Shane Gillis traded the noise of New York City for the sprawl of Austin, Texas in 2023, and his home has since become as much a character on Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast as any guest. The massive property has shown up in drone footage gone viral, hosted an ESPN ManningCast broadcast, and fueled one of the most memorable recurring bits in podcast comedy.
Gillis has discussed the move openly on multiple shows, including Theo Von’s This Past Weekend and the Joe Rogan Experience. The decision came down to finances, creative community, and the kind of space that simply does not exist at NYC prices. His Texas residence functions as both a personal home and a working production compound.
TL; DR
Shane Gillis owns a sprawling estate in Austin, Texas featuring a dedicated podcast studio and a home gym. He relocated from New York City in 2023, drawn by the lack of state income tax and Austin’s comedy scene. The property has become part of his comedy, appearing in viral clips about drone flyovers, all-white interior design debates, and a live ManningCast broadcast from his living room.
Quick Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Reported Size | Approx. 11,000 sq ft |
| Key Features | Home gym, podcast studio, sprawling Hill Country views |
| Known For | ManningCast appearance, drone incident, “Black Apartment” bit |
| Year of Relocation | 2023 (from New York City) |
| Texas Tax Advantage | No state income tax |
Property Specifications: What We Know About the Estate
The expansive footprint places this property firmly in Austin’s luxury tier. For context, the median home price across the Austin metro area was approximately $435,000 in 2025, according to the Austin Board of Realtors. The comedian’s residence operates in an entirely different market segment, with values well into the millions.
Scale and Layout
The estate offers roughly 11,000 square feet of living space across multiple functional zones. The floor plan includes open-concept living areas, several bedrooms and bathrooms, and dedicated utility spaces. This scale allows for clear separation between private living quarters and professional work zones, a layout choice increasingly common among top podcasters.
High ceilings and oversized windows are defining features, with views stretching across the Hill Country landscape. The sight lines connect the interior to the outdoors, a contrast that has not gone unnoticed by fans. One Reddit commenter described the place as the kind of home that makes you understand why entertainers are leaving coastal cities.
The Home Gym
A massive home gym is one of the most frequently mentioned features. For a comedian who tours constantly and records weekly episodes, on-site fitness space eliminates commute time. The gym has become part of the show’s lore, with Gillis referencing his workouts as part of the Austin lifestyle he has settled into.
The Interior: How the House Became Comedy Material
Most celebrity home profiles lean on broker-speak. Gillis’s property is different because its interior has been roasted, praised, and debated on air by the man himself. The result is that fans know more about what this place looks like and feels like than almost any other comedian’s residence.
The Black Apartment Bit
One of the most viral recurring segments on Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast is the “Black Apartment” bit. Gillis and McCusker riff on the cultural markers that make an apartment feel stereotypically Black versus stereotypically white, listing items like chirping smoke detectors and specific food brands. The bit originated from conversations about Gillis’s own living space and became a fan favorite that spawned thousands of TikTok compilations.
The segment works because it touches on something real: the way your home reflects your identity. For Gillis, a white comedian from Pennsylvania living in Texas, the apartment became a vehicle for observational humor about race, class, and the absurdity of interior design choices.
The All-White Decor Debate
Not everything about the home has been received as comedy gold. Listeners have commented extensively on the interior design, which one Reddit poster described as “the clinical, all-white horror that is modern interior decorating.” The all-white aesthetic, reportedly chosen by Gillis’s girlfriend, became its own subplot on the podcast.
The contrast is what makes it funny. Here is a comedian known for raw, unfiltered humor living in a space that looks like a pharmacy showroom. Gillis himself has acknowledged the disconnect on air, joking about the stark minimalism that clashes with his personal style. That tension between the man and his decor has provided steady material for the show.
The Drone Incident
During a 2024 episode featuring guest Druski, Gillis revealed that he had spotted a large drone circling his Austin neighborhood for over an hour. He filmed the device on his phone and shared the footage on the podcast. The moment went viral, with fans circulating the clip across social media platforms and spawning conspiracy theories about what the drone was doing over his property.
The Austin Move: Why Comedians Are Heading to Texas
Gillis’s relocation is part of a broader pattern. Joe Rogan, Tim Dillon, and other high-profile comics have made similar moves in recent years. The pull factors are well documented: tax advantages, a growing comedy infrastructure, and access to a creative community that did not exist in Texas a decade ago.
