Who hasn’t dreamed of escaping to a private island, just you, the sun, and the sea? For most of us, that’s a fantasy, but for some celebrities, it’s real life. These stars didn’t just dream it; they bought it. Get ready to set your imagination sailing as we explore how luxury meets seclusion on 10 of the world’s most stunning celebrity-owned private islands.
Why We’re Obsessed with Celebrity-Owned Islands
Private islands represent the ultimate luxury: an escape from the crowds, the cameras, and the everyday. With global travel back in full swing, secluded boat-accessible destinations are having a moment, and many celebrity owners have leaned into eco-conscious development. You may not own one (yet!), but you can charter a boat and reach the same turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and reef anchorages nearby.
The Top 10 Celebrity-Owned Private Islands
- Richard Branson – Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
- Leonardo DiCaprio – Blackadore Caye, Belize
- Larry Ellison – Lanai, Hawaii
- David Copperfield – Musha Cay, Bahamas
- Aristotle Onassis (legacy) – Skorpios, Greece
- Johnny Depp – Little Halls Pond Cay, Bahamas
- Eddie Murphy – Rooster Cay, Bahamas
- Shakira – Bonds Cay, Bahamas
- Pamela Anderson – Island in Dubai’s World archipelago
- Ricky Martin – Angra dos Reis, Brazil
Richard Branson: Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
Overview
The Virgin Group founder bought Necker Island in 1979 for $180,000, when it was still uninhabited. Since then it has hosted guests like Princess Diana, Tony Blair, and Nelson Mandela. Renting a space on the island today costs in the region of $15,000 per night. Branson has said his most treasured memories on Necker are of time spent with family and friends along its beaches and reef.
Luxury Highlights
Accommodates up to 28 guests, with Balinese-inspired villas, coral reefs, and a private marina.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Charter a yacht in the British Virgin Islands and anchor at Virgin Gorda or Anegada for world-class snorkeling and beach bars. The BVIs hold our largest Caribbean fleet, with 622 boats across Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and the rest of the chain.
Leonardo DiCaprio: Blackadore Caye, Belize
Overview
Leonardo DiCaprio bought this island in the Caribbean Sea in 2005 for a reported $1.75 million. Blackadore Caye is 42 hectares, sitting right by the Belize Barrier Reef off the country’s coast. DiCaprio, a long-time environmental philanthropist, has plans to develop the island into an eco-resort with a green hotel, an artificial reef, and habitat restoration. The project has been delayed repeatedly since the 2015 announcement; no current opening date is public.
Luxury Highlights
42 hectares, artificial reefs, green architecture, and a focus on restoring the island’s natural habitat
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Charter a boat in Belize and sail the Belize Barrier Reef. Anchor near Ambergris Caye for diving and snorkeling among vibrant marine life.
Larry Ellison: Lanai, Hawaii
Overview
Ellison bought a 97% stake of Lanai from billionaire David Murdock for a reported $300 million in 2012. Lanai is the sixth-largest Hawaiian island at roughly 140 square miles, with a population of around 3,200.
Luxury Highlights
Two Four Seasons resorts, championship golf, and farm-to-table dining on a 140-square-mile canvas.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Cruise the Hawaiian Islands, stopping at Maui and Lanai for breathtaking anchorages and coastal hikes. Borrow A Boat does not currently list Hawaii fleet directly; the closest options sit along the Florida and California coasts. Browse U.S. boat charters.
David Copperfield: Musha Cay, Bahamas
Overview
The famous illusionist owns a whopping four private islands in the Bahamas, which he paid a cool $50 million for. Who else is considering a career change right now? Yep, us too. Musha Cay is the only one of Copperfield’s islands that serves as a resort. According to Forbes, it costs the public $37,000 per night (with a minimum of four nights) to stay here.
Luxury Highlights
Private villas, movie theater, on-call staff, and even custom fireworks shows.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Charter a yacht in the Bahamas and island-hop through the Exumas. Visit Staniel Cay and Thunderball Grotto for unforgettable snorkeling.
Aristotle Onassis (legacy): Skorpios, Greece
Overview
Skorpios is the original celebrity private island. Aristotle Onassis bought the 200-hectare Ionian island in 1963, married Jacqueline Kennedy on it in 1968, and is buried there alongside his son Alexander and daughter Christina. After his granddaughter Athina inherited the estate, she sold the island in 2013 for a reported $153 million to Ekaterina Rybolovleva, daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev. The Onassis legacy and the Kennedy connection still draw the eye of every yacht passing the Ionian. Skorpios remains private and not open to land tourism, but the surrounding waters are international and the views from a chartered boat anchored just off Madouri Bay or Lefkada are unmatched.
Luxury Highlights
The Onassis-era main villa, the family chapel where Onassis and Jackie were married, the private boathouse, and a 200-hectare nature reserve still managed by the estate.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Skorpios sits in the Ionian, between Lefkada and Meganisi. Charter from Lefkada Town or Nidri (around 5 nautical miles away) and you can anchor in Madouri Bay or sail past the island’s western shore for the best Onassis-villa view. The Ionian is one of the calmest sailing grounds in the Mediterranean, ideal for first-time skippered or bareboat charters. Charter a boat in Greece with 3,800+ boats across the Cyclades, Ionian, and Saronic islands.
