Jessica Alba Surprises Parents by Buying, Renovating Her Dad’s Childhood Home

The ‘Fantastic Four’ star bought the home in Claremont, California, as a gift for her parents.
Jessica Alba Surprises Parents by Buying, Renovating Her Dad’s Childhood Home
Jessica Alba attends the Miu Miu Womenswear F/W 2023–2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week in France on March 7, 2023. Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for Miu Miu
Haika Mrema
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Jessica Alba’s latest gift to her parents hits very close to home.

In a video posted to YouTube on Friday, the 43-year-old actress shared, alongside her co-host and best friend Lizzy Mathis, that she bought and renovated her father’s childhood home.

“Almost three years ago, I started the project of my dreams ... I surprised my parents by buying them a house,” Alba said in the video.

Alba’s parents planned to sell her grandfather’s house so they could financially assist with her grandmother’s medical bills, given that she needs around-the-clock care. To surprise them, Alba appeared as if she would help her family “flip” the house.

“Now, it wasn’t just any house—it was extra sentimental as it was my grandfather’s house that my father grew up in. After my grandfather passed away, my parents were planning on selling the house in order to pay for my grandmother’s medical bills,” the actress shared.

“I pretended like I was going to help them flip it before selling when, in reality, I had planned to buy it for them all along,” she said.

The “Honey” star aimed to preserve her grandfather’s legacy throughout the house, as it was the place where he raised his family before recently passing away.

“It was a house that my grandfather, considering where he came from, this is his symbol that he’d made it,” Alba said. “One where he could give his children opportunities that living in other neighborhoods and other cities couldn’t quite give him.”

Later in the video, Alba announces the surprise to her parents: “The last piece of the puzzle is I have been trying to figure out how to tell you guys that I’m going to buy you guys this house.”

Becoming visibly emotional, Alba’s father said the act was “so sweet” and that he is “very proud” of his daughter.

“He would be proud of you, Jessica,” her father said through tears. “He was so proud of you.

“I know he’d be really proud of my baby girl,” he continued. “I’m able to live in the house and hopefully make him proud.”

After “many months of working to make the house perfect for my parents, I can’t believe this really happened,” The Honest Company founder said. “Grampers, this one is for you—we love and miss you more than you know.”

From Acting to Renovating

Alba, a California native, began her acting career as a child. Her first film appearance was a small role in “Camp Nowhere” (1994). She also appeared in shows such as “The Secret World of Alex Mack,” “Flipper,” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.”

Alba got her big break when she played Max Guevara on the sci-fi television series “Dark Angel,” which earned her a Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress, a Saturn Award for Best Actress, and a Golden Globe nomination. The actress went on to appear in films such as “Honey” (2003), “Sin City” (2005), “Fantastic Four” (2005), and “Good Luck Chuck” (2007).

In 2012, Alba and business partner Christopher Gavigan launched The Honest Company, which sells toxic-free household cleaning goods, diapers, and wipes. After filing an IPO in May 2021, the company went public on the Nasdaq at a valuation of $1.4 billion. Alba went on to launch her natural skincare line, Honest Beauty, before stepping down as chief creative officer of the company.
In 2023, Alba launched the show “Honest Renovations” alongside Mathis. The series follows the duo as they help “families renovate their homes to make them more functional for their everyday needs,” according to the show’s description.
The show is set to release a third season on Roku, the company announced on Thursday.
Haika Mrema
Haika Mrema
Author
Haika Mrema is a freelance entertainment reporter for The Epoch Times. She is an experienced writer and has covered entertainment and higher-education content for platforms such as Campus Reform and Media Research Center. She holds a B.B.A. from Baylor University where she majored in marketing.