You might as well call Austin “little Hollywood,” because the Capital City has star power.
Dozens of A-listers have made Austin their home, and we rounded up 29 who own real estate in the area. Many of these people live a fast-paced lifestyle, so it’s unlikely you’re going to run into them at your neighborhood H-E-B, but it’s nice to know they’re here.
Jensen and Danneel Ackles | The “Supernatural” frontman and “One Tree Hill” actress live in a 7,500-sqft abode near Lake Austin with their three children. Jensen, who was born in Dallas, has also recently been featured in “The Boys” and “Tracker.”
Sandra Bullock | Although the “Miss Congeniality” actress and film producer spends most of her time in Los Angeles, she famously owns an Austin home and restaurant: Walton’s Fancy and Staple.
Gary Clark Jr. | Born and raised in the Capital City, the guitarist and R&B star calls his 50-acre horse ranch in Kyle home these days — and he recently put his Los Angeles home on the rental market.
Haylie Duff | The Duff sisters — ahem, Hilary and Haylie — were born in Houston and Haylie moved back to the Lone Star State from Los Angeles in 2020. She’s currently selling her lakeside estate, but her Instagram presence shows that she still calls Austin home.
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons | For the star-studded couple, “Spider-Man” star Dunst and Texas-native “Friday Night Lights” actor Plemons, Dunst said Austin provides the slower life that the couple craves in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.
Adrian Grenier | Just 45 minutes from Austin, the “Entourage” and “Devil Wears Prada” star lives on a solar-powered ranch in Bastrop.
Woody Harrelson | A native of Midland, Texas, the A-list “Cheers” actor announced that he was moving to Austin in October 2023.
Chris Harrison | The TV producer and former host of “The Bachelor” is from Dallas, and moved to the Barton Creek neighborhood in September 2021.
Robert Iler and Jamie-Lynn Sigler | The two TV siblings, best known for their respective roles as AJ and Meadow on “The Sopranos,” host their podcast, “Not Today, Pal,” in the Capital City.
Mike Judge’s contribution to pop culture has come so far that you can even try his show’s famous beer in real life. | Photo by Vbrunophotog via OpenVerse
Mike Judge | The co-creator of “King of the Hill” and voice of Hank Hill spends his between the Austin area and Santa Monica, CA.
Zachary Levi | It’s unclear how much time the “Shazam!” star spends in Central Texas, but Levi owns a 76-acre ranch in Bastrop.
Richard Linklater | The filmmaker and founder of the Austin Film Society has been living in Austin for more than 40 years, so it’s not a surprise that his works like “Boyhood” and “Dazed and Confused” pay homage to his city.
Gabriel Luna | The actor known for his work as Tommy in “The Last of Us” was born and raised in Austin, studied at St Edward’s University, and loves showing off the city on his Instagram.
James Marsden | After frequently visiting the Capital City for decades, the “X-Men” and “27 Dresses” actor bought a house in west Austin in 2020.
Jack-of-all-trades Matthew McConaughey is very outspoken about the love he has for his alma mater.
Photo via Matthew McConaughey on Instagram
Matthew McConaughey | The unofficial mascot of Austin (and the Lone Star State at large) and famous “Dazed and Confused” actor lives in a 10,800-sqft, Spanish-style mansion with his wife Camila and three children.
Elon Musk | Although he spends much of his time at the SpaceX launch base near Brownsville, Texas, Musk has famously moved most of his companies to Austin and owns a house in the area.
Willie Nelson | The red-headed stranger doesn’t spend much time in Austin these days — despite his undeniable influence on the community — as he largely stays on his ranch in Hawaii. However, he does own the huge Luck Ranch, where music festivals Lucktoberfest and Luck Reunion are held.
Jonathan Van Ness | Shortly after filming “Queer Eye” in Austin, Van Ness adopted a dog from Austin Pets Alive! and purchased a home in the Capital City so he could live here full-time.
Jared and Genevieve Padalecki | Staying close with their fellow “Supernatural” star Jensen Ackles, the Padalecki family shares a lush Hill Country home complete with a farmhouse, garden, and plenty of animals.
Glen Powell | The Austin native (and the area’s current biggest sweetheart) and “Twisters” actor recently announced he moved back to his hometown to feel like “the best version” of himself. He’s also working on finishing his degree from UT Austin.
Joe Rogan | The podcaster and former “Fear Factor” host boasts a ~$14 million home, massive studio, and founded the Comedy Mothership.
Christy Carlson Romano | What’s the sitch? The “Kim Possible” Disney star-turned-podcaster traded in Hollywood for ATX in 2020, bringing her two daughters and husband along with her.
Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky | The comedian couple and “Your Mom’s House” podcasters moved to their ~$7 million Austin mansion in 2021, not far from fellow podcaster Joe Rogan.
James Van Der Beek | Along with his wife and six children, the “Dawson’s Creek” actor moved to Austin to reconnect with nature on a 36-acre ranch in October 2020.
There are plenty more celebrities who live in the Capital City — who would you like to see on this list? Let us know.
