Category Archives: Homebuying

For most people, owning a vacation home is the ultimate real estate dream—but for some of Hollywood‘s biggest stars, even a sprawling mansion isn’t quite private enough.

Over the years, a slew of A-listers have taken their property portfolios to another level by purchasing entire islands, transforming secluded stretches of land into the ultimate celebrity retreats.

From Leonardo DiCaprio‘s 104-acre escape off the coast of Belize to Johnny Depp‘s idyllic Bahamian getaway, these stars have spent millions securing their own slices of paradise.

Some have turned their islands into lavish vacation compounds, while others have envisioned ambitious resorts or simply left much of the land untouched.

Here are seven celebrities who have taken luxury real estate to the extreme, with spectacular island purchases around the world.

Leonardo DiCaprio—Blackadore Caye, Belize

DiCaprio took his passion for environmentalism into the real estate world when he purchased Blackadore Caye, a 104-acre island off the coast of Belize, in 2005.

The actor reportedly paid $1.75 million for the property after being inspired by a scuba-diving trip to Belize’s coral reefs.

Rather than simply creating a secluded vacation home, DiCaprio set his sights on turning the undeveloped island into an environmentally conscious luxury resort.

Plans for the property have included resort bungalows and private estate villas, as well as environmentally focused features such as solar power. However, the project has faced repeated delays over the years.

Johnny Depp—Little Hall’s Pond Cay, Bahamas

After spending time in the Bahamas while filming “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Depp decided to secure a permanent piece of the tropical destination for himself.

The actor reportedly paid $3.6 million for the 45-acre Little Hall’s Pond Cay in 2004.

The retreat boasts secluded white sand, dunes, a palm-lined lagoon and multiple beaches, several of which Depp named in honor of people close to him, including his children and former partner Vanessa Paradis.

He also honored journalist Hunter S. Thompson and actor Marlon Brando with beaches bearing their names.

The island later served as the setting for Depp and now-ex-wife Amber Heard‘s wedding celebrations in 2015.

Mel Gibson—Mago Island, Fiji

Mel Gibson went considerably bigger with his island investment, purchasing Mago Island in Fiji after the release of his 2004 movie “The Passion of the Christ.”

The actor paid a reported $15 million for the property, which encompasses a staggering 5,400 acres and has been described as one of the world’s largest privately owned islands.

The volcanic island is surrounded by reefs, white-sand beaches, and turquoise lagoons, offering Gibson an extraordinary level of privacy far removed from Hollywood.

Eddie Murphy—Rooster Cay, Bahamas

Eddie Murphy joined the long list of celebrities who have invested in Bahamian real estate when he snapped up Rooster Cay—also known as Long Cay—in 2007.

Located just off the coast of Nassau, the approximately 15-acre island reportedly cost the comedian and actor $15 million.

Despite its prime location, the island has remained largely undeveloped, according to People. Murphy also previously owned another smaller Bahamian island, Pearl Cay.

Ricky Martin—Ilha do Maia, Brazil

Ricky Martin found his own tropical escape in Brazil, purchasing Ilha do Maia in 2008.

The nearly 20-acre property is located near Angra dos Reis, a coastal region around two hours from Rio de Janeiro. The singer reportedly paid $8 million for his island getaway.

But this isn’t just a deserted patch of sand.

The property has been reported to feature a Portuguese Colonial-style villa with a large party room, along with watchtowers and 12 cannons that give the retreat a decidedly fortresslike appearance.

Martin has primarily used the island as a vacation destination.

Tyler Perry—White Bay Cay, Bahamas

Filmmaker Tyler Perry gave himself a particularly extravagant birthday present in 2009 when he purchased White Bay Cay in the Bahamas, along with a neighboring island.

White Bay Cay spans around 25 acres, while the adjacent island adds another seven acres to Perry’s secluded escape.

The two had been listed together for $7 million, although the amount Perry ultimately paid was not disclosed.

Perry told People that he even took flying lessons so he could pilot his private plane to the property.

He later outfitted his island escape with a Balinese-style villa and bungalows, creating a private getaway worthy of a Hollywood mogul.

