25 Celebrities Who Own Luxurious Private Islands

Leonardo DiCaprio

From heartthrob roles in Titanic to Oscar glory with The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio has always lived like Hollywood royalty, so it’s no surprise he decided to carve out his own paradise, too. In 2005, he purchased Blackadore Caye, a 104-acre island off the coast of Belize, reportedly for $1.75 million, with a vision that went far beyond just a celebrity hideaway. True to his eco-warrior reputation, DiCaprio planned a wellness-focused, luxury eco-resort that would set new standards for sustainable living.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts and her husband Danny Moder found their perfect escape in the mid-2000s when they bought a private island in the Bahamas. After years of enjoying trips to the Caribbean, the couple decided to make it their own with a multi-million dollar purchase.

George Clooney

When George Clooney and Amal decided to put down roots in 2014, they skipped the typical Hollywood hideaways and instead went quintessentially British, snapping up a private island on the River Thames in south Oxfordshire. The purchase reportedly cost around £10 million, and it came with a 17th-century mansion that the couple wasted no time transforming into a dream retreat. Their renovations turned the historic estate into a mix of old-world charm and modern luxury, complete with an indoor pool, a glass house, a private boathouse, and even a home cinema for cozy nights in.

Steven Spielberg

Hollywood’s master storyteller Steven Spielberg extended his imagination beyond the screen when he purchased two private islands in Portugal’s Madeira Archipelago. The pair of volcanic outcrops, reportedly connected beneath the water, were completely uninhabited at the time he bought them, a blank canvas for the director who has built entire worlds through film. True to form, Spielberg is said to be developing a residence on one of the islands, turning the rugged Atlantic setting into his own secluded retreat.

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have always been country music’s golden couple, turning their Nashville stardom into an empire built on talent, charm, and undeniable chemistry. By 2003, their success had grown so big that the stage wasn’t the only place they reigned, they claimed Goat Cay, a private island near Turks and Caicos, as their personal paradise. The pair transformed it into a 15,000-square-foot retreat, complete with a lookout tower and cliff-diving spots that showed off their adventurous streak. And when word spread in 2020 that they were selling their slice of heaven for a jaw-dropping $35 million, it proved McGraw and Hill knew how to make luxury look effortless.

Johnny Depp

Only Johnny Depp could turn filming Pirates of the Caribbean into a real-life treasure hunt. While shooting in 2004, he fell in love with the Bahamas and ended up buying Little Hall Pond Cay, a 45-acre slice of paradise complete with rolling dunes, a palm-lined lagoon, and the kind of secluded white sands that feel straight out of a movie. Depp, ever the storyteller, named the beaches after his family, close friend Hunter S. Thompson, and mentor Marlon Brando, who he once said guided him through the art of buying an island. The purchase reportedly cost him $3.6 million.

Beyoncé & Jay-Z

When it comes to living large, Beyoncé and Jay-Z take it to a whole new level, even in the world of private islands. In 2010, Jay-Z surprised Queen Bey on her 29th birthday with the ultimate gift: a private island in the Florida Keys. The price tag is a cool $18 million. But the power couple didn’t stop there. Just three years later, in 2013, they added Strangers Cay in the Bahamas to their real estate empire. Spanning 360 acres, the island is the perfect off-the-grid escape for music’s most iconic duo.

Tyler Perry

In 2009, Tyler Perry decided to give himself the ultimate birthday present, his very own island escape. The filmmaker purchased White Bay Cay, a 25-acre gem in the Bahamas, along with an adjacent 7-acre island. The pair was listed for around $7 million, though the final sale price was never revealed. Always one to take things into his own hands, Perry even learned to fly so he could pilot his private plane directly to his island getaway.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage has always been Hollywood’s unpredictable wild card, so it’s no surprise that when it came to finding his personal escape, he chose a private island in the Bahamas. Tucked away in a chain of islands loved by boaters from across the globe, his slice of paradise is all about turquoise waters, sunny skies, and some of the best fishing around.

David Copperfield

When it comes to making the impossible possible, David Copperfield doesn’t just stop at stage illusions; he’s done it in real life, too. In 2006, the magician bought 11 islands in the Bahamas around Musha Cay for a cool $50 million, then poured in another $30 million to transform them into “The Islands of Copperfield Bay.” It’s a luxury escape straight out of a fantasy novel, part Casino Royale, part Blue Lagoon. Just 90 minutes from Miami, Musha Cay offers the ultimate exclusivity: only one group at a time can rent the island, at a magical price tag starting at $42,000 per night for up to 12 guests.

Shakira

In one of the more unexpected celebrity team-ups, Colombian pop sensation Shakira joined forces with Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters in 2011 to buy Bonds Cay, a massive 700-acre island in the Bahamas’ northern Berry District. The price tag was reported to be $16 million. Just an hour’s flight from Miami, the island comes with five pristine white-sand beaches, three salt pond lakes, and plenty of untapped potential.

