Elaine Culotti is a renowned real estate developer, interior designer, entrepreneur, and farm-to-table advocate. She gained widespread recognition for starring in Discovery Channel’s reality series “Undercover Billionaire,” where she proved the American dream is alive by building a million-dollar business from just $100. Known as “The Lipstick Farmer,” Culotti owns the 40-acre Big Z Ranch in Fallbrook, California, and founded the design firm Porta Bella.
Quick Wiki/Bio About Elaine Culotti
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Elaine Culotti |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | July 20, 1964 |
| Age | 61 years (as of January 2026) |
| Place of birth | Thousand Oaks, California, USA |
| Current residence | Fallbrook, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (English and Irish-American) |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-spouse | Gary Culotti |
| Children | 2 (Leonardo and Jessica Culotti) |
| Profession | Real estate developer, interior designer, entrepreneur, farmer |
| Net worth | Estimated $50-100 million |
Who is Elaine Culotti?
Elaine Culotti is a self-made entrepreneur who broke into the male-dominated construction and real estate industry through sheer determination.
She started her first business at age 14, selling antiques and collectibles while traveling across Europe with her military family.
Today, she is recognized as one of the biggest players in real estate development, luxury interior design, and sustainable farming.
Culotti rose to national fame after appearing on Discovery Channel’s “Undercover Billionaire” Season 2 in 2021.
The show challenged her to start a million-dollar business in Fresno, California, with only $100, no connections, and a fake identity in just 90 days. She successfully built a produce distribution and staffing business valued at $1.5 million.
How old is Elaine Culotti? Age and birthday
Elaine Culotti is 61 years old as of January 2026. She was born on July 20, 1964, in Thousand Oaks, California.
Her zodiac sign is Cancer, which aligns with her nurturing approach to business and her passion for sustainable farming.
What is Elaine Culotti’s background?
Culotti grew up as a military brat, traveling throughout Europe with her English-born mother and Irish-American father.
She lived in German castles, English farmhouses, and Italian Renaissance towns during her formative years. These experiences shaped her distinctive sense of style and dramatic design aesthetic.
Her mother was an orphan who survived on the streets at age 18 with only $100. This story of resilience became the inspiration for Culotti’s willingness to take on the “Undercover Billionaire” challenge.
Her father’s encouraging attitude and dare-devil spirit also influenced her fearless approach to business.
Career
Early business ventures
At just 14 years old, Culotti started her entrepreneurial journey by selling antiques, collectibles, textiles, and architectural elements.
Her military upbringing exposed her to European treasures, which she began importing to the United States. This early start taught her valuable business skills that would serve her throughout her career.
Porta Bella Design
Culotti founded Porta Bella, a full-service design firm that includes retail operations and a 25,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.
The company specializes in custom furniture, drapery, textiles, and architectural interiors. She manages every aspect of design projects from concept to completion for high-end clients across Southern California.
Her ex-husband Gary Culotti handled the manufacturing side of the business, producing custom furniture and design elements that reflected their shared aesthetic vision.
House of Rock project
One of Culotti’s most famous projects is the House of Rock in Santa Monica, California. In October 2010, she partnered with her then-husband Gary and business associate Greg Briles to purchase and completely renovate a medieval-styled estate. She transformed the six-bedroom, eight-bathroom home into a luxury designer showcase and event space.
The House of Rock featured oak paneling, rounded archways, and dramatic architectural elements. Culotti organized it as a pop-up designer showcase before selling the property for $22 million in 2012. This project cemented her reputation as a visionary designer and real estate developer.
Real estate development
Over three decades, Culotti has developed and built diverse properties including luxury homes, casinos, and hospitals.
She became known for buying distressed properties in prime locations and transforming them into valuable assets. Her philosophy is simple: buy the worst house in the best neighborhood, then put in the work to make it shine.
Undercover Billionaire
In 2021, Culotti appeared on Season 2 of Discovery Channel’s “Undercover Billionaire.” She was dropped in Fresno, California, with $100, a cellphone, and an old truck.
Using the alias “Elaine Bryant,” she had 90 days to build a million-dollar business without revealing her true identity or using her connections.
Culotti created a produce distribution and staffing company that connected local farmers directly with consumers, eliminating middlemen.
She also launched the 559 Farm Train initiative to revolutionize California’s food supply chain. At the end of 90 days, independent evaluators valued her business at $1.5 million, exceeding the challenge goal.
Big Z Ranch and 559 Farm Train
Culotti owns the 40-acre Big Z Ranch in Fallbrook, California, where she grows everything from palm trees to fruits and vegetables.
