Top Places Around The World Where The Rich and Famous Retire

Updated: Jul 24, 2023By Daniel RosenblatBusiness

This article originally appeared on Investing.com. It has been republished here with permission.

Sting ©Zoom Team & ©Liv Oeian / Shutterstock.com

Historically, celebrities have had a knack for spending copious amounts of money on things that they don’t really need. Those who do manage to save enough money throughout their careers, however, are able to invest in their own futures by purchasing the retirement home of their dreams in a location that fits all of their many needs.

The following is a brief look at some of the amazing destinations around the world where celebrities have chosen to spend their twilight years. Although most of their luxury homes are well beyond the limits of what the “every person” can afford, it might come as a surprise to find out just how affordable some of these locations actually are.

1. Sir Rod Stewart

Location: The French Riviera
What They’re Doing Now: Still Recording
Avg. Cost of Living: $875/Month*

Known for its crystal clear seas, beautiful villas, and for being home to the Cannes Film Festival, the French Riviera is located on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France. Thanks, in part, to the ideal yachting conditions of the Riviera, and its picturesque backdrops, the region, known as Côte d’Azur, has been a popular holiday destination for A-List celebrities for more than 150 years.

The French Riviera @Culture Trip / Pinterest.com

Sir Rod Stewart is among the notable names who have been spotted around the French Riviera in recent years. After a brief stint away from recording, “Rod the Mod” has returned to the studio, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he decides to spend his twilight years on his yacht in the Riviera.

2. Sir Sean Connery

Location: New Providence Island, Bahamas
What They’re Doing Now: Passed Away in 2020
Avg. Cost of Living: $1,000/Month*

New Providence Island is the most populated of all the islands of the Bahamas and accounts for over 70% of the nation’s population. The Bahamas have long been known for the outstanding fishing and its beaches with unrivaled beauty. Island life is something that is much different from the life people experience in larger countries.

New Providence Island, Bahamas @epikhu / Facebook.com

Due to the smaller communities, life on an island is, usually, full of relaxation, outdoor hobbies, and a life out of the spotlight. He was Bond, James Bond, but for more than 30 years prior to his passing, Sean Connery lived a life of anonymity on the Bahamian island of New Providence, where he owned a large, yet modest, villa on the beach.

3. Yves St. Laurent

Location: Marrakesh, Morocco
What They’re Doing Now: Passed Away in 2008
Avg. Cost of Living: $330/Month*

Founded near 1,000 years ago, Marrakech is the fourth largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco and is located less than 150 miles south of Casablanca. Marrakech is rich with trade and culture that, if unprepared, could be quite overwhelming for visitors. For those who have grown accustomed to the city, however, there is no other place quite like it anywhere in the world.

Marrakesh, Morocco @Lonely Planet / Pinterest.com

Over the past 20 years, the hotel and tourism industries in Marrakech have begun to blossom, thanks in part to the increase in visitors from France, including the famous designer Yves Saint-Laurent who was known to have spent a great deal of time there before he passed away in 2008.

4. Eric Clapton

Location: Surrey, UK
What They’re Doing Now: Recording Music
Avg. Cost of Living: $1,000/Month*

Located in the southern region of England, Surrey is part of “tropical England” whereas the weather is not as crisp as further north in the UK, thus making the county rather ideal for making wine. A number of musicians have found themselves at a “Crossroad” when deciding where to buy property, but Eric Clapton was not one of the indecisive ones – he was born, raised, and will probably spend his retirement years there.

©BBA Photography/Shutterstock.com

Surrey hasn’t just been used as a location in numerous blockbuster films but is also a wonderful location for celebrities to call home when it’s time to retire. More than one-fifth of the county is covered by forestation, and it is the county in England that is most densely wooded.

5. Michael Douglas

Location: Mallorca, Spain
What They’re Doing Now: Owns A Vineyard
Avg. Cost of Living: $850/Month*

During the summer months, Mallorca, the largest of the Balearics islands, is overrun with visitors who have come to enjoy the island’s crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches, and serene lifestyle. Like much of the region, Mallorca is known for its fresh, locally grown produce and fantastic wineries.

Mallorca, Spain @Marina Constantinoiu / Pinterest.com

With its unparalleled nature and lively nightlife, Mallorca has something for everyone. Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones for instance, probably, don’t explore the bar scene as much as they used to, they do, however, own a villa on the island and run a vineyard that makes award-winning wines.

6. Mick Jagger

Location: Le Midi, France
What They’re Doing Now: R&R
Avg. Cost of Living: $1,000/Month*

Le Midi is not just located in the south of France, it is the south of France. Le Midi stretches from the Atlantic coast in the southwest of France to the France/Italy border on the east. Located a little more than 10 miles north of Cannes, in the French Riviera, is Chateauneuf de Grasse, a small village with only about 3,000 residents.

Le Midi, France @Daily Mail / Pinterest.com

Known for the one-of-a-kind Church of Saint Martin, Chateauneuf de Grasse is enveloped by mountains all around and is rich with beautiful scenery and humongous villas that are perched upon the hills of the village and look down upon the Riviera below. Chateauneuf de Grasse is the place to retire for those with deep pockets and a passion for seclusion.

7. Tony Dorigo

Location: Algarve, Portugal
What They’re Doing Now: TV/Radio Personality
Avg. Cost of Living: $600/Month*

Located in the southernmost region of Portugal, The Algarve has a population of a little under half of a million people and a climate that makes it an ideal place for tourists to visit all year round. The region is known for its stunning golf courses and Atlantic beaches that provide outstanding seafood to the many hotels and resorts that line the coast.