Mel Gibson

Fresh off the massive success of The Passion of the Christ in 2004, Mel Gibson made a purchase that was almost as epic as his films, the island of Mago. He bought it from a Japanese corporation for a reported $15 million, securing one of the largest private islands in the world. Spanning 5,400 acres, this volcanic paradise in Fiji is the kind of place that feels straight out of a cinematic masterpiece.

Lenny Kravitz

In 1989, Lenny Kravitz reclaimed a piece of his family’s history by buying Eleuthera, the Bahamian island tied to his mother’s upbringing. Stretching 112 miles long, Eleuthera became more than just a retreat, it became Kravitz’s sanctuary. “The Bahamas has been in my soul, and in my life, since I was a small child,” he told Travel + Leisure. For the rock star, the island’s rawness is its greatest luxury.

Larry Ellison

Larry Ellison isn’t just a billionaire with a love for tech, he’s a man who decided that owning a slice of paradise wasn’t enough, so he bought almost an entire Hawaiian island. Lanai is his crown jewel, a place where he’s blended luxury with big ideas about sustainability. The island is dotted with world-class hotels, yet it hasn’t lost its soul, its charm still lies in its small-town feel.

Marlon Brando

Long before celebrity-owned islands became the ultimate status symbol, Marlon Brando was ahead of the curve. In 1966, he purchased a slice of Tahitian paradise for just $270,000, and what started as simple palm lodges with a low-impact vision eventually transformed into The Brando, now considered one of the most glamorous resorts in the world. With the help of his children, the island was redesigned and reopened in 2014, turning it into an exclusive retreat where luxury and privacy meet untouched beauty.

Gene Hackman

For two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, Hollywood accolades weren’t the only treasures he collected, he also had a thing for private islands. Among his holdings was Fawn’s Island, a 2.3-acre retreat tucked in the straits between Canada and Washington State. But Hackman’s passion didn’t stop there. In 2008, he sold off a timberline property in the San Juan chain for $3.6 million, reportedly using the windfall to upgrade to a larger and even more remote island in British Columbia.

Francis Ford Coppola

Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola may be best known for The Godfather, but he’s also crafted his own real-world escapes. Alongside his family, Coppola operates six remote hideaways across the globe, with three tucked into Central America. One of those gems is Turtle Inn, a lush retreat on Belize’s coast. From there, guests can venture just 25 minutes by boat to Coral Caye, Coppola’s very own private island. The 2-acre islet is home to three dwellings and offers the ultimate off-grid experience.

Ricky Martin

In 2008, Ricky Martin took his Livin’ La Vida Loca lifestyle to the next level with the purchase of Ilha do Maia, a 19.7-acre stretch of coastline near Brazil’s glamorous resort district of Angra dos Reis. The area, just two hours from Rio, is known as a marine conservation haven, but Martin’s island stands out with a striking fortress-like presence.

Eddie Murphy

Comedy legend Eddie Murphy took his love for the Bahamas to the next level in 2007 when he purchased Rooster Cay, also known as Long Cay, just off the coast of Nassau. The 15-acre island reportedly cost him around $15 million, and unlike many star-owned retreats, it has remained largely undeveloped, preserving its raw tropical charm.

Celine Dion

At the height of her superstardom around 2000, Celine Dion took a step away from the spotlight and into serenity by purchasing Île Gagnon, a private island near Montreal. Spanning nearly 20 acres in Quebec’s Mille Îles River, the island became their sanctuary, complete with a sprawling French-Normandy-style chateau. Unlike the glitz of her stage life, this retreat was all about family, calm waters, and privacy, a place to recharge and Dion invested millions into transforming the property into a dream residence.

Richard Branson

Back in 1979, Virgin Group cofounder Sir Richard Branson scored what would become one of the most famous celebrity retreats in the world, Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, for just $120,000. Over the next three years, he invested a reported $10 million to transform the 74-acre paradise into a luxury playground, hosting the likes of Princess Diana, the Obamas, and Mariah Carey.

Beatrice Borromeo

When Beatrice Borromeo married Pierre Casiraghi, grandson of Princess Grace of Monaco, in 2015, she brought with her one of the most unique dowries imaginable, a chain of five private islands. Known as the Borromeo Islands, they’ve been in her family since the 17th century and became the picture-perfect setting for the couple’s star-studded wedding. Rich in history and elegance, the islands boast Renaissance-era palazzos, terraced gardens, private chapels, and even a convent-fortress, all wrapped in an aura of exclusivity.

Bear Grylls

Leave it to survival expert Bear Grylls to pick a private island that’s as rugged and untamed as he is. In 2001, he bought Saint Tudwal’s Island West off Wales’ Llyn Peninsula for just £95,000 (around $118,655), making it one of the most affordable celebrity-owned islands out there. The 30-acre rock is famous for its dramatic cliffs, signature lighthouse cottage, and thriving wildlife with seals, otters, and dolphins often dropping by. Grylls and his family embrace the rustic setup, with no mains, electricity, or running water, which only adds to its wild charm.