David Copperfield—Musha Cay, Bahamas

Perhaps unsurprisingly, illusionist David Copperfield has created one of the most extravagant celebrity island retreats of them all.

Copperfield purchased a collection of 11 Bahamian islands surrounding Musha Cay for $50 million in 2006 before reportedly investing another $30 million to transform the destination into a luxury resort known as the Islands of Copperfield Bay.

The sprawling retreat encompasses hundreds of acres and features five main residences, along with dozens of private beaches, an outdoor theater, a gym and tennis courts.

Unlike many celebrity-owned islands, however, Copperfield’s paradise isn’t reserved solely for his own friends and family.

Musha Cay operates as an ultraexclusive resort, allowing guests to experience the kind of privacy usually enjoyed only by the rich and famous—provided they’re prepared to pay the appropriately extravagant price.

Stephen Colbert is preparing to bid farewell to “The Late Show” once and for all—but not before pulling back the curtain on one of New York City’s most iconic TV sets: the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater, which has served as the home of the hit series for more than three decades.

In a new behind-the-scenes tour with Architectural Digest, Colbert, 62, opened the doors to his longtime Manhattan set, revealing hidden passageways, secret architectural details, and personal keepsakes tucked throughout the historic venue.

“We’re here in the Ed Sullivan Theater, built in 1927,” Colbert began at the start of the tour, noting that the space was originally designed to be “a cathedral of culture.”

The Emmy-winning host, who took over “The Late Show” in 2015 after David Letterman stepped down, shared that one of the biggest discoveries made during the theater’s renovation that year was a hidden dome and stained glass that had been covered up for decades.

“I couldn’t believe it had been hidden all these years,” Colbert admitted, revealing that workers uncovered original stained glass windows hidden beneath white vinyl—as well as a stunning chandelier with its own stained glass design.

Colbert revealed that the stunning architectural detail had been covered over by the various pieces of equipment need to reduce the amount of “bounce” caused by the soaring ceilings, noting that—despite having been on Letterman’s show multiple times, he’d never really known what the space actually looked like under all of the staging.

“I wanted to know what the dome was like … and they said, ‘Oh it’s all gone, it was all torn out in the 1950s,'” he recalled. “And I said, ‘Well I’d like to just go see.’ And so they took down the sound sails and it was all still there. So we went to CBS and, god bless them, they gave us the money to restore it.”

However, there were some other, less-than-elegant discoveries made, with Colbert joking that workmen who were restoring the chandelier came across “cigars, tools, and traffic tickets from the 1940s and 1950s up there.”

Eventually, the chandelier was restored to its original glory, complete with stained glass designs that depict several of the musicians and performers who graced the stage in its earliest years.

The ornate theater, which previously welcomed legendary performers including Elvis Presley and The Beatles, also features a series of concealed doors, trapdoors, catwalks, and balconies woven throughout the set.

Elsewhere in the tour, Colbert showcased personal memorabilia scattered across the studio, including a sword gifted to him by Viggo Mortensen, a “Captain America” shield from Marvel, and bookshelves packed entirely with science fiction and fantasy novels.

One of the most sentimental details on the set sits directly beneath the show’s logo: a South Carolina state outline placed at Colbert’s monologue mark.

“I like it because it reminds me to be myself,” he shared.

It is currently unclear what will become of the Ed Sullivan Theater when Colbert’s show ends—however Broadway World notes that its landmarked status means it must remain as a performance space, whether it is used to stage plays, musical performances, or future TV shows.

The tour comes as Colbert prepares for the final episode of “The Late Show,” which CBS confirmed will end after 11 seasons with him as the host on May 21.

And while the comedian reflected fondly on the theater’s storied history, he also admitted he’s emotional about its uncertain future.

“In my opinion, it’s the best broadcast space in New York City,” Colbert said before confessing that the possibility of the venue no longer housing a late-night show “breaks my heart.”

The glimpse inside the theater came after the comedian opened up about his plans following the end of the show.

