20 Hotels You Didn’t Know Were Owned by Celebrities

By Adeline Duff
January 20, 2016
The Clarence
More celebrities have been investing their Hollywood money in the hospitality sector, from restaurants to nightclubs to transportation services. But it’s celebrity owned hotels that have most recently been thrust into the limelight, though not always for the most delightful of reasons.

The Nobu Hotel in Manila, co-owned by Robert DeNiro, was named the world’s worst new luxury hotel last year. Rigsby’s Guest House, of which Harry Potter star Rupert Grint is the sole shareholder, was closed due to poor sales.

Not all celebrities have seen such failures when dabbling in the hospitality industry, however. Andy Murray’s Cromlix Hotel has received consistently excellent reviews since opening in 2014, and Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort is one of Utah’s finest. Leonardo DiCaprio made headlines with the purchase of a $1.75-million island in Belize, where he plans to build a sprawling, eco-conscious resort, set to open in 2018.

Many hotel patrons may not realize that they’re even staying at a celebrity-owned property, which is why we’ve rounded up the ultimate list of star-owned hotels. Book a room at one of these A-list-approved destinations, and you may wind up doing yoga next to Hugh Jackman or eating breakfast next to DeNiro.
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Hugh Jackman: Gwinganna Health Retreat

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

Nature lover Hugh Jackman planned on spending a few weeks at the Gwinganna Health Retreat on Australia’s Gold Coast while getting in shape for “Wolverine,” but wound up staying for two months — and ultimately became a co-owner. The wellness resort offers spa treatments, outdoor activities, stress therapy and more, all amid a serene Australian landscape.

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Andy Murray: The Cromlix Hotel

Cromlix Hotel

Tennis star and Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray owns the Cromlix Hotel, a Victorian country estate that dates back to the 19th century. The property was converted into a hotel in the 1980s, but just recently reopened under Murray's ownership.

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Richard Gere: The Bedford Post Inn

Bedford Post Inn

Located in the charming town of Bedford, New York, this historical property dates back to the 1860s and is situated amongst lush, rustic surroundings. The inn is co-owned by Richard Gere, a Westchester resident himself.

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Leonardo Dicaprio: Blackadore Caye

McLennan Design

Although the property isn't scheduled to open until 2018, Leonardo DiCaprio’s ambition to build a luxury, eco-friendly resort led to the purchase of the island of Blackadore Caye in Belize for $1.75 million, in a partnership with hotelier Jeff Gram.

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Rupert Grint: Rigsby’s Guest House

Rigsby's Guest House

The actor best known for playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films once purchased an ice cream truck — and bought shares in his parent’s hotel, Rigsby’s Guest House. The property was unfortunately closed in 2015, however the townhouse may be converted into apartment units by the Grint family.

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Robert DeNiro: Multiple Properties

The Greenwich Hotel

Iconic Tribeca eatery Locanda Verde and the luxury Shibui Spa make Robert Deniro’s Greenwich Hotel one of New York City’s best. His other properties haven’t seen such success, though: The Nobu Hotel in Manila, which DeNiro co-owns, was recently named the world’s worst new luxury hotel. DeNiro also co-founded Nobu Hospitality Group, alongside renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, which includes 32 restaurants and nine hotels.

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Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta Jones: Ariel Sands

Ariel Sands

Michael Douglas and Catherina Zeta Jones co-own the Ariel Sands Resort in Bermuda. The resort, which is currently being redeveloped and will open in 2017, will feature beachside cottages as well as a freshwater pool, direct beach access, a salon and spa.

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Clint Eastwood: Mission Ranch Hotel

Mission Ranch Hotel

The gorgeous Mission Ranch Hotel was converted from a 19th-century dairy house. Located in Carmel by the Sea, the charming property sits on 22 acres and boasts 31 rooms, a tennis court, fitness center, on-site dining, and an owner by the name of Clint Eastwood. You may have heard of him.