©DaLiu/Shutterstock.com

With a population that triples during peak tourist season, without having a residence of their own in Algarve, visitors might start to find it rather difficult to find lodgings during the holiday season. For those who do visit The Algarve, keep an eye out for Aussie soccer legend, and former EPL star, Tony Dorigo, who has a home in the region.

8. Michael Schumacher

Location: Zurich, Switzerland
What They’re Doing Now: Spending Time With His Family
Avg. Cost of Living: $1,035/Month*

Located at the northern peak of the lake that shares its name and close to the southern German border, Zurich is home to just under half of a million people and is the most populated city in Switzerland. The friendly locals and the city’s modern classical architecture are more than reason enough for celebrities to choose Zurich as their retirement destination.

During a regular year, Zurich is the host city of the largest techno street party in all of Europe, which might be one of the factors that have contributed to the city constantly being rated as one of the happiest cities in Europe. Or, it could be that because of the city’s high altitude it rarely rains and blue skies are aplenty.

9. Sting

Location: Tuscany, Italy
What They’re Doing Now: Makes Wine
Avg. Cost of Living: $750/Month*

Known for the rich cultural experience that tourists encounter there, Tuscany is considered to be “a nation within a nation”. Sites, such as The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Pitti Palace, are just a few of the numerous attractions one can visit while in Tuscany, however, for those who are after a true Tuscan experience, look no further than one of the region’s many vineyards.

©Jarek Pawlak/Shutterstock.com

Due to its green meadows, rolling hills, and breathtaking landscape, it’s easy to understand why so many celebrities have been spotted in Tuscany. Sting, for one, has a home in Tuscany where he and his wife run a vineyard/pizzeria.

10. David Letterman

Location: Missoula, Montana, US
What They’re Doing Now: Ranching
Avg. Cost of Living: $1,076/Month*

Split in half by the Clark Fork River and with a history that dates back more than 12,000 years, is the city of Missoula in western Montana. With a population of approximately 75,000 people, Missoula is a wonderful place for those who prefer the quiet life that the American countryside has to offer.

David Letterman ©DCBoutte Photography/Shutterstock.com

Due to its location, Missoula has some of the best trout fishing anywhere in the world, and although some might wonder why people would choose to retire there, one look at its surrounding mountains and beautiful greenery will have anyone convinced. One celebrity who has been enjoying the spoils of Western Montana is the former long-time talk show host of “Late Night”, David Letterman, who spends most of the year on his ranch.

11. Dame Maggie Smith

Location: Petworth, West Sussex, UK
What They’re Doing Now: Acting
Avg. Cost of Living: $1,285/Month*

Less than 30 miles south of Surrey, towards the southern coast of the United Kingdom, is yet another stop in the tour around “tropical England”. Petworth, West Sussex, has a population of just over 3,000 people, but that hasn’t stopped the townsfolk from turning the parish into a place of culture.

Petworth, West Sussex, UK @famouspeople / Twitter.com

For celebrities who are looking for a place to retire, that’s a little bit off the beaten path, Petworth will suffice nicely. Petworth’s cobblestone roads and flushing meadows look to be straight out of a Thomas Hardy novel and, at least, one celebrity has taken it upon themselves to retire in the market town at the heart of the South Downs National Park, Dame Maggie Smith.

12. Jeff Gordon

Location Charlotte, North Carolina, US
What They’re Doing Now: FOX Sports Broadcaster
Avg. Cost of Living: $800/Month*

Found close to the border, where North and South Carolina meet, is Charlotte, North Carolina, the third fastest-growing major city in the United States, and the location of America’s first gold rush – the Carolina Gold Rush. Pimento lovers will be please to find out that Charlotte is also the pimento cheese capital of the world.

Charlotte, North Carolina, US @cheatsheet.com

With, nearly, 200,000 cats and dogs registered to the residents of Charlotte, the city is an excellent place for retirees who have furry little companions. Among the popular landmarks, that can be found in Charlotte, is the Nascar Hall of Fame, which helps to explain why retired Nascar legend, Jeff Gordon, has purchased property there.

13. Simon Cowell

Location: Saint James, Barbados
What They’re Doing Now: Judging Reality Shows
Avg. Cost of Living: $1,250/Month*

On the outer ring, of the eastern coast, of the Caribbean Sea lies the picturesque island, Barbados. Formerly known as the “Gold Coast”, the parish of Saint James, on the island’s west coast, has white-sand beaches and calm, turquoise blue waters that are home to a wide assortment of marine life.

Saint James, Barbados @today.com

In recent years, the demographic of people who have visited Saint James has changed from every day tourists to those who could afford the finer things that life has to offer, and has in turn been relabelled as the “Platinum Coast”. Among the celebrities who have purchased homes on the coast is Simon Cowell, who can frequently be seen visiting his 1.3 acre $27 million villa in Cove Spring.

14. Tom Hanks

Location: Antiparos, Greece
What They’re Doing Now: Still Acting
Avg. Cost of Living: $1,000/Month*

Located amongst the Cyclades, in the southern part of the Aegean Sea, is a little slice of paradise that has a population of just over 1,200 people; the island of Antiparos. Antiparos is rich with history and magnificent cites that date back to the Neolithic Era, including one of the world’s most ancient and mysterious caves.

The cobblestone roads and blue-roofed houses, that make up the infrastructure of this tiny island, truly do make it look like something out of a storybook. With that being said, it looks like a fairytale ending is in the cards for Tom Hanks, as he and his wife have purchased a villa on the island and have gained Greek citizenship.