Josh Duhamel is Selling His Los Angeles Home to Live in a Quiet, Off-Grid Cabin

What Does This Mean? (ELI5 Intro)

Imagine you are a famous movie actor who used to live in a big, shiny city. Now you want to leave the busy streets and go to a calm forest where you grow your own food and play with your kids. That’s what Josh Duhamel is doing! He is selling his house in Los Angeles (a big city in California) and moving to Minnesota (a state with lots of trees and lakes) to live in a special home that doesn’t rely on city power. Let’s learn all about it in a super simple way.

Who Is Josh Duhamel?

• He is a 53-year-old actor (a person who plays characters in movies and TV).
• He is famous for being a "heartthrob" (someone many people think is handsome) and is now doing more western/cowboy style roles.
• He was previously married to singer Fergie and has a son Axl (12) with her. He is now married to Audra Mari and they have a son Shepherd (2) and a new baby daughter Rocca (born in May).

The Los Angeles House for Sale

Josh is saying goodbye to his home in Encino, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley part of Los Angeles.

• Price: He put it on the market for $2.9 million (that’s a lot of piggy-bank money!).
• Helper: He is working with a "listing agent" (a friendly expert who helps sell houses) named Thomas Atamian from a company called Coldwell Banker Realty in La Canada Flintridge.

Important Point: The agent said this about the house: "It’s rare to find a property that flawlessly combines dramatic architecture, modern updates and total privacy. The defining feature of this home is its positioning. It captures breathtaking jetliner and mountain views from almost every angle. It’s an absolute standout offering in a premier location." That means the house is pretty special!

What the House Looks Like Inside

The house was originally built in 1962 (that’s over 60 years ago!). It is 3,310 square feet big—think of a square foot as a tiny square tile on the floor; this house has room for thousands of them!

• Bedrooms and bathrooms: It has 4 bedrooms (places to sleep) and 3.5 bathrooms (the half is a smaller toilet room).
• Views: You can see the surrounding mountains from many windows (panoramic views).
• Main living space: There is a "great room" (a big living area) with very high ceilings. It connects directly to a "chef’s kitchen" (a fancy kitchen for cooking) with a large center island.
• Main bedroom (primary suite): Newly updated, with two walk-in closets (like tiny rooms for clothes) and a private bathroom attached (called an ensuite).
• Photo details (taken by Hillary Campbell and Getty Images):
  • The living room has windows looking out at the backyard and a fireplace.
  • The dining room is open so it flows right into the living room.
  • A second cozy sitting area near the kitchen has built-in bookshelves.
  • The kitchen has all-white countertops and a big island you can eat at.
  • The main bedroom has a large sliding door to the backyard, letting in lots of sunlight.

The Backyard and Outdoor Fun

Outside, the house has a bunch of cool stuff to play or relax:

• An outdoor firepit (a safe place for a campfire)
• A large swimming pool (and a jacuzzi to bubble in)
• A built-in barbeque (for grilling yummy food)
• Many outdoor dining and lounging areas
• A sauna (a hot little room to sweat)
• Multiple seating areas

Important Point: The backyard is like a mini resort! Pictures show all these fun things (photos by Hillary Campbell).

A Simple Timeline of Josh’s Big Move

Here are the steps that led to the house sale:

1. Josh spent 15 years building a home in Minnesota that is "off-the-grid" (we’ll explain that soon).
2. A little over a year ago, he talked to Parade magazine about his decision to leave Los Angeles for that Minnesota home.
3. Now, he listed his Encino house for $2.9 million with the agent we mentioned.

Why Move to Minnesota? (Off-Grid Living)

"Off-the-grid" means living in a way that doesn’t depend on public city services like electricity and water from the town. It’s like being self-sufficient (you make your own power, maybe with solar, and use well water).

Josh told Parade: "The closest store is 40 miles away. Once we get there, it’s really about everybody taking care of each other – making memories, spending time with family and friends."

He moved with his wife Audra, their 2-year-old son Shepherd, and baby Rocca. His older son Axl visits from time to time.

He says the new lifestyle lets them "get back to the basics"—meaning less screen time, more nature. His older son is "not on his iPad all day, but rather playing sports, exploring the woods and overall enjoying the outdoors."

He also said: "And then I have a little baby who’s going to experience the same thing. Someday, I hope to pass this on to them [so] they’re able to share it with their kids. It’s really important to me that they have this. It’s not just about having all the amenities and all the luxuries that we become so used to. It’s really about family. It’s about legacy."

The "Doomsday Cabin" and Peace of Mind

Living off-grid also gives Josh a calm feeling because he knows if something really bad happens—like a world-ending event—he has a safe place to go.

In an August 2025 interview with People magazine, he called his Minnesota home a "doomsday cabin" (a hideaway for worst-case scenarios). He said he is "Probably 70%" ready for the apocalypse (a word for a huge disaster that changes everything).

He admitted: "I could be a better hunter, I could be a better fisherman. I could stockpile a little more food supply." So he is still learning to be a wilderness pro!

Other Fun Notes From the Article

• The article mentions that the famous "Scarface" mansion in Florida is also for sale—for a whopping $237 million!
• Fox News now lets you listen to articles like this one (a new feature).
• If you enjoy this kind of story, Fox News suggests signing up for their Entertainment Newsletter, clicking for more Entertainment News, or downloading the Fox News app.
• This piece was written by Lori A. Bashian, an entertainment news writer at Fox News Digital.

Summary

Let’s recap the big points:

• Josh Duhamel, 53, is selling his Encino, LA home for $2.9 million.
• The house is big (3,310 sq ft), has 4 beds, 3.5 baths, mountain views, fancy kitchen, and a resort-like backyard with pool, firepit, sauna, and more.
• He is moving to a Minnesota off-grid home he built over 15 years, with his wife, kids, and visiting older son.
• He wants a simple, family-focused life close to nature.
• He calls it a "doomsday cabin" and feels ~70% ready for a disaster.
• The story also nods to a $237M Florida mansion and Fox News listening feature.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Who is Josh Duhamel?
He is a 53-year-old actor known for handsome lead roles and now western/cowboy parts. He has kids with ex Fergie and current wife Audra Mari.

2. How much is Josh’s Los Angeles house priced at?
It is listed at $2.9 million with agent Thomas Atamian.

3. What does "off-grid" mean in kid terms?
It means living without depending on the city’s electricity and water—like making your own power and using nature more.

4. What is a "doomsday cabin"?
It’s a safe house in the countryside where someone can stay if a very bad world event happens. Josh says his Minnesota home is one and he’s about 70% prepared.

5. Does Josh still have a connection to Hollywood?
Yes, he still acts, but he prefers spending time with family in Minnesota. He listed the LA house to part ways with the city.