Julia Roberts Buys Donald Rumsfeld's Land

By Michael Haederle and Inez Russell

01/06/2005 at 05:00 PM EST

Just weeks after giving birth to twins, Julia Roberts bought herself a Christmas present: 32 acres of prime real estate in Taos, N.Mex. – from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Roberts, 37, has been buying up land from neighbors since she took up part-time residence in the state in July 1995. Her latest purchase is adjacent to 80 acres she already owns.

According to a warranty deed filed with the Taos County Clerk's office on Dec. 15, Julia's Astral Trust – the entity that holds her real estate properties – bought seven tracts from Rumsfeld in an area of Taos County known as Des Montes. Rumsfeld has extensive real estate holdings in the Taos area, including several houses.

Although New Mexico public property records don't show the value of real estate transactions, real estate prices in the Des Montes area range from $110,000 to $125,000 an acre, according to Taos-area realtor, Peter Lora. That would make the Roberts-Rumsfeld property transaction worth several million dollars.

Meanwhile, Roberts and husband Danny Moder, 35, were in Taos over the holidays with their new twins, Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Walter Moder.

When Roberts and Moder were wed in July 2002, Rumsfeld told PEOPLE he and the movie star had "visited" and he wished the newlyweds well. According to the county clerk's office, Roberts and Moder are both registered to vote in Taos County – as Democrats.