Passionate about sustainable farming and supporting local agriculture, she created the 559 Farm Train initiative to help small farmers distribute fresh produce across the country.
The 559 Rail project reimagines America’s food supply chain by uniting farming with railroad infrastructure to reduce waste and empower growers of all sizes.
She delivers weekly packages of ranch-grown produce directly to consumers’ doorsteps, bypassing big box stores.
What is Elaine Culotti’s net worth?
As of 2026, Elaine Culotti’s net worth is estimated between $50 million and $100 million. Her wealth comes from multiple income streams including real estate development, interior design projects, Porta Bella Design operations, and agricultural ventures.
Various sources provide different estimates, with some placing her net worth as high as $200 million. While she appeared on “Undercover Billionaire,” Culotti herself is not technically a billionaire. The show’s premise tests whether successful entrepreneurs can build million-dollar businesses from scratch.
Her income sources include property development profits, design firm revenues, luxury home sales, ranch operations, and television appearances. She has built her fortune over 40 years through smart investments and multiple successful business ventures.
Is Elaine Culotti married? Husband, children, and relationship status
Elaine Culotti is currently divorced. She was previously married to Gary Culotti, who worked alongside her in the Porta Bella business, managing the manufacturing operations.
The couple worked together for many years, producing custom furniture and design elements for their high-end clientele.
Elaine and Gary’s partnership ended in divorce around 2010 during a legal dispute involving their House of Rock project.
Despite the divorce, the former couple has remained on amicable terms for the sake of their children and past business relationships.
Children
Elaine Culotti has two children with her ex-husband Gary: Leonardo Culotti and Jessica Culotti. Leonardo currently resides in Fallbrook, California, near his mother’s Big Z Ranch.
Jessica Culotti lives in Los Angeles, California. Culotti has mentioned that being a mother is one of her most treasured roles, and she values the time she spends with her family.
As of 2026, Elaine has not publicly shared information about any current romantic relationships. She focuses her energy on her business ventures, farming operations, and family.
Social media presence
As of January 2026, Elaine Culotti maintains an active social media presence under the handle @lipstickfarmer on Instagram, where she shares updates about her farming operations, business ventures, and life in California.
Her Facebook page also operates under the name “Lipstick Farmer” with several thousand followers.
She uses social media to promote sustainable farming, share behind-the-scenes content from her ranch, and advocate for California farmers and agricultural issues.
Her platforms feature updates about the 559 Farm Train initiative and her work connecting local farmers with consumers.
Fast facts about Elaine Culotti
- Elaine started her first business at age 14, importing and selling European antiques and collectibles.
- She earned the nickname “The Lipstick Farmer” for bringing glamour and business savvy to the agricultural industry.
- Her mother was an orphan who survived on just $100 at age 18, inspiring Elaine to accept the “Undercover Billionaire” challenge.
- She has developed properties ranging from luxury homes to casinos and hospitals over her 30-year career.
- The House of Rock in Santa Monica, one of her signature projects, sold for $22 million in 2012.
- Culotti owns a 40-acre organic ranch in Fallbrook, California, where she grows produce and palm trees.
- She created the 559 Farm Train initiative to revolutionize how fresh food reaches consumers from small farms.
- On “Undercover Billionaire,” she built a $1.5 million business in just 90 days with only $100 starting capital.
- She believes in “existential wealth” beyond money, including confidence, health, art, and opportunity.
- Culotti’s design philosophy includes buying the worst house in the best neighborhood and transforming it.
Read more: Who is Lina Esco? Net Worth, Age, Height, Partner, Career, Movies
Wrapping up
Elaine Culotti exemplifies the American dream through her journey from teenage entrepreneur to multi-millionaire real estate mogul and sustainable farming advocate.
Her appearance on “Undercover Billionaire” proved that determination, creativity, and people skills matter more than starting capital. At 61, she continues expanding her agricultural initiatives while inspiring others to pursue their business dreams.
Her legacy includes luxury design projects, a thriving ranch, and a mission to support American farmers.
References
- Elaine Culotti. “About – Lipstick Farmer”.
- The Cinemaholic. “Is Elaine Culotti Married? Does She Have Children?”.
- Medium/Authority Magazine. “Undercover Billionaire Star Elaine Culotti: Why the most important thing is to make it possible for every family to have a path to owning a home”.
- Discovery Channel. “Elaine Culotti Profile”.
- AgNet West. “Elaine Culotti ‘The Lipstick Farmer’ on Fixing California Supply Chain Issues”.
- Fresno Bee. “Fresno featured in Undercover Billionaire season two”.
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