The Tax Equation
Texas has no state income tax. For a comedian earning from touring, Netflix specials, and podcast sponsorship deals, the savings are substantial. However, Texas offsets this with higher property taxes. The average effective rate is approximately 1.74% of assessed value, among the highest in the nation. On a multi-million-dollar compound, annual property taxes can reach six figures.
Gillis has been candid that the financial math works in his favor. But he has also been honest about the trade-offs. During one podcast appearance, he recalled a storm that knocked out power at his Texas home for three days, prompting the blunt assessment that “Texas fucking blows.” The quote spread quickly, with some interpreting it as second thoughts about the relocation.
Austin’s Comedy Ecosystem
Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership club and the Chappelle-founded venue have transformed Austin into a legitimate comedy hub. Gillis has cited this ecosystem as a factor in his decision. The concentration of comedians and podcast infrastructure creates a feedback loop that benefits performers at every level.
The luxury housing segment has shown particular resilience. According to a February 2026 report from the Austin Business Journal, the high-end market maintained momentum even as the broader market stabilized. Properties with contemporary design and production-ready spaces command premium pricing from the creative class.
The Studio Setup: A Living Room That Doubles as a Broadcast Center
The most functional aspect of the estate is its integration with the podcast. Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast consistently ranks among the top comedy shows, and having a dedicated recording environment on-site provides operational advantages that external studios cannot match.
From Bedroom to Compound
The show’s origins are humble. Early episodes were recorded in cramped Philadelphia apartments and a tiny New York City space. Fans have documented this evolution, with one Reddit user even building a detailed 3D rendering of the original NYC apartment where the podcast was born. The jump from that cramped setup to a full Texas compound illustrates how far the show has come commercially.
A residential recording environment requires specialized construction: acoustic insulation, double-pane windows, treated ceilings, and vibration-dampened flooring. For a weekly show generating significant ad revenue, the long-term economics favor an in-house setup over studio rentals. The on-site location also allows for spontaneous recording sessions without scheduling constraints.
The House Goes National: ManningCast and Public Appearances
The property crossed from podcast lore into mainstream visibility in November 2025. Gillis appeared on ESPN’s ManningCast during a Monday Night Football matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers, broadcasting live from his Austin home. Photos from the appearance showed the comedian alongside Peyton and Eli Manning inside the residence.
For a devoted Eagles fan like Gillis, hosting a ManningCast segment from his own living room during a Philly game was a full-circle moment. The appearance also gave fans their most direct visual look at the property, confirming the expansive layout and modern finishes that had been discussed on the podcast for months.
The Scuffed Realtor Connection
The story of how Gillis found the property is its own subplot. Nick Rochefort, host of the popular YouTube series Scuffed Realtor where he roasts and reviews house listings, suggested the property to Gillis during one of their conversations. When Rochefort discovered on air that Gillis had actually purchased the house, his reaction became a viral moment.
Gillis has a long-running friendship with Rochefort and the broader Perfect Guy Live community. The crossover between comedy and real estate content has become a recurring theme in Gillis’s world, blurring the line between his professional and personal interests. The Scuffed Realtor episode is now one of the most-watched clips in that channel’s history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Shane Gillis live?
Gillis resides in Austin, Texas. He relocated from New York City in 2023 and owns a sprawling estate in the area.
How big is Shane Gillis’s house in Austin?
The property is approximately 11,000 square feet, placing it in Austin’s luxury tier. It includes multiple bedrooms, a home gym, and a podcast recording space.
What is the Black Apartment bit?
The Black Apartment is a recurring comedy segment on Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast where Gillis and McCusker riff on cultural markers in home decor. The bit originated from conversations about Gillis’s own living space.
Did Shane Gillis really film a drone over his house?
Yes. During a 2024 podcast episode with Druski, Gillis shared footage of a large drone circling his Austin neighborhood for over an hour. The clip spread widely across social media.
Why did Shane Gillis move to Austin?
He has cited Texas’s lack of state income tax, Austin’s growing comedy infrastructure, and proximity to fellow comedians. He has also been open about the downsides, including a three-day power outage.
Was Shane Gillis on ManningCast from his house?
Yes. In November 2025, Gillis appeared on ESPN’s ManningCast for Eagles versus Packers, broadcasting live from his Austin residence.
How did Shane Gillis find his Austin house?
Nick Rochefort of Scuffed Realtor recommended the property. Rochefort discovered on air that Gillis had actually purchased it, creating a viral moment.
Is Austin’s luxury real estate market still strong?
As of early 2026, the high-end segment has shown resilience. The luxury tier generated roughly $4.6 billion in total sales during 2025, per CultureMap Austin.
