Jessica Alba wears many hats as an actress, entrepreneur, wife, and mother, but one role she particularly values is that of a loving daughter.
“Nearly three years ago, I embarked on my dream project,” the “Fantastic Four” star shared on Instagram alongside a brief teaser video of her home renovation. “I surprised my parents by buying them a house!” she added. “This wasn’t just any house—it held special significance as it was my grandfather’s home where my father grew up.”
Alba’s grandparents, who immigrated from Mexico, raised her father, Mark, in Claremont, California, about a 40-minute drive from Los Angeles.
“It was a house that symbolized my grandfather’s achievements, representing his success given his background,” Alba explained in a YouTube video documenting the surprise and renovation. “It provided opportunities that other neighborhoods couldn’t.”
After her grandfather’s passing, Alba’s parents planned to sell the house to cover her grandmother’s medical bills, as she required ongoing care. “I pretended I would help them renovate it for sale, but I had secretly intended to buy it all along,” the 43-year-old revealed. “Watching this trailer fills me with emotions—keeping this secret, surprising my parents, and spending months perfecting the house.”
“I can’t believe this really happened. Grampers, this is for you—we love and miss you more than you know,” she wrote in memory of her grandfather, who had recently passed away.
In the YouTube video, Alba shares the surprise with her parents. “Dad is shaking right now, you should know,” her brother Josh remarks as the family embraces.
“[Your grandfather] would be proud of you, Jessica,” Mark told his daughter, tearfully adding, “He was so proud of you.”
Alba emphasized earlier in the video, “Even though Grandpa is gone, his legacy lives on in this house. I aimed to incorporate him throughout the renovations.”
The founder of the billion-dollar brand The Honest Company, Alba has also launched a renovation series with her friend Lizzy Mathis, focusing on updating homes for families in need. The renovation of her grandparents’ home preceded the television project.