Splurging on private islands might be the ultimate money flex. Who needs a Lambo when you can possess your very own piece of planet Earth away from the eyes of the media? These 10 celebrities invested considerable sums to make the dream come true, and now, they’re the rightful owners of some pretty luxurious private islands.
10. George Clooney
Together with his wife, Amal, the Clooneys purchased a lavish villa located on a private island in South Oxfordshire in 2014. The couple has since renovated the classic manor into a modern mansion.
9. Tyler Perry
Perry owns White Bay Cay (and a neighboring 7-acre island) in the Bahamas. To visit the secluded getaway, the Madea filmmaker took flying lessons, ensuring complete control over his privacy.
8. David Copperfield
The renowned illusionist owns one of the largest private islands in the Bahamas, Musha Cay. He can also make considerable sums of your money disappear, should you decide to rent his private island for a secluded getaway.
7. Mel Gibson
Following the success of The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson acquired his own piece of Heaven in the Pacific: Mago Island. Unlike other celebrities who choose to build villas on their islands, Gibson chose to preserve Mago’s natural beauty.
6. Eddie Murphy
The beloved comedian has owned Rooster Cay in the Bahamas since 2007, when he acquired the island for $15 million. Murphy preserves the island’s natural beauty, leaving it largely undeveloped.
5. Ricky Martin
In 2008, the Puerto Rican singer decided it was time to live “la vida loca,” spending $8 million to own Brazil’s lush Ilha do Maia. He later turned the island into a private holiday estate. The island also doubles as a hub for marine conservation and features a striking colonial-era Portuguese fortress.
4. Roger Waters, Shakira, Alejandro Sanz
This musical trio came together in 2011 to acquire Bonds Cay, located near Nassau. Their plan is to develop the cay and turn it into a luxurious resort for wealthy vacationers.
3. Richard Branson
Bought for just $120,000 in 1979, Virgin Group co-founder Richard Branson spent over $10 million turning Necker Island into a luxurious paradise destination. The island has hosted the rich and famous for years, including the Obamas and Princess Diana. In 2007, Branson expanded his holdings by acquiring nearby Moskito Island, where he built additional villas.
2. Johnny Depp
In 2004, riding the Pirates of the Caribbean wave, Depp purchased Little Hall’s Pond Cay, a 45-acre island in the Bahamas. He reportedly fell in love with the Bahamas after filming The Curse of the Black Pearl; he also learned his island-investing skills from Marlon Brando himself.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
Owns Blackadore Caye, a 104-acre island off Belize, bought in 2005 for $1.75 million. In line with DiCaprio’s ecologically-conscious lifestyle, the cay will feature an eco-friendly resort with self-sustainable energy sources and a conservationist plan to improve the island’s biological health.
