynn is buried under a special tree on the Plains, Georgia property. After Carter’s state funeral is concluded, he will rest alongside his beloved wife. Carter’s legacy of service will certainly continue to benefit people around the globe.

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Jimmy Carter's House

Dame Maggie Smith

Margaret “Maggie” Smith was 89 years old when she passed away in September. Known to most these days as Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series or as the grumpy granny Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey, Maggie Smith was a leading actress for more than 70 years! She started her career in the theater, starring in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, while at college. She had her first national film award nomination in 1959 at the age of 25.

Maggie lived in a 15th century home in the south of England, which she bought with her husband in 1981. The small estate has a main house, several barns, a stable, orchard, and room for animals. The village has about 5,000 residents, and provided a perfect retreat from the public eye as she grew more and more famous.

In her illustrious career, she was nominated for an Oscar eight times, and won one time for Best Actress, given the title “dame” by Queen Elizabeth in 1990, and awarded numerous other salutations for her acting, which has blessed countless individuals across the globe. Her onscreen magic will remain with us for years to come.

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Maggie Smith's House

Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland is another classic actor who appeared in films for more than 50 years, nearly up until his passing on June 20, at the age of 88. The Canadian-born actor started his career in England, before getting roles in the US . It took a few years, but by the 1980s, he found his stride. He starred in several classic films such as Animal House, JFK, and Without Limits. 

He was even able to work with his son, Kiefer Sutherland, in a few films. In more recent years, his work as President Snow in the Hunger Games series introduced him to a new generation of viewers.

In spite of many great roles in dozens of films, Sutherland never received an Oscar nomination; so in 1997 he received an honorary award by the Academy, for his body of work.

Sutherland and his wife lived in Florida in the last years of his life, but before his move in 2006, he lived for 30 years in this beachfront Santa Monica condo, which he helped design. Recently, it was available for rent for $12,000/month.

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Donald Sutherland's House

Richard Simmons

Fitness icon Richard Simmons changed countless lives by encouraging them to reach a healthy weight through activity and healthy living. His cardio exercise videos, like the Sweatin’ to the Oldies series, were hits for decades, and his outlandish, positive, and unpredictable on-air personality made him a great television guest.

After failing health limited his ability to be active in public, Simmons mostly withdrew from public life in 2014, but maintained an online and social media presence until the end. He passed away on July 13, the day after his 76th birthday. He passed away at his home, and after a short investigation, it was clear it was from complications related to a fall on his birthday.

Simmons had lived in the Los Angeles mansion for decades. He bought the 4,000 square foot house in 1989, and lived there ever since. Unfortunately for the man who made so many happy, his $20 million estate quickly got mired in interpersonal drama, and has yet to be resolved.

© Bing Maps

Richard Simmons' House

James Earl Jones

More than just the amazing voice behind Mufasa, Darth Vader, and CNN, James Earl Jones was a Hollywood legend who passed away at 93 on September 9. He earned so many awards over his career that he actually has an EGOT, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

He started out life in Mississippi, and at one point planned to become a doctor before making his acting debut in 1957. He remained in the public eye for more than 70 years, starring in Othello, King Lear, the Star Wars series (vocal) Driving Miss Daisy, The Lion King, and so many more.

He lived in Dutchess County, New York, for decades. Over time, he acquired around a dozen properties in the neighborhood of his original home. If you have $40 million, you can do whatever you want with your money!

© Bing Maps

James Earl Jones' Home

These are just a few of the many revered, renowned, and remarkable public individuals who passed away in 2024. This end-of-year review gives us the chance to reflect on the gifts they shared with the public, and remember the feelings their onscreen characters evoked in all of us.

As we wind down 2024 and look to 2025, it’s important to take a moment and reflect on the last 12 months, to remember where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Join us in a review of some of the most interesting and most impactful events of the year.

Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

Donald Trump was elected for a second term as president of the United States, and the campaign was the craziest, most eventful in living memory.

Of all the things that happened, perhaps the most outrageous event was the attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, PA on July 13, 2024. A 20-year old man shot several rounds at the former president, hitting him once and killing an unfortunate bystander before being taken out by Secret Service agents on the scene.

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Donald Trump - Shooting Location

Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses

Early on the morning of March 26, a massive container ship lost control and crashed into a pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. What seemed like an unfortunate accident quickly turned into a tragedy, as the center portion of the bridge collapsed into the water below, killing six construction workers who were unable to evacuate the bridge in time.

