Actors Who Bought Homes In Unexpected Places

Leonardo DiCaprio (Belize)

Leonardo DiCaprio’s island off Belize isn’t just about luxury, it’s about sustainability. He bought Blackadore Caye more than a decade ago for $1.75 million, and it’s being developed into an eco-resort. The plans include solar-powered villas, organic food grown on site, and restoration work like planting 20,000 mangrove trees. Half of the island will stay a wildlife preserve, and visitors were asked to skip single-use plastics.

Johnny Depp (The Bahamas)

Johnny Depp doesn’t exactly stick to the usual when it comes to homes. While with Vanessa Paradis, he bought a whole French village near St. Tropez for around $55 million. The 19th-century spot comes with its own bistro, church, two swimming pools, six cottages, and even a Pirates of the Caribbean–style wine cellar. He tried selling it a few times but still owns it today. Then there’s his island in the Bahamas; 45 acres of private beaches, solar-powered homes, and a bamboo yurt. Depp paid $3.6 million for it back in 2004, and the beaches are named after his kids and close friends like Marlon Brando.

George Clooney (Italy)

George Clooney’s escape of choice is Villa Oleandra, an 18th-century property on Lake Como that he bought in 2002 for €11.7 million. The home has 25 rooms, landscaped gardens, a tennis court, a pool, and even a dedicated pizza room. It’s been a favorite retreat not only for Clooney but also for visiting friends and famous guests; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly spent time there.

Matt Damon (Ireland)

Matt Damon ended up in a storybook setting when he stayed in a Dalkey mansion during lockdown. The modern five-bedroom home was originally built for Formula 1 driver Eddie Irvine and later sold for €3.5 million. With sea views, sleek wood paneling, and a copper turret, it stands out on the coastline. Inside, there’s a dining room with stained-glass windows, a spa area with a sauna and plunge pool, and even a game room that opens onto a heated outdoor pool.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (Cambodia)

Angelina Jolie fell in love with Cambodia years ago and even bought land there, but she and Brad Pitt also made headlines staying at Maisons Wat Kor in Battambang. The boutique hotel mixes traditional Khmer design with peaceful surroundings, complete with wooden stilted houses, a lotus pond, and a saltwater pool. Jolie stayed in the 75-square-metre Grand Lotus room while filming First They Killed My Father in 2016, and her connection to the place has since become part of its charm.

Shakira (Bahamas)

In 2011, Shakira joined forces with Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters to buy Bonds Cay, a 500-acre island in the Bahamas, for $15 million. Their vision was to turn it into both a luxury destination and a retreat for artists. Plans included boutique hotels, private condos, and space for an artist-in-residence program. Beyond the development ideas, the island itself is a mix of white-sand beaches and natural beauty, large enough to feel private but close enough to attract high-profile visitors.

Nicole Kidman (Australia)

Nicole Kidman may spend much of her time in Nashville, but she and Keith Urban also keep a farmhouse in Sutton Forest, Australia. Bought in 2008 for around $4.5 million, the 111-acre Bunya Hill property dates back to 1878. The Georgian-style house has classic touches like a billiard room, library with floor-to-ceiling shelves, and a formal living room complete with a grand piano. Outside, the land stretches into orchards and farmland where they raise black Angus cattle.

Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson (Greece)

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are regulars in Greece, where they own a stone villa on Antiparos. Set on six acres, the 450-square-metre property sits between two villages and offers both privacy and space for entertaining. Locals say it’s one of the rare places where the couple can relax without paparazzi around, hosting friends or simply enjoying the island lifestyle. Hanks, who has spoken often about his love for Greece, was even granted honorary Greek citizenship in 2020.

Julia Roberts (Taos, New Mexico)

Julia Roberts has held onto her ranch in Taos, New Mexico, since the ’90s, making it one of her longest-running homes. The 32-acre property sits near Arroyo Seco and is said to be worth several million today. It’s where Roberts married Danny Moder on the Fourth of July in 2002, and it remains a retreat for the family of five. Locals are used to spotting Roberts on grocery runs or out and about, which adds to the low-key charm of the place.

Richard Gere (Galicia, Spain)

Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra Silva put down roots in Galicia, Spain, buying a beachfront mansion in Oleiros for around €10 million. The 1,500-square-metre estate sits right by Santa Cristina beach and includes 10 bedrooms, a pool, an artificial lake, and landscaped gardens. For Gere, the move was about more than just scenery; Silva is from Galicia, and the home brings them close to her family. Gere has called it a “golden age for Spain,” praising the culture and the chance for his children to grow up bilingual.