Even before his show entered its final two weeks, which began with a visit from several of his fellow late night hosts, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver, questions were already being raised about what the future holds for Colbert—and whether he will pivot from East Coast comedy to the bright lights of Hollywood.

The longtime television personality recently joked about the growing speculation surrounding his next move during an episode of his show, noting that there have been a wild variety of conspiracies about what he will do next, almost none of which are entirely true.

“I’ve heard a lot of theories—everything from I’m moving to CNN to I’m announcing a massive wildlife rescue program to I’m running for president of the United States,” Colbert quipped. “Now, here’s the thing. I can reveal right now that all of those are partially true.

“Next year, I will be president of an animal sanctuary dedicated to caring for the rare Blitzer Wolf,” he added.

 Colbert has already started expanding into new creative territory that has taken him far beyond New York City—starting with a major movie role that was announced in March 2026: co-writer of the next “Lord of the Rings” installment.

During the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, filmmaker Peter Jackson revealed that Colbert had been hard at work on the movie, which is titled “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past,” after personally pitching the project himself.

Jackson explained that Colbert became deeply invested in the project long before CBS announced the cancellation, with the late night host even traveling to New Zealand to work on the screenplay alongside his son and longtime Tolkien collaborators.

Work aside, Colbert is already planning to hit the road immediately after his show concludes, telling The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview that he has an action-packed schedule lined up, focusing almost entirely on familial commitments.

“My brother is getting married, so my whole family is going to be here on [May 21], and then we’re all going to get on the train and go to DC for the wedding. So, immediately after the show’s over, there’s something much more important going on,” he revealed, before noting that his obligations as a family man actually start even before his show concludes, when his son will graduate from college on May 18.

“There’s something much more important going on the Monday before, too,” he added. “My son is graduating from college. Then there’s a little blip in the middle where my 20-year late night career comes to an end. The universe has conspired to give me the proper perspective.”

He also revealed to the outlet that Hollywood had come calling as soon as his show’s cancellation was announced, but noted that he hadn’t accepted any other big projects because he wanted to focus solely on finishing his late night run before thinking about what lies ahead.

“Yes, immediately,” he said when asked if he’d been pitched scripts. “And listen, people have been patient because I’ve had to say, like, ‘I’m sorry, when I no longer have to think about this show all the time, I’ll have a better idea of what I want to do.’ But it’s been very nice.”

The comedian has previously admitted that he was actually looking forward to having a break from the late night grind, particularly when it comes to dealing with the heaviness of politics and news.

“I love what we do and I love the grind,” Colbert explained to GQ. “But there is a sense of relief that I might not have to put on the snorkel and get into the sewer every day.”

And while fans are focused on the emotional final episode, Colbert recently revealed that the aftermath behind the scenes will be far less sentimental.

“We all have to be out,” Colbert explained while discussing the abrupt closure of the Ed Sullivan Theater during a recent late night host roundtable. “I’m already packed,” he added, according to Entertainment Weekly. 

According to the comedian, staff members will stop being paid immediately after the finale airs, with offices expected to be vacated within days. 

Whether Colbert will be taking box loads of memorabilia back to his family home in Montclair, NJ, remains to be seen, however.

Comedian Pete Davidson closed on the sale of his Staten Island apartment at a $400,000 loss just one day before rumors emerged that he has split from his girlfriend Elsie Hewitt—amid speculation that he is “selling his properties” in order to “open up funds” that will help him to manage the ongoing care of their baby daughter.

According to a May 14 report by The Sun, Davidson, 32, and Hewitt, 30, are said to have called quits on their relationship, just five months after welcoming their daughter, Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson, who was born on Dec. 12.

Insiders who spoke to the outlet alleged that the first sign of trouble in the relationship arose when the former “Saturday Night Live” star began offloading his homes—having dropped the price of his Staten Island condo in February, weeks before listing his upstate New York retreat.

While it was first revealed by the New York Post in April that Davidson has secured an offer on his apartment, that deal only closed on May 13 with a final sale price of just $800,000—$400,000 less than the comedian bought the property for in December 2020.

