More and more celebrities have been investing their Hollywood money in the hospitality sector as of late—restaurants, nightclubs, and transportation services, to name a few. 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, which is co-owned by Robert DeNiro, was recently named the world’s worst. Rigsby’s Guest House, of which Harry Potter star Rupert Grint is the sole shareholder, was closed due to poor sales. However, not all celebrities have seen such failures when dabbling within the hospitality industry: Andy Murray’s Cromlix Hotel has received consistently excellent reviews since its opening in 2014, and Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort remains one of Utah’s finest. Leonardo Dicaprio made headlines with the purchase of a $1.75 million dollar island in Belize, where he plans to build a sprawling, eco-conscious resort, set to open in 2018.
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Many hotel patrons may not realize that they’re in fact staying at a star-studded property, which is why we’ve rounded up the ultimate list of celebrity 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.
Hugh Jackman: Gwinganna Health 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 instead wound up staying for two months—and ultimately became co-owner. The wellness resort offers spa treatments, outdoor activities, stress therapy and more, all amongst a serene Australian setting.
Andy Murray: The 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 sometime in the 1980s, but only recently did it reopen under the ownership of Murray, whose refurbishments turned it into a five-star luxury property.
Richard Gere: The 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. What guests may not know, however, is that the Inn is co-owned by Richard Gere, a Westchester resident himself.
Leonardo Dicaprio: Blackadore Caye
Though the property won’t be opening until 2018, Leonardo Dicaprio’s ambitious undertaking to build a luxury, eco-friendly resort on the island of Blackadore Caye in Belize saw the environmentalist purchase the island—that’s right, the island—for $1.75 million dollars alongside hotelier Jeff Gram.
Rupert Grint: Rigsby’s Guest House
The actor best known for playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films also happens to have a quirky investment habit. Grint once famously purchased an ice cream truck and discretely bought shares in his parent’s hotel, Rigsby’s Guest House, which was unfortunately closed in 2015 after making only $3,000 in four months. However, the townhouse supposedly being converted into apartment units by none other than the Grint family themselves.
Robert DeNiro: Multiple Properties
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, however—the Nobu Hotel in Manila, of which DeNiro co-owns, was recently named the world’s worst. 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
Hollywood power couple 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 fresh water pool, direct beach access, a salon and spa. The best part about the hotel, however, has to be the dedication to building an eco-friendly property, which will utilize green energy.
Clint Eastwood: Mission Ranch Hotel
The gorgeous Mission Ranch Hotel was converted from a 19thcentury 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 has an owner by the name of Clint Eastwood. You may have heard of him.
Francis Ford Coppola: Multiple Properties
Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola also happens to be quite the entrepreneur. Not only does he own two vineyards, a restaurant, and a film studio, but also 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 Jardin Escondido in Argentina.
John Malkovich: The Big Sleep
Since most of the properties on this list fall into the luxury category, it may come as a surprise that 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.
Elizabeth Hurley: Number 11 Cadogan Gardens
Located in London’s central Knighstbridge neighborhood, this boutique hotel features extravagant décor with velvet accents and chandeliers. Originally built as four separate townhouses by Earl Cadogan, the property is now owned by model-turned-actress Elizabeth Hurley.
Donatella Versace: Palazzo Versace
Probably the most obvious of the bunch, the Palazzo Versace is owned by—we'll give you one guess—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 Palazzo’s to be opened in the near future: one in Macau and one in Dubai.
Robert Redford: 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 such as river rafting, horseback riding, fly fishing, skiing, and more.
This article was previously published on Travel + Leisure.
