Millionaire Barbra Streisand’s Stepson Lives in a Tiny Motel & Scavenged Through Trash – Details

Meanwhile, his father, James, and stepmother, Barbra Streisand, reside in a multimillion-dollar Malibu estate. Jess’s financial troubles can be traced back to a turning point in his life — the loss of his mother decades ago and the depletion of his six-figure inheritance.

Jess was born on February 7, 1972, to actor James Brolin and wildlife conservationist Jane Cameron Agee. His parents had a turbulent marriage, eventually divorcing when Jess was around 12 years old.

While his father built a successful Hollywood career, his mother dedicated herself to rescuing and raising wild animals on her ranch. Tragically, Jane died in a car accident in 1995, leaving Jess with a six-figure trust fund.

For years, the inheritance provided him with financial security, allowing him to live independently. However, by 2011, the funds had run out, and he was evicted from his $824-a-month apartment. Without a financial safety net, he was left without stable housing, setting the stage for a long period of instability.

After losing his apartment in 2011, Jess struggled to find stable housing. At first, he lived in his old Toyota truck, but as his circumstances worsened, he was forced to sleep in public spaces. By 2014, troubling images surfaced showing him rummaging through trash bins for food in Ojai, California.

In the photos, he appeared visibly overweight and was seen collecting discarded food. A source close to Jess revealed that he often slept behind shops or on public benches, relying on whatever shelter he could find.

Moving into a Modest Motel

By late 2024, Jess had moved into the three-star Topa Vista Hotel in Ojai, California. The budget motel, located along a busy highway, sits across from a coffee shop and a hair salon. While a far cry from luxury, it offered basic amenities, including air-conditioned rooms and flat-screen TVs.

The property is owned by Steve Edelson, a Los Angeles nightclub mogul. According to reports, all rooms in the small establishment were fully booked, with guests — including Jess — settling in for extended stays.

Despite its modest accommodations, the motel provided a level of stability that Jess had not experienced in years. Compared to his previous life on the streets, it represented an improvement, even if it remained worlds apart from the comfort and wealth of his family.

The Stark Contrast Between Jess and His Wealthy Family

His stepmother, Barbara, one of the most successful entertainers in history, has amassed a fortune through her decades-long career, earning multiple Oscars, Grammys, and other prestigious awards.

On the other hand, Jess has stayed out of the spotlight. Although he briefly worked in the film industry, with credits in “Black Scorpion” (2001), “Shadow Dancer” (1997), and “Enemy Action” (1999), his Hollywood career never took off.He eventually left the entertainment world entirely, setting him further apart from his well-known relatives. Jess and Josh are not James’s only children. After divorcing their mother, Jane, James married actress Jan Smithers, best known for her role on “WKRP in Cincinnati.”

From that marriage, Jess gained a younger half-sister, Molly Elizabeth Brolin, born in 1987. Unlike Josh, who followed in their father’s footsteps, Jess and Molly have largely stayed out of the spotlight.

Barbra, too, had another family before marrying James. She was previously married to actor Elliott Gould, with whom she shares a son, Jason Gould, born in 1966.

Jason, like his mother, has pursued a career in the entertainment industry, working as both an actor and a musician. However, much like Jess, Jason prefers to keep a low profile, stating in 2017, “I sort of like being out of the spotlight.”

Jess’s living situation has continued to raise questions about his relationship with his family and the extent of their support.

Family’s Attempts to Help and Public Reaction

Despite Jess’s struggles, his family has maintained that they have tried to support him over the years. Following the release of troubling images showing him searching through trash bins, a representative for Barbra responded.

In a 2021 interview, James claimed that Jess was involved in charitable work, saying, “I know he’s been photographed collecting bottles and cans out of the trash, but all the money went to charity.” Despite these statements, news of Jess’s living conditions has sparked widespread sympathy and concern.

Comments from netizens included, “Poor guy needs help,” “The poor chap needs help, not abandonment,” and “It’s very sad to see.” Others speculated that he might be struggling with depression.

In 2018, after Josh and his wife Kathryn welcomed their daughter Westlyn, James expressed his joy, saying, “You get another one like this one, there couldn’t be anything better!”

James has also publicly expressed pride in all his children. In a 2018 social media post, he wrote, “Children are a gift. I’m so proud of my three kids @joshbrolin, Jess, and Molly and incredible grandkids.” His words suggested that, despite Jess’s struggles, he still acknowledges him as part of the family.

Meanwhile, he and Barbara have continued to live a life of luxury, enjoying the comfort of their Malibu estate. While Jess has remained largely disconnected from them, James and Barbra have built a home filled with love, memories, and a strong family bond.

Barbra and James’s house is more than just a residence — it’s the place where they solidified their relationship and created a lasting legacy. Their journey to owning the home was not easy, but it has become a symbol of their enduring marriage and the life they built together.

The legendary powerhouse performer and her iconic actor husband, have been living in the same house with their dogs for many years. However, the journey to buying the home was not easy. The couple had to work hard to get to where they wanted to be.

Streisand saw the home for the first time when she was living nearby. However, she could not buy it because her boyfriend at the time didn’t like it. Another factor prohibiting her from making the purchase was the fact that she was unable to afford the house at the time.

Now, the couple lives in Streisand’s dream home. This is the same home that saw them recently celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary on July 1. Taking to Instagram to mark the momentous milestone, Streisand posted an endearing photo of the two posing for a picture in a side embrace.

“28 years today since we met honey… and 26 years today since we married! Love you. B ❤️,” penned the “Funny Girl” star in her caption.

Streisand admitted that the house’s facade was not grand because it was a modern gray and looked like some sort of “contraption.” However, when she entered the home, she found that it had a “rustic charm.”

The Broadway star immediately fell in love with the house and wanted to purchase it. Unfortunately, this was not in the cards for her yet, and she had to wait many more years before she could finally call the house home.

Streisand’s love for the home did not fade with time. In fact, she never stopped thinking about her dream house that she could not purchase for herself. She divulged that she felt deeply about the house.

The House Is Picture Perfect

Streisand may have waited a long time for her home, but she has made her life in that home beautiful since she moved in almost 30 years ago. She said the house paid homage to craftsmanship.

For the first few years, Streisand lived in the home with her husband, Brolin, and their dog at the time, Samantha. Unfortunately, Samantha has since passed away but left Streisand with two sweet pups.

The home sits on a large land adorned with lush green lawns. An aerial shot of the house reveals the spacious garden and the pool at the front of the mansion, facing the ocean. The driveway is at the back of the house.

To help her design the interior of her home, Streisand studied many books and drew inspiration from things she had seen while traveling that were appealing to her. She also mentioned that she loved doing it.

The actress said that designing the interior was like making a film; she had a dream and a vision for the house. She could see what would look good in her head and translated that into the space, and confirmed she was happy with the results.

She then added streams into the landscape because she finds water to be a soothing element. Her reason for wanting a barn was simple; she finds them to be a staple of American culture. Interestingly, she has hens in her barn that lay green eggs.

Streisand and Brolin met in 1996 when they were 54 and 56, respectively. Each of them has children from a previous marriage and blended their families. It was two years after they met that the couple got married.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic was brutal for many people, and some relationships suffered because of being in quarantine, Streisand confirmed that she and Brolin were not negatively affected.

Even after all the years and the many trials and tribulations that the couple has faced during their time together, they are still as in love as ever and have expressed that through their social media pages. Barbra Streisand still calls Brolin the love of her life.

Streisand and Brolin have grandchildren from their adult children who they always welcome to spend time with them in their loving home.