Costa Rica’s A-List Residents

A LOT of celebrities – actors, singers, athletes & business moguls – own a vacation home in Costa Rica. And what I call a ‘vacation home’ is usually a massive mansion surrounded by pools, gardens, courtyards & guest homes. Today let’s turn our lifestyle blog into a trashy tabloid as we peek into the private lives of A-List residents who would much rather be left alone!

WHY NICOYA & SURROUNDS?

In investigating Costa Rica’s second homes of the rich and famous, it became clear that celebrities LOVE Guanacaste Province’s jutting Nicoya Peninsula and immediately adjacent areas of Puntarenas province. The reasons are simple: the location is easily accessed via the Liberia International Airport, and the Nicoya Peninsula & surrounds are by far the driest regions of Costa Rica. Ease of access and great weather for the win!

But of course let’s not forget the pristine beaches, nature, great surfing, modern infrastructure, SCUBA & snorkeling, sport fishing, exclusive resorts & restaurants, luxurious trips & activities, tropical vibes and the social proof of knowing that scores of other rich & famous have also made a second home here.

Another draw is Nicoya’s designation as one of five global ‘Blue Zones’, meaning areas where the local residents tend to live much longer than average, often north of 100 years old. These areas are characterized by lifestyles that promote longevity including healthy diets, regular physical activity, strong social connections, and low stress levels. The other four Blue Zones are Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Icaria (Greece), and Loma Linda (California, USA).

Let’s take a look at some confirmed, rumored or suspected A-List property owners in Costa Rica.

• Celebrity Names in green mark celebrities confirmed to have purchased a property in Costa Rica.
• Celebrity Names in orange mark celebrities that are highly suspected to have purchased a property in Costa Rica, including repeatetly being seen in the same area. However there is no hard evidence of them doing so – although rumors abound. This can involve celebrities using trusts or corporations to make a more anonymous and tougher-to-trace purchase.
• Celebrity Names in red are rumored to have purchased a property however there is a lack of concrete evidence of them doing so, and regular sightings are more sparse.

LOCAL CELEBRITIES

Mel Gibson

Mr. Gibson discovered the beauty of Costa Rica while scouting locations for his 2006 hit ‘Apocalypto’ – and although the movie ended up being shot in Mexico, Mel’s love for the country has been kindled. Mel became an activist for Costa Rica’s under-developed movie industry – stating that the country has amazing diversity of scenery and geography, but little in the way of infrastructure like movie studios. He famously purchased a sprawling 400-acre, multi-home jungle estate which he is known to patrol with a machete in hand.

Mel’s three villas are custom-fitted with native wood and accented with Spanish and Italian tiles. The homes have vaulted ceilings, pools, barbecues and multiple balconies & verandas that overlook the amazing scenery. The largest of the three homes, called Casa Guanacaste, has seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms. The two smaller villas have two-bedrooms each.

See Mel’s Costa Rican hacienda here. The estate has been put up for sale a few times in recent years, most recently in 2021.

“I have a place in Costa Rica, and I love it. I bought it many years ago, and it is in a good location, not in a very touristy area.” – Mel Gibson

Brittney Spears

2008 was a tough year for Brittney, with several hospitalizations, psychotic episodes, a very public child custody fight and her placement under a conservatorship. To get away and collect herself, Brittney and several of her friends joined her mate & Malibu neighbor Mel Gibson at his Costa Rican hacienda, following his invitation. And she ended up falling in love with the country as well, purchasing a villa next to Mel’s estate (or so it has been widely rumored).

Despite the challenges, Brittney released her sixth studio album “Circus” in December of that year. The album was met with commercial success as Brittney completed a 9-month, 97-city global concert tour in 2009. Mel Gibson undoubtfully helped her out of the hole, as he has done for Robert Downey Jr. when Robert spiraled down into the abyss only to make a resounding comeback. And in a twist of irony, both Brittney and Robert came to Mel’s aid when he himself needed support and forgiveness. 

Brangelina

Bet you haven’t heard that term in a looo…ong time! Brad Pitt & Angeline Jolie were widely reported to be on a Costa Rican house hunting mission back in 2011. Rumor had it that Brad was keen on a section of a sprawling, private farmland in locations unknown. Also mentioned was a unit at the Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, just north of Jacó – the same resort which is linked to Tom Cruise. Some sources mentioned the couple bought a private island. With their six kids, Brad was dreaming of a peaceful holiday respite and family vacation spot while Angelina took a break from Hollywood to focus on what’s really important – and Costa Rica fit the bill as the perfect destination.

Ultimately, Brangelina split up in 2016 and little is known about the whereabouts of their Costa Rican home.

Tom Brady & Gisele Bündchen

Star quarterback Tom Brady and wife, model & actress Gisele Bündchen, purchased a house on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula near Santa Teresa. The couple frequently vacationed there, even holding their second wedding ceremony in town. It’s been suggested that Gisele has kept the Costa Rican property after the divorce – in fact she was seen in Costa Rica this year, enjoying the tropical beaches with Ivanka Trump and Karlie Kloss.

“Costa Rica is magic. It feels as if time has stopped for me when I am here.” – Gisele Bündchen

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg owns a private  property near Playa Hermosa in Santa Teresa. The social media mogul fell in love with the country during his honeymoon here in 2008.  Locals have spotted him jogging on nearby beaches and say that he is otherwise rarely seen. When in town, Mark seems to keep a very low profile.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is a frequent visitor to Nicoya Peninsula, often seen enjoying the beaches, ziplining or being chauffeured around in a private helicopter. She is said to own a mansion in one of the more popular areas of Nicoya however there is a lot of conflicting information & rumors out there and, as of now, no concrete evidence to suggest that she own a property in Costa Rica.