Meanwhile, the actor’s dwelling in North Salem, NY, where the couple had been living after welcoming their daughter, remains on the market, having first been listed for $2.49 million in February. By the time news of that listing was made public, the price had dropped to $2.27 million, before being reduced again in April to $2.15 million.

“Pete is selling his properties, including his upstate home and his Staten Island apartment, to open up funds as they move forward and figure out their next steps,” The Sun’s insider alleged.

Davidson and Hewitt have yet to comment on the reports of their split, however a second source noted that they are focusing all of their energies on their daughter.

“They are just focusing 100% on Scottie. Working out the best co-parenting solution is their top priority,” the insider claimed.

As for the reasons behind the split, sources pointed to Davidson’s hectic work schedule, alleging that Hewitt has struggled to cope at home alone while he has been traveling.

“Pete has been traveling so much for work, but Elsie was craving more support from him at home after their daughter was born,” said the insider.

“It was very hard for him because, obviously, he has to work to make money.”

Per the outlet, the comedian has been traveling relentlessly over the past several weeks, and spent Mother’s Day in Los Angeles for the Kevin Hart roast, while Hewitt spent the holiday in their home in Brooklyn, NY, alone.

Having offloaded his Staten Island apartment, Davidson will now focus his real estate efforts on finding a buyer for his North Salem home, which has already undergone two significant price cuts.

The comedian had purchased the four-bedroom, three-bath dwelling in 2023 for $1.95 million.

According to Mansion Global, the actor knew he was going to part ways with the home, which sits on 6 acres in North Salem, just one year after he purchased it.

He joked that in 2024, he told Chad, a character he played on “SNL,” that he would be selling the abode.

“I told Chad we were going to sell it. He’s very upset. You could see it in his eyes. He’s not a man of a lot of words, but in his eyes, you could tell he was sad to go,” Davidson said.

However, the actor insisted that he was upset at the idea of parting ways with the pad, which is just 90 minutes from New York City, because the home is his “hip, funky, cool place” and holds many memories, including the moment Hewitt revealed she was pregnant.

The jokester revealed that he initially came across the property when he was living in the hustle and bustle of New York City and wanted a peaceful getaway.

“It’s literally like living in paradise. The thing I hated about living in the city all the time was, I would wake up to so much noise, whether it would be garbage being picked up or people fighting or your neighbors or whatever’s going on on the street. In North Salem, I would wake up naturally, and I wouldn’t feel a thing. It was the most special feeling,” he told the outlet.

Once moving there, he adored the home so much that he made it his permanent pad.

“What’s cool about North Salem and the whole Westchester area is everyone pretty much keeps to themselves, and I really don’t get bothered up there,” he added.

Davidson also revealed that the home is the epitome of privacy, as it is an acre from the road. Built in the 1930s, the home has loads of vintage charm.

“I’m not a big fan of modern houses because they all kind of look the same, just kind of soulless and white. I added little things to it while still keeping its integrity and charm,” he told the outlet.

However, Davidson did do some renovations, including adding a guesthouse, movie room, pool, hot tub, cold-plunge pool, sauna, and screened porches.

“There’s a secret speakeasy—a wall slides open” to reveal it, he said. “It’s really fun, and it’s great if you have a family, and it’s also great if you just want to use it like a getaway.”

“Sun-filled rooms with vaulted ceilings, random-width pine floors and custom lighting. Walls of windows capture natural light and scenic views,” states the listing, which is held by Mary Dowdle of Ginnel Real Estate.

“Dramatic Great Room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. Dining Area with doors to two decks with a fabulous water view. Gourmet Kitchen with custom backlit cabinetry, granite and stainless countertops and professional appliances. First floor Primary Suite with door to private terraced garden. Two additional Bedrooms, one with a loft sleeping area,” the listing continues.

Jaclene Ginnel told Mansion Global that the home is the perfect pad: “It offers everything at once—easy proximity to New York City, absolute privacy at the end of a long gated drive, serene pond views from nearly every room, and the intimate charm of a 1930s cottage with every modern amenity reimagined.

“It feels light and fun while also cozy and charming, and the year-round lap pool looking out over the lake is beyond spectacular.”