Its powder-soft sand, cobalt blue water, and gentle trade winds, make it one of the world’s top travel destinations. The Bahamas, an archipelago of 700 islands strewn across the western Atlantic Ocean, welcomes visitors seeking sun and culture. But, these days when the sun sets, the sky is not the only place where tourists are seeing stars.
Actors Johnny Depp and Sean Connery, along with musician Lenny Kravitz own property in the former British colony. Depp bought a private island ringed with white sand off Exuma shortly after filming wrapped on his award-winning movie, “Pirates of the Caribbean”. The actor shelled out about $3.5 million for Little Hall’s Pond Cay, a deserted 36-acre spit of land with six beaches. According to a local conservation group, Depp plans to build a small home with minimal environmental impact.
Not far away, Kravitz, who has Bahamian roots from his mother, has his own tiny island in the Eleuthera chain known for its barrier reefs and slow pace of development. And Connery, a longtime resident, lives in a single-story home overlooking a golf course on the western tip of New Providence, the most populated island in the country. Other stars who own Bahamas getaways include Shakira, Michael Jordan, John Travolta, David Copperfield, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Sean “Diddy” Combs and former tennis great Jim Courier.
It would seem the gorgeous scenery would be reason enough for celebrities to snatch up land in the Bahamas, but stars’ such as John Travolta say the main reason he purchased property there is because the Islands allow him to avoid autograph seekers while remaining within easy reach of the United States.
Then there’s the issue of finances. The government offers favorable tax and residency laws. For example, foreigners who purchase a home worth at least $500,000 can become eligible for permanent residency. As you can imagine, this acts as an incentive to jet-setting celebs looking to come and go with minimum hassle. Oh, and did I mention the Bahamas has no tax on income, capital gains or inheritances?
Up for a little stargazing? Now you know where to go.
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