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Francis Ford Coppola: Multiple Properties

Blancaneaux Lodge

Director Francis Ford Coppola not only owns two vineyards, a restaurant, and a film studio, he also has five resorts. The Francis Ford Coppola Presents lifestyle brand includes the Blancaneaux Lodge and the Turtle Inn in Belize, Palazzo Margherita in Italy, La Lancha in Guatemala, and Jardín Escondido in Argentina.

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John Malkovich: The Big Sleep

The Big Sleep

While most of the properties on this list fall into the luxury category, that's not always the case: Actor John Malkovich is a primary investor in the Big Sleep, a budget hotel chain with locations in Cardiff, Wales and Cheltenham, and Eastbourne in England.

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Benny Andersson: Hotel Rival

Hotel Rival

The band ABBA remains one of Sweden’s most beloved musical exports, and member Benny Andersson made headlines back in 2003 for opening the Hotel Rival in Stockholm. It has since received superb reviews.

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Robert Redford: Sundance Mountain Resort

Sundance Mountain Resort

The largest celebrity-owned resort belongs to actor, director, and Sundance Film Festival founder Robert Redford. The picturesque mountain resort is located on the slopes of Mt. Timpanogos, in Utah, and offers a plethora of outdoor activities from river rafting to horseback riding to fly fishing to skiing.

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Chris Blackwell: Goldeneye Resort

(c) Christaian Horan Photography

Famed music producer and founder of Island Records, Chris Blackwell, owns the Goldeneye Resort in St. Mary, Jamaica. The iconic resort served as the location where Ian Fleming wrote his James Bond novels, and was also owned by Bob Marley, who sold the property to Blackwell before his death.

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Doris Day: The Cypress Inn

D.M. Troutman

Hollywood icon Doris Day runs a lovely boutique Inn, located in the scenic Calfironia town, Carmel-By-The-Sea. The adorable property is pet friendly—Day remains one of the foremost animal rights activists—and features a gorgeous garden courtyard and quaint (but cozy) guestrooms.

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Olivia Newton:John- Gaia Retreat & Spa

© 2013 Scott Petrie

Australian actress Olivia Newton-John owns the Gaia Retreat & Spa alongside three other partners. The wellness resort, located in New South Wales, Australia, offers retreat packages, spa treatments, and activities such as yoga, organic cooking classes, boxing, meditation, clay sculpting, and more.

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Donatella Versace- Palazzo Versace

Palazzo Versace

Probably the most obvious of the bunch, the Palazzo Versace is owned by the House of Versace, whose most famous living family member is designer Donatella. While the original Palazzo Versace is located in Australia, there are plans for two more Palazzos to be opened in the near future, one in Macau and one in Dubai.

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Paula Deen: Y'all Come Inn

Y'all Come Inn

Cooking show host and celebrity chef Paula Deen rents out her Tybee Island beach house to guests year round. The culinary-friendly home is equipped with a fully stocked kitchen and boasts an outdoor shower and wrap around porch. Renters who stay at the property also get a VIP dinner reservation at Deen’s restaurant.

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Jason Priestly: Terrace Beach Resort

Terrace Beach Resort

“90210” star Jason Priestly owns a rustic retreat in the woods of British Columbia — and it’s glorious. The Ucluelet property is nestled amongst the forest and features a variety of lodging options, including lofts, suites, and hot tub equipped, waterfront cabins situated in the pristine Canadian woodlands.

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Emilio & Gloria Estefan: Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa

Costa D'Este Beach Resort

This beachside resort is owned by Grammy award-winning couple Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Located in Vero Beach, Florida, the pet-friendly property offers gorgeous waterfront views, a luxury spa, and activities like paddle boarding and snorkeling.

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Bono & The Edge: The Clarence Hotel

The Clarence

Located in Dublin’s popular Temple Bar neighborhood, The Clarence Hotel is co-owned by Bono and the Edge of U2 fame. However, reports surfaced in 2013 that the pair had stepped down as directors of the company that owns the hotel, a fact that was never officially confirmed. While it’s unclear whether or not the pair continue to play a part in the hotel’s management, the property remains one of the hippest hotels in the Irish capital.

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