10+ Celebrities Who Spent Millions To Own A Private Island
Today's celebrities are cashing in paychecks for unprecedented amounts of money. If you were to look up the highest paid movie stars you would find that the lower names on the list are still racking in over $20 million.... per project! That's not an annual income, folks. Of course, movie stars are not the only ones pulling in huge paydays.
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Musicians have long-since learned how to properly market themselves and rake in just as much cash as the movie stars. Other celebrities have crossed over multiple forms of media entertainment and become "whole packages" in the industry.
Naturally, with all this money flowing through their pockets they have to find ways to spend it! However, when you're paychecks are millions upon millions of dollars, spending your cash on private jets and designer clothes are like spending pocket change in a vending machine.
The world's biggest celebrities know the ultimate sign of wealth is a private island and there's a whole lot more of them than you ever imagined dropping big bucks on one of their own. Whether it was for their own exclusive vacation spot or a major investment for building a cash-making resort, these celebrities definitely know how to spend their hard-earned cash.
1. Mel Gibson, Mago Island - $15 million
Mago Island in Fiji is worth $15 million but that price tag didn't stop the one and only Mel Gibson from purchasing it in 2005. While there's an awful lot of celebrities purchasing islands as cash cow investments, Gibson just wanted to get away from Hollywood and enjoy his private island in the luxurious Fiji area.2. Celine Dion, Quebec - $25.5 million
Apparently, her heart will go on... as long as she has her own private island in Quebec for it to spend eternity on. That is until she liquidated the property for $25.5 million! Celine is practically Canadian royalty so it's no surprise that her private island featured an estate fit for a princess but the icon just loves investing and dabbling in the real estate industry too much to hold on to the property indefinitely.3. Shakira, Bonds Clay - $16 million
While it might seem lovely to own your own private island as a quiet, secluded getaway, Shakira bought her Bahamas paradise as a proper investment. Alongside Roger Waters, Shakira bought a 700-acre island with an estimated worth of $16 million. Instead of rolling around in the sand herself, though, she plans to build hotels and establish a quiet resort for high profile guests. Perhaps other celebrities that couldn't afford their own island but still need a quiet getaway? Time will tell.4. Lenny Kravitz, Eleuthera - $ Unknown
No one really knows how much money Lenny Kravitz, singer, songwriter, and producer extraordinaire, spent on his Bahamas island of Eleuthera but what we do know is just as fascinating. He doesn't own the island all by himself but he does have his very own recording studio that he travels to and from to tinker in at his own free will. What really raises eyebrows though? He didn't, and won't, build a luxury house. He is content with his trailer on the island. Okay!5. Eddie Murphy, Rooster Cay - $15 million
When you're worth $85 million like Eddie Murphy then it makes sense to buy not one, but two islands. Murphy's first island must have been a little too small though because in 2007 he purchases this second, larger one to escape to with his family. Rooster Cay in the Bahamas is reportedly worth $15 million. Not bad for a second island!6. Pamela Anderson, Dubai - undisclosed amount
Pamela Anderson is known for many things but did you know she owns a private island in Dubai? Before she divorced from famous drummer Tommy Lee he purchased her the island as a gift! That's a big way to say,"I love you!" However, Anderson hasn't been able to do much with the island. Rumors have gone around that she intended to invest into it and build a resort but never had the money to do so. For now, it sits.7. Larry Ellison, Linai - $300 million
Larry Ellison's net worth is $57.4 billion so buying a Hawaiin island for $300 million probably wasn't as big of a deal to him as it is to you and me. The island features not one, but two Four Seasons resorts as well as a house that Ellison has owned since prior to his major purchase. Ellison owns 98% of the entire island. The other humble 2%? Owned by the state of Hawaii, of course.8. Ricky Martin, Brazil - $8 million
In 2008, Ricky Martin bought his own private island somewhere in Brazil for $8 million! The Livin' La Vida Loca crooner cozies up with his husband in the kind of exclusive luxury only a private island could award.9. Steven Spielberg, Madeira Archipelago - $ unknown amount
Off the coast of Portuga, one of the world's most famous filmmakers purchased himself two private islands. Spielbeg and his family vacation privately in ultimate luxury and cruise between their two islands on their $200 million yacht.10. Jay Z & Beyonce, The Bahamas - $3 million
As some of the largest stars in the music industry, it comes as no surprise that this power couple purchased their own private island in the Bahamas. Rather, the island was an anniversary gift from Jay-Z to his wife Beyonce. We always figured Beyonce wasn't a "roses and chocolate" kind of gal.11. Kim Kardashian & North West, Turtle Island - $5million
The pressure parents must feel these days to help the dreams of their children come true is surely insurmountable. Unless you happen to be Kim Kardashian and you're married to Kayne West. Without a doubt, their children will always live in the lap of luxury and the potential is practically infinite. The now 4-year-old already owns her own island, gifted to her by Kim Kardashian who reportedly intended to build a private theme park on the island.12. Bill Gates, Grand Bogue Caye - $25 million
Bill Gates is known to be one of the wealthiest men in the entire world so when rumors swirled that he bought Grand Bogue Caye for $25-26 million it was certainly believable. However, it was just a rumor. Of all the world's richest, Bill Gates does not appear to actually own his own island. However, he has definitely visited Grand Bogue Caye and enjoyed it thoroughly. Perhaps that is where the rumors came from?13. Larry Page, Eustasia Island - $unknown amount
With a net worth of over $53 million, it's no surprise that the co-founder of Google, yes THE Google, owns an island within the British Virgin Islands. Featuring solar-powered luxury villas, the 30 acres area can practically guarantee privacy for the rich and famous thanks to being surrounded by shallow reefs filled with enviable coral heads.14. David Copperfield, Musha Cay - $50 million
It's no wonder every budding, young magician aspires to be like David Copperfield when they grow up. The magic-man himself has turned the art of modern magic into enough money to purchase and invest in his own $50 million island. Nestled in the Bahamas, Musha Cay is home to an ultra luxurious resort that commands $39k per night and a strict 4-night minimum policy! Is there anything Copperfield cannot do?15. Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Goat Cay - $1.2 million
The country music power-couple spent 9 years building a luxury estate on their $1.2 million island in the Bahamas.
In an interview, Faith Hill said of her special getaway: "We wanted to feel connected to the outside. When the breeze comes through the room, it's just life-changing.... It really is! It's something for the soul."