Worth: $4.3 MillionThe Barclay brothers are literally multi-billionaires, and they can afford anything that money can buy. The Irish identical twins bought Brecqhou, off the coast of Normandy, France, in 1993. On the island, there’s a Gothic-style castle, two pools, and a private helicopter pad. Frederick and Dave made their fortune in the real estate and publishing industries, and they enjoy their luxurious toys – including expensive cars and jets, two things which aren’t allowed on the island of Sark, which Brecqhou is a part of.
Dave and Frederick have gone toe-to-toe with the local government on a number of occasions. One such time was when they challenged Sark’s inheritance law, which stated that their island must go to their eldest son if they were to pass. But the brothers wanted to make sure that all of their children got an equal piece of the pie. Now, women in Sark are entitled to an equal share of their parents’ assets as the eldest male child, thanks to the Barclays. They have also worked to get it declared an independent nation, which has not come into fruition thus far.
Craig McCaw – James Island, British Columbia
Worth: $75 MillionCraig McCaw bought James Island, off the coast of Vancouver, for $20 million in 1994. The previous owners, a development company, had a marina and 18-hole golf course in the works. After the purchase, he saw the golf course through, designed by Jack Nicklaus, along with a luxurious spa. The island also includes a 5,000 square foot main home, along with several guest cottages, a manager’s residence and a private air strip.
McCaw recently struck a deal with the Discovery Land Corporation, and they are working to develop the residential portion of the island that the original owners were going to complete. The plans are to build around 100 exclusive homes, along with some other amenities for the community members. The new area is being called a “playground for the wealthy and well-connected.”
Mel Gibson - Mago Island, Fiji
Worth: $15 MillionThe Braveheart star’s island has by far got to be one of the most luxurious and expensive on the list thus far. In 2004, Gibson spent $15 million on the 5,400 square foot (8.5 square miles) Mago Island. The volcanic island was the subject of an episode of 30 Rock, in which Gibson appears as himself. It is mostly undeveloped with the exception of a modest caretaker’s property and is inhabited by a few locals who keep the island in good shape while the actor is away.
Gibson purchased the island after the box office success of his major film, The Passion of the Christ. He bought it from the Tokyu Corporation, and much to the dismay of those who were aware of the property’s past as a cotton plantation. Descendants of natives in the area weren’t very happy to learn about the buy. But Gibson is taking good care of the land and has no plans to do anything over-the-top with it.
Nicolas Cage - Leaf Cay, Bahamas
Worth: $3 MillionIf you haven’t noticed the pattern up until now, it definitely seems like the Bahamas is the prime area for celebrities to purchase their private, tropical playgrounds. Nicholas Cage is another big name to own a local Cay, in the form of Leaf Cay, which is right next door to Johnny Depp’s island. The strip of floating pieces of land in the area are known as the Exumas and are largely owned by celebrities and other high-profile individuals.
The Ghostrider star spent over $3 million on Leaf Cay and was initially going to turn it into a resort area for tourists who could afford the lifestyles of the rich and famous. But little did the actor know his plans would be unable to come to fruition. That’s because he happened to purchase an island that’s home to an endangered species of iguana and is therefore unable to fully develop the area into commercial property. He was still able to include a smaller resort on a piece of the land, that caters to A-list visitors and others who can spend a fortune on nightly stays in paradise.
Richard Branson – Necker Island, US British Virgin Islands
Worth: $60,000,000Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson owns one of the world’s most exclusive vacation spots for A-listers and other uber-rich guests. Branson purchased Necker Island in 1978, for just $180,000 – much less than any of the other pieces of property on this list. Now, he makes over $75,000 per night from those who rent out the luxurious rooms, complete with pretty much anything you could ever want or imagine.
Everyone from Google founder Larry Page, to Barack and Michelle Obama, to Nelson Mandela, have stayed on the island at one point. Branson has had to spend a lot of money on repairs and renovations throughout his time as the owner of the island. In 2011, a fire damaged the main house so badly it took them two years to rebuild it. Then, in 2017, Hurricane Irma lashed out at the land and caused extensive damage, causing him to close it down for a year. In 2018, it reopened, and has been flourishing since.