The bridge was the second-largest truss bridge in the US, and spanned the entry into the Port of Baltimore, which is one of the largest and busiest ports in the United States. Shipped into and out of the port was brought to a near standstill for several weeks. It will take at least four years to rebuild the bridge, at a cost of nearly $2 billion!

© Google Maps

Francis Scott Key Bridge

Hurricane Helene Devastates North Carolina

There were two major hurricanes to hit the eastern seaboard of the United States in 2024, and both caused significant destruction in their wake. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 27, and moved inland through Georgia, South Carolina, and into North Carolina and Tennessee, where it dumped up to two feet of rain on already-saturated ground.

Rains overwhelmed creeks and rivers, creating floods, mudslides, and washouts as the water covered the entire region. At least 225 people were killed, more than $125 billion in damages were sustained, and countless lives were changed completely.

Asheville’s beautiful Biltmore Estate, was not spared flood damage, and its iconic gate showed a water line of at least 15 feet above ground! The property, built by the wealthy Vanderbilt family as a “little summer retreat” is now a major tourist attraction. After much effort, the residence is now open for visitors again.

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Biltmore Estate

The town of Chimney Rock was one of many small enclaves in the Appalachian mountains that suffered near-total destruction when the nearby river flooded catastrophically. To this day, much of the damage is still visible. The area will never be the same, but the people of western North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are resilient and will find a way forward.

© Google Maps

Chimney Rock

Princess Kate’s Health Concerns

Royal watchers started the year with sad news, when Princess Kate of the UK stepped away from public life for a few weeks for “abdominal surgery.” After weeks without any update, the public grew suspicious, and the situation quickly got out of control. Eventually, the Palace announced she was getting treatment for cancer, and was recovering in private with William and the children at their home, Adalaide Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The four-bedroom residence was once a royal retreat for Queen Victoria, and is now where the future king and queen work to raise their kids in a predictable and stable environment.

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Prince William & Princess Kate's House (Adelaide Cottage)

At the same time, King Charles too had a battle with cancer. But both stories have happy endings, as both royals have made a healthy recovery. They were seen participating in their usual Christmas procession at the Sandringham estate, where the royals have spent Christmas for decades. Kate mingled among the crowd of well-wishers for so long, she actually had to rush to catch up with her family. What a wonderful way to end a turbulent year for the family!

The Sandringham estate has been part of the royal property since the late 1800s, and quickly become a most beloved retreat for the family. Elizabeth II spent at least two months there every year, and when she died, the property was passed directly to her son Charles.

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Sandringham House

Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg Host the 2024 Summer Olympics

Perhaps the coolest news story of the year was the summer Olympics hosted in Paris, France, and the media buzz surrounding the Games.

The first city to host the Games three times, Paris went all out to ensure the competition was memorable, safe, and enjoyable. Many of the outdoor events were held at the Stade de France, the country’s national stadium and site of the national soccer team’s victory over Brazil to win the 1998 World Cup! It was also one of the sites of coordinated terrorist attacks in 2015, where 130 people were killed in attacks across metropolitan Paris.

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Stade de France

One of the most entertaining aspects of the Games was the inclusion of two celebrity hosts, Snoop Dogg, and Martha Stewart. The two are fast friends in spite of their remarkable differences in backgrounds, personalities, and paths to success. Neither has any experience with competitive sport, but their banter and ability to explain events to viewers in a fun and engaging way quickly made them a highlight of the whole event.

Snoop lives in sunny California in a house he bought nearly 30 years ago for $720,000! The man worth more than $160 million seems to prefer spending his money on luxury threads, cars, and activities, rather than on a massive and expensive home.

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Snoop Dogg's House

Martha lives on the other side of the country in the historic and classy town of Katonah, in Westchester County, NY. The entertainment mogul worth $400 million lives on an estate with several houses, multiple gardens, farm animals, and everything America’s number one hostess could require. There’s even a house just for her basket collection!

© Google Maps

Martha Stewart's House (Cantitoe Corners)

These days, things move so fast, it’s hard to remember what happened last month, let alone in the last year. It’s good to have a refresher and catch up on the year’s events as we say farewell to 2024, and look forward to whatever 2025 has in store!