Privately Owned Paradise

Larry Ellison

Billionaire entrepreneur Larry Ellison is one of the most interesting men in tech. The co-founder of Oracle was named the 7th richest person in the world back in 2019 thanks to his then net worth of £54.5 billion so it's no surprise that he owns his own island too!

Spanning 90,000 acres the beautiful island of Lania is pure Hawaiian heaven. Featuring an ultra-luxurious Four Seasons Hotel, boutique shops, and botanical gardens, Lanai is also a playground for local dolphins and humpback whales. Bill Gates was so impressed with the Jack Nicklaus designed 18-hole golf course that he got married at the 17th hole.

Ekaterina Rybolovleva

When Greek shipping billionaire Aristotle Onassis put Skorpios Island on the market it attracted lots of attention. Giorgio Armani, Madonna, and even Bill Gates all tried but ultimately failed to acquire the beautiful Greek paradise. The daughter of Russian oligarch Dmitri Rybolovlev however, had a little more luck.

Businesswoman and socialite Ekaterina Rybolovleva managed to acquire the island for an eye-watering £119.6m from the Onassis family back in 2013 without breaking a sweat. Since then, the island has become a forbidden area for tourists.

David Copperfield

David Seth Kotkin, professionally known as David Copperfield, is an American magician who has been described as the most commercially successful magician in history. And, he owns his own island.

The breath-taking natural beauty of Musha Cay is now even more magical thanks to David's investment. The Bahamian island boasts five guest houses decorated in British Colonial style with a tropical twist which is designed to cater to every whim and fancy, while the 10 additional islands nearby that makeup Copperfield Bay are there to be explored.

The island can be yours for the night if your holiday allowance stretches to £45k.

Mikhail Prokhorov

Self-made Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov already owned an American basketball team, an impressive property portfolio and a yacht, so it was no surprise when the billionaire acquired his own island.

After falling in love with Seychelles whilst on holiday, Prokhorov decided to purchase 500 acres of pure heaven on earth. North Island is now an exclusive escape, offering the perfect base for an unrivalled romantic retreat or an unforgettable family holiday in a luxury private-island hideaway.

Bernard Arnault

Bernard Arnault is a French businessman and art collector. He is also the chairman and chief executive of LVMH Moët Hennessy, the world's largest luxury goods company. A billionaire, he became the richest person in fashion in 2018. With more money in the bank than anyone could dream of, it's only fitting that Arnault also owns his own island in the Bahamas. Indigo Island spans a whopping 135 acres and makes the billionaire neighbours with David Copperfield, who also makes our list.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates, is an American businessman, software developer, investor, and philanthropist. He is best known as the co-founder of Microsoft Corporation. With a net worth of £86 billion, Bill Gates is no stranger to extravagance, so it's hardly surprising that he owns his very own private island. Grand Bogue Caye is located on the eastern side of the Turneffe Atoll, 24 miles from the city of Belize. Home to pristine beaches and a barrier reef, the island cost an eye-watering £19.9 million.

Beyonce & Jay-Z

Celebrity royalty. The ultimate power couple. A world-famous singer and her equally-famous rapper husband - Beyonce and Jay-Z hardly need an introduction. The couple has been together for years and when your other half is wealthy, successful and could buy whatever they want for themselves, it must be hard to decide what to gift them for their birthday. Jay-Z purchased a private island in the Florida Keys for Beyonce's 29th birthday in 2010. A private island which is, well, private, all we know about this lavish gift is that reportedly cost over £13 million!

Richard Branson

When Richard Branson isn't launching another new business venture, he can often be found spending his hard-earned money on beautiful tropical islands. In 2007, Sir Richard Branson purchased Moskito Island for £10 million. Just a short boat ride away from his infamous Necker Island and has undergone a huge transformation after 2007 to become one of the most luxurious private resorts on the planet. For just shy of £38k, you and 21 of your closest friends can enjoy the whole island - for one night only!

George Clooney

George Clooney is an American actor, film producer, director, and activist who is known all across the world. He is known for his impeccable taste, which extends beyond the red carpet to exotic holiday destinations. In 2014, he and his wife Amal purchased a small yet perfectly formed 4-acre island located on the River Thames, which features a 17th-century mansion that has since been remodelled to accommodate the Hollywood A-Lister. This includes a home cinema, indoor pool and private boathouse.

Shakira / Roger Waters

The 'Hips Don't Lie' singer has duetted with a diverse range of artists over the years, but Shakira's most unlikely pairing to date must be with Pink Floyd icon Roger Waters.

In 2011 the pair teamed up, not for a duet, but to co-invest in 700 acres of Caribbean paradise. Shelling out just short of £5 million each, Bond's Cay is set to be transformed into a millionaire's playground, which will include private holiday homes, hotels, and art galleries.

Mel Gibson

Not long after the huge global success of his controversial movie The Passion of the Christ, world-famous actor Mel Gibson acquired his own island in Fiji for just shy of £12 million. Mago Island is a volcanic island is one of the largest private islands situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Spanning 5,400 acres it is covered in lush green vegetation and sugarcane. Whilst some celebrity-owned private islands have had drastic makeovers or act as a hidden retreat, Mago remains largely underdeveloped, with just a few caretakers currently residing there.

Brad Pitt

William Bradley Pitt, known as Brad Pitt, is an American actor and film producer whose name is known across the globe and whose work has resulted in numerous awards. Part of Hollywood royalty and with an estimated net worth of £239 million, it may come as no shock that Brad Pitt owns his own private island too! The island, named Petra, is roughly 50 miles off of the New York City Coast.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy may spend much of his time on-screen and in the public eye, but whenever the famous actor and funny man needs some downtime, he has the luxury of retreating to his own private island.

