WHY IS THE BAHAMAS SO POPULAR AMONGSTCELEBRITIES AND WHERE DO THEY LIVE IN THE BAHAMAS?

It’s always difficult to obtain a fully accurate picture of celebrity and ultra-high-net-worth ownership. Many buyers intentionally purchase through corporate entities or trusts to preserve privacy. It’s also worth noting that some high-profile individuals prefer acquiring private islands, as it offers the highest level of discretion and seclusion.

It is also interesting to note that a very large number of celebrities are also just renting Bahamas luxury rentals to spend their vacations. Celebrities owners are also renting their own Bahamas luxury rentals to offset their cost of owning. Owning a piece of paradise is wonderful but can be quite costly.

A lot of deals are private and never reported, but below is a consolidated list of people whose Bahamas real-estate ownership has been publicly documented.

1. Private islands – Exumas & other cays

• Johnny Depp – actor: Owns Little Hall’s Pond Cay (≈45 acres) in the Exumas, bought after filming Pirates of the Caribbean.
• David Copperfield – magician / entrepreneur: Owns Musha Cay and the surrounding Islands of Copperfield Bay (≈700 acres, 11 islands) in the Exuma chain – operated as an ultra-luxury private-island resort.
• Nicolas Cage – actor: Bought Leaf Cay in the Exuma Cays in 2006; also has been reported as owning a luxury home on Paradise Island.
• Faith Hill & Tim McGraw – musicians: Own a 20-acre private island (L’Île d’Anges) in the Exumas; also reported to have an Eleuthera estate.
• Tyler Perry – filmmaker / media mogul: Owns White Bay Cay (≈25 acres) plus a nearby 7-acre island in the Bahamas; also cited as owning a large beachfront estate on Eleuthera.
• Beyoncé & Jay-Z – musicians / entrepreneurs: Reported to own Strangers Cay (≈360 acres) and a second private island in The Bahamas.
• Shakira – musician: Co-owner of Bonds Cay (≈700-acre private island) in the Bahamas.
• Tom Hanks – actor: Cited as owning Bush Hill, a private island in the Exuma chain.

2. Eleuthera & Harbour Island

Eleuthera

• Lenny Kravitz – musician: Has a home and recording studio on Eleuthera, where he spends significant time.
• Tyler Perry: (see above) – beachfront estate on Eleuthera as part of his Bahamas holdings.
• Faith Hill & Tim McGraw: (see above) – beachfront estate on Eleuthera in addition to their private island.
• Sandra Bullock – actor: Reported to own a beachfront estate on Eleuthera.
• Eddie Murphy – actor: In addition to Rooster Cay (below), some sources note a home on Eleuthera.
• Mariah Carey – singer: Owns an oceanfront home on Windermere Island (off Eleuthera), purchased in 2008.

Harbour Island – celebrity & billionaire homeowners

Sources focused on Harbour Island list it as having a very high concentration of billionaire and celebrity homeowners. Documented owners / past owners with homes on Harbour Island:

• Ron Perelman: Revlon chairman, billionaire investor.
• Robert Miller: Co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers.
• Barry Diller: Media mogul (IAC, Expedia).
• Diane von Fürstenberg: Fashion designer & entrepreneur.
• Ellen Barkin: Actress.
• Wayne Huizenga: Entrepreneur (Waste Management, Blockbuster) and former Miami Dolphins owner.
• India Hicks: Designer, former model, member of the extended British royal family.
• Edgar Bronfman Jr.: Former CEO of Warner Music and Seagram heir.
• Chris Blackwell: Island Records founder & hotelier; owner of the Pink Sands resort on Harbour Island.
• Anish Kapoor: Internationally known sculptor.
• Juan Trippe: Founder of Pan American Airways (historic owner).
• Tony Ressler: Private-equity billionaire (Apollo, Ares), owner of the Atlanta Hawks.
• Brooke Shields: Actress and former supermodel.
• Don Soffer: U.S. developer (Aventura, Florida).
• Arpad “Arki” Busson: Hedge-fund manager and philanthropist.
• Mickey Drexler: Former J.Crew CEO; commissioned the $42M “Zehava” estate on Pink Sands Beach.

3. New Providence: Nassau, Paradise Island, Lyford Cay & Albany

Paradise Island / Nassau

• Oprah Winfrey – media mogul: Owns an oceanfront estate on Paradise Island and is a long-time regular at The Ocean Club.
• Mariah Carey – singer: In addition to Windermere, has been reported as owning property on Paradise Island.
• Nicolas Cage – actor: Previously owned a luxury home on Paradise Island alongside his Exuma island.
• Lenny Kravitz – musician: Also mentioned among Paradise Island celebrity owners by local property sources.
• Eddie Murphy – actor: Owns 15-acre Rooster Cay just off Nassau.

Lyford Cay & Albany

• Sir Sean Connery – actor (late): Lived for ~30 years in Lyford Cay, one of the world’s most exclusive gated communities.
• Peter Nygård – fashion magnate: Built the large Nygard Cay estate in Lyford Cay.
• Louis Bacon – hedge-fund billionaire (Moore Capital): Owns a major Lyford Cay estate.
• Joe Lewis – billionaire investor (Tavistock Group): Main developer and resident of the Albany golf community.
• Tiger Woods – golfer / entrepreneur: Co-founder and resident of Albany.
• Ernie Els – golfer: Co-founder and resident of Albany.
• Justin Timberlake – musician / actor: Investor and homeowner in the Albany community.

4. Abaco & Baker’s Bay

The Abaco island chain (especially Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club) has become another hub for celebrity homeownership.

• Michael Jordan – NBA legend: Owns a home on Abaco/Baker’s Bay.
• Kim Kardashian & Kanye West (past): Reported property owners at Baker’s Bay.
• Elle Macpherson – model / entrepreneur: Reported homeowner at Baker’s Bay.
• Reese Witherspoon – actor / producer: Also cited as owning a home at Baker’s Bay.
• Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner (past): Reported to have owned property at Baker’s Bay.

5. Other notable names & owners

• Rick Fox – former NBA player: Maintains a home in The Bahamas and is active in Bahamian public life.
• Barry Diller & Diane von Fürstenberg: Deeply involved in the Bahamian yachting and real-estate scene.
• Chris Blackwell: Owner of various hospitality assets through Island Outpost.

6. How to interpret / use this

• This is not exhaustive – it’s a roll-up of names that appear repeatedly in reputable press and real-estate articles.
• Many ultra-high-net-worth owners keep their holdings completely private via corporate entities.
• Some reported holdings may have changed ownership since publication.