“Costa Rica, you are the future.” – Lady Gaga

Steven Segal

Steven has taken a keen interest in Costa Rica – going as far as meeting then-president Oscar Arias to discuss transforming Costa Rica into ‘Hollywood South’ – a sentiment echoed by fellow A-Lister Mel Gibson. The successful meeting led to follow-up action – legislator Fernando Sánchez arranged for Segal to meet the new president, Laura Chinchilla, a few years later. However this time the reception was cold, deeply disappointing Segal – it came to be known that he was snubbed by president Chinchilla because of misconduct allegations made against him in the US.

It was also widely known that, around the time of his visits, Steven was actively searching for a Guanacaste property. And while he admitted to being ‘deeply hurt’ by President Chinchilla and left room open for a reconciliation, there is little further mention about any property purchases in Costa Rica – although, as always, plenty of rumors abound.

“Costa Rica has everything, both a rainforest and a dry climate. What it lacks is an infrastructure to make movies.” – Steven Segal

Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf

The married tennis superstars have visited Costa Rica on numerous occasions.  In 2007 the couple were involved in the planning of an exclusive sports and vacation club on Cacique Point, between Nicoya’s famous Playas Coco & Hermosa. Partnering with AOL founder & Silicon Valley tycoon Steven Case, the $800 million, 263-hectare development was to combine the luxury of three five-star hotel brands & private villas with an 18-hole Tom Doak golf course and a tennis and fitness center branded with the names of  Andre and Steffi.

Ultimately the news faded away, perhaps victim of the 2008 Financial Crisis which shuttered many ambitious projects. Other than the super-resort, Andre & Stefi are rumored to own property near Nicoya’s Playa del Coco but details are sparse.

Michael Jordan

Bobbie Philips & Anthony Filipetto

Bobbie Phillips, a well-known singer and actress, owns a house in Malpais near Santa Teresa. Bobbie has spent a lot of time in Costa Rica – she is an environmentalist and came to the country to rescue animals while her husband Anthony Filipetto commenced his surfing career on the beaches of Nicoya. Anthony owns a luxury hotel on the Nicoya Peninsula, a hotel he designed and built himself. He is also famous as a hairdresser & makeup artist to the stars.

Charlie Sheen

Charlie had been widely connected to a luxury property within a gated vacation complex, however details are sparse except to say it could be located somewhere along the coastal Nicoya peninsula. Charlie & his new bride Brooke Mueller spent their 2008 honeymoon near Nicoya’s Playa Hermosa, the same place where he proposed to Brooke a year earlier. The ‘Tiger Blood’ running through his veins makes Uncle Charlie a prime candidate for the wilds of Costa Rica, and it is likely his property is located somewhere in the Playa Hermosa area.

Jack Dorsey 

The billionaire founder of Twitter Jack is often seen in Costa Rica – he enjoys the local beaches and surf scene, having vacationed here at least a dozen times. In 2020, he announced that he was moving to Costa Rica for at least six months to work remotely and immerse himself in the local culture. Locals have repeatedly spotted him around Santa Teresa on the Nicoya peninsula, leading to speculation and rumors that he owns a house in the area.

On being asked why Costa Rica, Jack replied: “…the people. That’s the simplest answer. The warmth and the Pura Vida. Everything about it was so inviting”. 

Shane Smith

Shane Smith is a Canadian-American journalist. He also is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of the international media company VICE, and has been named amongst Canada’s richest people. Shane owns a house in Costa Rica – the location is a secret but Shane has mentioned that it is in a remote area and that his estate includes an ‘entire mountain’.

“I have a place in Costa Rica that is in the middle of the jungle. There’s no internet. There’s no TV. Do I work there? Hell no.” – Shane Smith

Tom Cruise

Tom is a frequent visitor to Costa Rica, often coming here for sport-fishing safaris. And his son, Connor, follows in his footsteps. While the rumor mill has Tom owning a luxury residence in Nicoya or a gated unit north of Jacó, there has never been any concrete evidence of either.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

These A-Listers have visited or vacationed in Costa Rica, leaving the country with a very positive impression.

Zac Efron:

“I’m not saying I’m gonna move into the middle of the Costa Rican jungle… but I might.” –  after visiting Punta Mona, a Costa Rican eco-village.

Leonardo DiCaprio:

Costa Rica recovered its lost forest. Can the world learn from that?” – Leo has been a frequent visitor to Costa Rica – he often supports local Costa Rican environmental causes.

Danny Devito:

Danny has had a share of Costa Rican adventures – including being taken by a rip tide and flashing an entire beach!

“And Rhea’s running at me with a towel. And I say, ‘Rhea, I’m choking, I don’t need a towel.’ She says, “Yes, you do. You don’t have a bathing suit on.”

The rich and famous (and infamous) – LOVE vacationing in Cota Rica, and many fall so in love with our country that they can’t keep themselves from purchasing a second home here. Movie stars, tech billionaires, famous singers, sport celebrities, and many other A-Listers can be found on our local beaches and in our tropical-vibing cafes. And many everyday tourists seem to fall rightly in love with our beautiful Costa Ballena! We invite you to browse the local properties available in our area, knowing that RE/MAX WE SELL PARADISE is your trusted partner in the South Pacific corner of Costa Rica.