Murphy purchased Rooster Cay back in 2007 for just over £7.5 million. Sitting pretty close to the Bahamian capital Nassau, this slice of paradise is currently off-limits to the public, though there are rumours Murphy is turning it into a resort. Like many private islands owned by celebrities, Rooster Cay is a picture of untouched beauty.

Dietrich Mateschitz

Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz is a self-made billionaire. As someone with a lot of money to play with, it's no surprise that he decided to purchase his own private, luxury island. He acquired the gorgeous Fijian island Laucala back in the early 2000s and quickly transformed it into an Insta-worthy playground for the rich and famous. Offering unspoiled wilderness of rainforest, the island boasts unparalleled levels of luxury and privacy, including a golf course, horseback riding, beachside barbecues, and crystal clear coves.

Michael Schumacher

Seven-time F1 Championship winner Michael Schumacher is no stranger to leading a life of luxury. With an estimated net worth of £478 million, he is the wealthiest professional racer in the world. It's no surprise then, that Schumacher would happen to own his own island. The island is estimated to have a value of around £5.5 million and is located on a gargantuan constellation of artificial islands off the coast of Dubai known as The World. However, he didn't purchase it! Dubai's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, gifted the driver with a man-made private island off the coast of the city shortly after he won the Grand Prix in 2006.

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and director. He is well known for his comedic talents and, in 2011, Forbes listed him as the highest-paid man in entertainment having earned £103.7m in just one year! Two years prior and still with plenty of money to spend on the finer things in life, Perry opted to purchase his very own island. White Bay Cay is believed to be a custom-made holiday home, which features guest bungalows for the actors family and friends.

Ricky Martin

Puerto Rican singing sensation Ricky Martin is known for spending his time and money helping those in need but he knows how to reward himself and enjoy his lavish lifestyle. Back in 2008, the 'Livin' La Vida Loca' singer purchased an island in Angra dos Reis, near the coast of Rio de Janeiro. The star likes to keep the details of his private island, well, private! For that reason, little is known about Angra dos Reis, but it's thought to be a holiday home as he spends most of his time in his decadent LA villa.

David & Frederick Barclay

The Barclay twins not only share identical looks, but they have the same entrepreneurial spirit. This shared ambition has seen them amass an estimated £5.7 billion fortune from media, retail, and property ventures. In 1993, the British billionaires purchased Brecqhou Island and promptly began building a gothic castle for their family and friends to enjoy. Notoriously private, the Barclay twins also added a football pitch, helipad, chapel, and a pub named the Dog & Duck.

Adam Kelliher

When pharmaceutical firm owner Adam Kelliher heard about the magical island of Taransay in the Outer Hebrides, he just had to have it. The island featured on the hit BBC series Castaway, hosted by Ben Fogle, and it captured the attention of many. No sooner had Taransay gone on the market with an asking price of £2 million, a bidding war began. Many tried and failed to acquire the island with the entrepreneur fighting off stiff competition from a stream of buyers, which even included a rather disappointed Ben Fogle.

Beyonce & Jay-Z

Making our list for the second time is the ultimate celebrity power couple, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Three years after Jay-Z bought an island for Beyonce's 29th birthday, the couple added to their private island collection with a £1.5 million purchase. The pair invested in their own private island so that they can vacation with their daughter in peace. The island is located in North Abaco in the Bahamas and spans 360 acres!

Richard Branson

Appearing on our list for the second time is entrepreneur Richard Branson. That's right, he owns more than one private island! The Virgin boss picked up the sub-tropical Makepeace Island as a gift to say thank you to his employees, who can party there with friends when on annual leave. Many people would be more than satisfied if their employer offered them work from home days and free beer Fridays, but Richard Branson wanted to offer his best employees something extra special. The small heart-shaped resort is nestled in the Noosa River on Australia's Sunshine Coast.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is an American actor and producer who has brought to life some of cinema's most iconic fictional characters as well as wowing viewers in timeless biopics. The Great Gatsby actor is part Hollywood royalty, part eco-warrior, with plans to turn his private Blackadore Caye Island into the world's most environmentally-sound luxury resort. Situated in the crystal blue waters of Belize, more than half of the island will be used as a nature reserve and the other half will feature 70 resort bungalows and real estate homes. The resort is accepting real estate enquiries as we speak, to the tune of £3.9-£11.9m.

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are the ultimate power couple who have it all, including a 20-acre private island in the Bahamas named L'Île d'Anges. According to a feature in Architectural Digest which was published back in 2017, the couple acquired the island in 2003, taking it from a modest collection of rustic pavilions to an estate worthy of Nashville royalty. It took the couple eight years to turn the estate into the idyllic retreat that it is today.

Bear Grylls

Edward Michael Grylls OBE, better known as Bear Grylls, is known for his sense of adventure and ability to withstand the elements. So it is only fitting that he would invest in his own natural kingdom. Saint Tudwals is a tiny 30-acre stunning Welsh paradise that Grylls obtained back in 2001 for a very reasonable £95k. It is now worth an estimated £1 million. Bear has come up against conservationists and planning officials over the years and in 2013 he was ordered to remove a slide from the side of the island after complaints from the AONB unit!

Uri Geller

Uri Geller is an Israeli-British illusionist, magician, television personality, and self-proclaimed psychic. He is best known for his spoon bending antics but he's also a man that knows how to negotiate a savvy business deal. He acquired The Lamb, a stunning Scottish island, for just £30,000 back in 2009 - less than half of the original asking price! Geller apparently became fascinated with The Lamb when he discovered that the island is said to mirror the layout of the Giza pyramids in Egypt.