Hugh Jackman (Gold Coast, Australia)

Hugh Jackman bought into a wellness retreat. The Aussie star is part-owner of Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat on the Gold Coast, a 165-hectare property focused on organic living and spa-style relaxation. The retreat has 60 rooms, two infinity pools, yoga studios, and even equine facilities, all set in a low-tech, eco-certified environment. Jackman has called the spa sanctuary “world class” and says the staff’s passion is unmatched.

Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones (Mallorca, Spain)

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones spend their summers at their sprawling estate in Mallorca, near the village of Valldemossa. Douglas bought the property, s’Estaca, in 1990 for $3.5 million and, after failed attempts to sell it, decided to keep it in the family. The estate blends history and luxury, set in a mountain valley surrounded by unspoiled countryside. Over the years, it’s been carefully renovated to suit modern living while preserving its traditional Mallorcan charm.

Johnny Galecki (Colorado)

Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki swapped sitcom sets for wide-open land with his Colorado ranch. The 7,400-square-foot property comes with six bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, and plenty of rustic charm. Inside, there’s a sunken living room, billiard room, screening room, and even a hidden pub. The chef’s kitchen opens into a formal dining space, while the upstairs primary suite has its own balcony and custom leather walls. Outside, courtyards, fountains, and landscaped gardens give the place a peaceful, private feel.

Orlando Bloom (Canterbury)

Before he was a Hollywood name, Orlando Bloom grew up in Canterbury, and years later, he circled back to a quieter lifestyle in England. The actor bought a four-bedroom home in a village setting, trading the flash of Los Angeles for something more down-to-earth. Built in the 1940s, the house has a pool, patio, and doors opening to the outside from nearly every room, creating an airy, treehouse-like vibe.

Jack Nicholson (Aspen, Colorado)

Jack Nicholson has long been tied to Aspen, Colorado, where he first bought property years ago. At one point, he owned a Victorian-style home that he picked up for about $555,000 after leaving another Aspen house with poor TV reception. The actor later sold the property for $11 million, and it has since been remodeled into a much larger 15,000-square-foot residence.

Eddie Murphy (Bahamas)

Eddie Murphy is among the stars who decided one island just isn’t enough. In 2007, he paid $15 million for Rooster Cay, a 15-acre slice of paradise in the Bahamas. The property remains mostly undeveloped, keeping its natural beauty intact. Before Rooster Cay, Murphy also owned Pearl Cay, another private island nearby, which he sold the same year.

Madonna (Lisbon, Portugal)

Madonna’s real estate portfolio spans the globe, but one of her more surprising purchases came after the 2016 U.S. election, when she picked up an $8.9 million mansion in Lisbon. The historic property gave her a European base while she still held on to multiple homes in the U.S., from a $40 million Manhattan mansion to a Hidden Hills estate she bought from The Weeknd.

Jeff Bezos (Maui, Hawaii)

Jeff Bezos may be known for his mega-mansions in places like New York and Florida, but one of his most striking buys is in Hawaii. In 2021, he and Lauren Sanchez purchased a $78 million beachfront estate in Maui. The property is so expansive it’s almost its own private corner of the island. With direct beach access, luxury finishes, and plenty of land, it reflects the same scale as Bezos’s other real estate choices.

Taylor Swift (Manhattan)

Taylor Swift has built a serious footprint in Manhattan, with multiple properties in Tribeca alone. She first bought a pair of penthouses for $20 million, then added a $9.75 million apartment in the same building, plus a nearby townhouse worth another $20 million. Together, the purchases make her close to owning an entire block. Each space carries Swift’s signature blend of privacy and charm.

Kim Kardashian (Malibu)

Kim Kardashian’s real estate collection is massive, but her Malibu villa is one of the crown jewels. Bought for about $70 million, the Mediterranean-style home sits on more than three acres with private beach access. The estate also features a tennis court, expansive ocean views, and a blend of indoor-outdoor living that suits the Malibu lifestyle.

Chrissy Teigen & John Legend (New York)

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend own more than just their Beverly Hills mansion; they’ve also invested heavily in New York. The couple bought two penthouses in a building that was once a 19th-century carriage house, spending a total of about $16.7 million. They previously owned another unit in the same building, making their presence there significant.