Johnny Depp: Little Halls Pond Cay, Bahamas
Overview
Word has it that Johnny Depp fell in love with this small island in the Bahamas after filming on location for Pirates of the Caribbean. According to Forbes, Depp paid a reported $3.6 million for Little Halls Pond Cay. He named two of its beaches ‘Gonzo’ and ‘Brando’ in honour of his friends Hunter S. Thompson and Marlon Brando, with the others named after his family. Depp told Vanity Fair, “I don’t think I’d ever seen any place so pure and beautiful. You can feel your pulse rate drop about 20 beats. It’s instant freedom.”
Luxury Highlights
Six beaches, coral reefs, and total seclusion.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Charter through the Exumas and Eleuthera, where turquoise waters and sandbars abound. For sailing across the wider Pirates-of-the-Caribbean coast, browse our Caribbean sailboat selection.
Eddie Murphy: Rooster Cay, Bahamas
Overview
No novice to the private island business: Rooster Cay was Murphy’s second Bahamas purchase. He previously owned Pearl Cay (next to Paradise Island), which he sold in 2007 before acquiring Rooster for a reported $15 million. Rooster Cay sits right by Nassau. Murphy reportedly never built on the cay, so the island remains undeveloped.
Luxury Highlights
Six hectares of unspoiled beauty and proximity to the lively capital.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Base your charter in the Bahamas, sailing from Nassau out to Rose Island, Blue Lagoon, or down to the Exuma Cays.
Shakira: Bonds Cay, Bahamas
Overview
Shakira bought this island in the north of the Bahamas in 2011 with Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz, for a reported $16 million. The trio’s plan was to develop Bonds Cay into an eco-friendly, carbon-neutral artists’ retreat. The project never materialised; Bonds Cay was relisted for sale in 2022. The island sits just over 120 miles off the coast of Florida and covers around 700 acres.
Luxury Highlights
Five beaches, private coves, art galleries, and luxury resorts.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Cruise the northern Bahamas and anchor near Abaco or Grand Bahama for secluded beaches and marinas. Or browse our wider Caribbean fleet for itineraries that thread the Bahamas, BVIs, and beyond on a single trip.
Pamela Anderson: Island in Dubai’s World Archipelago
Overview
Pamela Anderson has been linked for years to one of the parcels in Dubai’s The World archipelago, the offshore project that splits 300 artificial islands into the shapes of countries. The reported plan, announced around the time of her brief 2008 reconciliation with Tommy Lee, was to develop an eco-friendly hotel on the parcel. The development never happened. The World project itself stalled after the 2008 financial crisis, and most of its parcels were never built on; ownership of individual islands has been disputed for years.
Luxury Highlights
Part of The World Islands project, with stunning Dubai skyline views.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Charter from Dubai and cruise the coastline taking in Palm Jumeirah, The World archipelago, and the Burj Al Arab from the sea.
Ricky Martin: Island in Angra dos Reis, Brazil
Overview
In 2008, the Latin pop star purchased this island for his family for $8 million. Martin’s private island is situated off the coast of Brazil, near the stylish resort region of the Angra dos Reis islands. This scattering of islands is said to be some of the most scenic in the Southern Hemisphere.
Luxury Highlights
Lush landscapes, turquoise bays, and proximity to luxury Brazilian resorts.
Sail There With Borrow A Boat
Charter a boat in Brazil and sail the Green Coast (Costa Verde), exploring Angra’s islands and the charming colonial town of Paraty.
Sail Close to the Stars – Charter Routes Near Celebrity Islands
Discover dream itineraries near these A-list retreats:
- BVIs: Island-hop past Necker Island, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke.
- Bahamas: Sail the Exumas and peek at Musha Cay or Little Halls Pond Cay.
- Belize: Cruise Ambergris Caye and Hol Chan Marine Reserve near Blackadore Caye.
- Greece: Sail the Ionian past Skorpios, Madouri, and the Lefkada coast.
- Brazil: Navigate the emerald bays of Angra dos Reis.
Tips: Check local anchoring regulations, permits, and respect private zones. Many of these waters also offer top-notch diving, snorkeling, and beach-hopping. Choose from bareboat, skippered, or crewed yacht options through Borrow A Boat.
Sail Past Them (You Don’t Need to Own One)
You can’t book a night on Necker, but you can drop anchor in the same waters. Borrow A Boat puts the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the South Atlantic within reach of any group with a week to spare.
- British Virgin Islands: 622 boats, sail past Necker and anchor at Jost Van Dyke for sundowners.
- Bahamas: 132 boats, Exumas island-hopping with a Musha Cay flyby on the way.
- Caribbean overall: 1,143 boats, or jump straight to a Caribbean sailboat.
- Greece (Ionian): 3,888 boats, sail past Skorpios and the Onassis chapel from Lefkada or Nidri.
Pair this with our guide to the 10 best Caribbean party islands for the louder side of the same coast, or the most beautiful yachts in the world if you want to sail past Necker on something Branson himself would admire.