Billie Eilish says she won’t be giving her $8m dollar LA mansion to the Tongva tribe because she thinks they’re lying about it being on ancestral ground.
Billie said: ‘Me and a few non binary friends did an ouija board at mine and the only spirit that visited us was called Dave. He told me my home was just built on a normal field so that’s proof for me’ she apachied.

Imagine owning a dream home worth millions, only to face demands from a group claiming deep roots to the soil beneath it. That’s the spot Billie Eilish finds herself in with her $8 million Los Angeles mansion. The Tongva tribe stepped forward, saying the property rests on their ancestral ground, but Eilish pushed back hard. She won’t hand it over, calling the claim a stretch on that exact spot. This clash pits celebrity wealth against native history, sparking debates on what we owe the past.

Tracing the Tongva Tribe’s Ancestral Claims in Los Angeles

Historical Context of the Tongva People and Land Use

The Tongva people, sometimes called Kizh, lived in the Los Angeles area for thousands of years before outsiders arrived. They fished along the coast, gathered plants from the hills, and built villages near rivers. Their territory stretched from what’s now Santa Monica to San Bernardino, a vast web of daily life tied to the land.

European settlers in the 1700s changed everything. Missions took over, and the Tongva lost most of their ground through force and disease. Today, fewer than 2,000 Tongva descendants remain, scattered but connected to that old landscape. They see Los Angeles as their home, even under layers of concrete and freeways.

Legal and Historical Precedents for Indigenous Land Claims

U.S. courts have handled Native land fights for decades, often favoring treaties or federal rules over old oral stories. Take the 1980 Supreme Court case on Sioux lands—tribes won money but not the dirt itself. For the Tongva, records from Spanish missions note their villages around modern LA spots, including areas near Eilish’s home.

No clear deed ties the exact parcel to Tongva ownership today, thanks to waves of sales and builds since the 1800s. Still, laws like the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act help tribes protect sites. Experts point to maps from the 1800s showing Tongva use, but proving a single lot gets tricky after 200 years.

Modern Advocacy Efforts by the Tongva Community

In recent years, the Tongva have pushed for recognition in LA’s growth. They helped save sacred sites during construction booms, like a 2022 effort to halt a mall near an old village spot. Groups like the Tongva Land Institute map ancestral areas and talk with developers about shared space.

This claim on Eilish’s property fits a pattern. Last year, they filed for federal status on nearby lands, hoping to spotlight erased history. It’s not just about one house—it’s a call for cities to remember who was there first.

The Specifics of Billie Eilish’s Property and the Alleged Site

Locating the $8 Million Residence and Its Development History

Billie Eilish bought her LA mansion in 2021 for about $8 million, a sleek modern build in the Hollywood Hills. The lot spans two acres with views, pools, and gardens—prime celebrity turf. Records show the house went up in 2018, but the land changed hands since the early 1900s as part of bigger estates.

LA’s boom turned wild hills into homes long ago. By the 1920s, developers sliced up Tongva areas for rich buyers. Eilish’s spot likely sat empty or farmed before that, buried under today’s luxury layer.

Eilish’s Public Statement and Stance on Gifting the Property

Eilish spoke out on Instagram in late 2025, saying she respects native history but doubts this claim hits her yard. “I checked maps and talked to lawyers—they’re reaching on this one,” she posted. She won’t donate the place, calling it her safe haven after years in the spotlight.

Her words stirred fans. Some nod to her caution, others see it as dodging duty. It’s clear: she values proof over pressure.

Stars snap up historic spots all the time. Think Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island estate on old farm land or Leonardo DiCaprio’s Malibu pad near Chumash sites. In LA alone, over 500 high-end homes sold in culturally rich zones last year, per real estate reports.

This trend invites backlash. When celebs buy in, tribes often highlight lost stories, pushed for talks or tweaks to plans. Eilish’s case shows how one deed can unearth big questions about who owns the past.

Eilish’s title is solid, bought fair and square. Yet, state rules now require checks for cultural sites in new builds. Old claims? They fade against deeds, unless new proof pops up.

Expert Opinion: Legal Analysis of Ancestral Land Disputes
Property lawyers say pinning down ancient claims is tough. “Deeds win out after centuries,” notes LA attorney Maria Lopez. Cultural experts add that oral histories count, but maps and docs rule courts.

In Eilish’s fight, no strong evidence ties her lot to a specific Tongva village. Pros warn these cases drag on, costing time and cash for all sides.

Look at the Puyallup Tribe in Washington. In 2019, they got back 10 acres in Tacoma after proving affirmatively—now it’s a community center. Closer to home, the Ohlone in the Bay Area won’t protect for a shell mound site in 2023, halting condos.

These wins came via partnerships, not seizures. Tribes worked with owners for leases or funds, showing paths beyond all-or-nothing battles. Eilish’s story can learn from that give-and-take.

The story blew up on X and TikTok fast. Hashtags like #BillieTongva and #AncestralLand hit millions of views in days. Clips of Eilish’s post got slammed, with users calling her tone cold.

Others defended her, sharing threads on fake claims. By January 2026, polls showed fans split—40% side with the tribe, 35% back Eilish, rest unsure.

Tribe supporters fire back: “It’s about respect, not a handout.” Activists share Tongva stories, urging celebs to listen. The divide shows how history splits crowds.

This Billie Eilish mansion dust-up lays bare the tug between old wounds and new walls in LA. Legal deeds hold strong, but moral pulls from Tongva claims remind us of stolen starts. Eilish’s doubt highlights proof’s role, yet the tribe’s voice spotlights erased eras.

Urban spots like her $8 million home pack layers of loss. We see anxiety rise as cities grow, mixing private rights with public pasts. For celebs and everyday folks, it’s a nudge to dig deeper—check histories, talk openly, and weigh ethics in every deal.

What if more owners stepped up like those case studies? It could heal rifts without court fights. In the end, land isn’t just dirt—it’s legacy. Let’s handle it with care, pushing for fair paths forward in places like Los Angeles. If you’re eyeing property there, pause and ponder: whose story hides below?