Mel Gibson starts work on rebuilding his $23million mega mansion in Malibu after it was ravaged in the LA fires

Daily Mail​

3 hours ago

Mel Gibson appears to be rebuilding his $23.5million mega mansion after it was razed to the ground in the devastating Los Angeles fires in January.
The Mad Max legend, 69, had lived on the enormous five bedroom, five bathroom Malibu estate for 15 years after snapping it up for $11.5million in 2008.
New photos have revealed that all the rubble on the 2.2 hectare hilltop site has been cleared and preconstruction work has began.
Aerial photos show that foundations for a new structure are underway.
The publication also reports that paving has been laid around the building area, including what was once a pool house, to ensure ease of access during construction.
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The Mad Max legend, 69, had lived on the enormous five bedroom, five bathroom Malibu estate (pictured) for 15 years after snapping it up for $11.5million in 2008
Described in a 2019 listing as an 'Old World' estate, the main home was surrounded by lush bushland and its high position offered a stunning ocean view.
The sprawling pad, which featured soaring ceilings, with exposed timber beams, and picture windows, included a private and separate guest house and gym.
Other highlights included an al fresco dining area.
Gibson, who is worth $654 million, last tried to sell the place in 2019 for $18,137,881, but later removed the listing.
Many of his neighbours in the upscale area, according to the report, have opted to move on, and sell their wrecked land, rather than attempt a rebuild.
Back in January the Oscar-winning director and actor reflected on how it felt to learn that he had lost almost everything when the LA fires destroyed the property.
The Braveheart filmmaker discovered his house had been consumed by fire while recording an episode on Joe Rogan's podcast and later opened up to Fox host Laura Ingraham about the tragedy.
'These are things and they may or may not be replaceable but we're still here and I just kind of look at it in a weird kind of a way like a purification,' he told Fox News.
Aerial photos show that foundations for a new structure are underway
After learning that his house was about to be destroyed the actor said he rushed back to the Malibu mansion with his son to grab whatever they could before it all turned to ash.
He said the pair only escaped with their passports and a few other important documents while his artworks and books, some of which were from the 16th century and priceless, were destroyed in the flames.
The wildfires brought thousands of luxury homes and businesses to ashes across Southern California.
The devastating blazes killed at least 29 people and incinerated more than 12,000 structures, laying waste to entire neighborhoods once home to multimillion-dollar properties.
According to a report released in February the eye-watering cost of Los Angeles' catastrophic January wildfires has skyrocketed to a whopping $385B (US$250B), making it one of America's costliest natural disasters ever.