Ultimate celeb status symbol: Owning an exclusive private island

Owning an island is the ultimate celebrity status symbol. Picture: Getty Images For most people, owning a holiday home is the ultimate real estate dream—but for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, even a sprawling mansion isn’t quite private enough. Over the years, a slew of A-listers have taken their property portfolios to another level by purchasing entire islands, transforming secluded stretches of land into the ultimate celebrity retreats. From Leonardo DiCaprio’s 104-acre escape off the coast of Belize to Johnny Depp’s idyllic Bahamian getaway, these stars have spent millions securing their own slices of paradise. Some have turned their islands into lavish vacation compounds, while others have envisioned ambitious resorts or simply left much of the land untouched. Here are seven celebrities who have taken luxury real estate to the extreme, with spectacular island purchases around the world. Leonardo DiCaprio—Blackadore Caye, Belize Leonardo DiCaprio took his passion for environmentalism into the real estate world when he purchased Blackadore Caye, a 104-acre island off the coast of Belize, in 2005. Picture: Getty Images DiCaprio was inspired by a scuba-diving trip to Belize’s c...