Celebrity sightings are almost expected in cities like New York and Los Angeles, where Hollywood heavyweights own property and work.
But South Florida holds its own when it comes to hosting the rich and famous. Celebrity-owned properties line the coastline of southeast Florida, from Jupiter to the suburbs of Miami.
There is a growing collection of A-listers who live in South Florida full- or part-time: Tiger Woods, Gisele Bündchen, Pitbull, Jeff Bezos and Gloria Estefan, to name just a few.
In June 2024, one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, Sydney Sweeney, was reported to be buying a $20 million oceanfront home in South Florida.
It makes sense that you might see celebrities near where they live, so it’s no surprise that a South Florida town placed on a recent rankings list of top destinations in the world to spot a celebrity in 2024.
Here’s which South Florida town is one of the most likely places to spot a celebrity this year and why.
Where are you most likely to run into celebrities?
A recent study from BetUS, “the original online sportsbook,” analyzed celebrity sightings reported from January 2024 through May 2024 and combined them with the population of each city they were reported in. This created a weighted average for the possible number of sightings per 100,000 people in each city.
According to the study, the place where you’re most likely to spot a celebrity in 2024 so far is the town of Braemar in the Scottish Highlands, which attracted Hollywood darling Margot Robbie (“Barbie,” “The Suicide Squad”) this year and is a frequent destination for members of the British Royal Family.
Surprisingly, the small town of Palm Beach, Florida, took 10th place on the global rankings list, placing below Malibu, California, but far above Manhattan, New York.
Palm Beach ranked even higher on the list of cities where you’re most likely to spot celebrities in the U.S., taking seventh place.
Here’s the international list of the most popular cities to spot a celebrity in 2024 and some of the celebrities that have been spotted in each city, according to the BetUS study:
- Braemar, Scotland, United Kingdom: Margot Robbie
- Ballard, California, United States: Ed Helms (“The Office,” “The Hangover” films)
- Bedford Hills, New York, United States: John Krasinski (“The Office,” “Jack Ryan”) and Emily Blunt (“Edge of Tomorrow,” “Mary Poppins”)
- Park City, Utah, United States: Robert Downey Jr. (Marvel’s “Iron Man,” “The Avengers” films)
- Malibu, California, United States: The Kid Laroi, Tate McCrae, Travis Kelce
- Indian Wells, California, United States: Tom Holland (“Spider-Man,” “Avengers: Infinity War”), Zendaya (“Greatest Showman,” “Euphoria”)
- Waiheke Island, New Zealand: Jason Mamoa (“Aquaman,” DC’s “Justice League”), Jack Black (“Kung Fu Panda” films), Jennifer Coolidge (“American Pie” films, “White Lotus”)
- Fernie, British Colombia, Canada: soccer star David Beckham, former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham
- Big Sky, Montana, United States: Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy
- Palm Beach, Florida, United States: Sydney Sweeney (“Anyone But You,” “Madame Webb”), Kris Jenner, fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger
Here’s the national list of the most popular cities to spot a celebrity in 2024, according to the BetUS study:
- Ballard, California
- Bedford Hills, New York
- Park City, Utah
- Malibu, California
- Indian Wells, California
- Big Sky, Montana
- Palm Beach, Florida
- Aspen, Colorado
- Barclay, New Jersey
- Brookdale, New Jersey
Why is Palm Beach, Florida, popular with celebrities?
“Beautiful beaches, people, and nightlife alongside its ideal weather, and multitude of unique cuisines make Palm Beach, Florida, the perfect celebrity magnet for A-listers to enjoy a nice getaway all year long,” the study said.
“If you’re in the mood for French bistro cuisine at Le Bilboquet, you might see Sydney Sweeney with a bunch of friends enjoying her Le Pillard de Poulet.”
Le Bilboquet is also a favorite dining spot of Martha Stewart, who is a frequent visitor of Palm Beach, Florida.
"One of nine restaurants worldwide, this excellent fancy bistro serves classic French cuisine of high quality," Stewart wrote in a 2022 Instagram post. "I have known the proprietor for many years. Philippe Delgrange is the undisputed king of his group of restaurants."
Which celebrities live in Palm Beach, Florida?
There are quite a few celebrities who live in the small, affluent town of Palm Beach and even more dispersed throughout Palm Beach County.
“Expendables” actor Sylvester Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin Stallone, announced earlier this year that they’re moving from California to Palm Beach full-time. The couple have owned a home in Palm Beach since December 2020, that they bought for a recorded $35.38 million.
Tommy Hilfiger and his wife Dee Ocleppo used to have two Palm Beach homes, but sold one recently. In 2021, the fashion power couple left their home in Greenwich, Connecticut, and moved to their waterfront Palm Beach home full-time.
The full list of celebrities that have lived near Palm Beach is much, much longer.
Here are some of the celebrities who have homes in the town of Palm Beach, as confirmed by the Palm Beach Daily News:
- Sylvester Stallone (actor)
- Tommy Hilfiger (fashion designer)
- Dr. Mehmet Oz (celebrity surgeon known as "Dr. Oz")
- Billy Joel (singer)
- Rod Stewart (singer)
- Jon Bon Jovi (singer)
- Howard Stern (radio shock jock and TV host)
- Sean Hannity (Fox News host and conservative radio host)
- Bret Baier (Fox News host)
- Ann Coulter (conservative pundit)
- Tom Ford (fashion designer)
- Lana Marks (fashion designer)
- Adrien Arpel (fashion designer)
- Mark Badgley and James Mischka of Badgley Mischka (fashion designers)
- Stockard Channing (actor and sister of former Palm Beach mayor Lesly Smith)
- Rudy Giuliani (former New York mayor and lawyer for Donald Trump)
- James Patterson (novelist)
- Donald Trump (former president of the United States and presumed Republican presidential nominee for 2024)
- Melania Trump (former first lady of the United States)
- Bob Vila (TV home-improvement host, including "This Old House")
- Aerin Lauder (lifestyle expert)
- Jane "Baby Jane" Holzer, former model and 1960s star of avant-garde films by the late Andy Warhol)
- Jonathan Adler (interior designer, furniture designer and lifestyle expert)
- Simon Doonan (author, TV personality, former creative director of Barney's NY)
- Robert Kraft (owner of New England Patriots)
- John Middleton (owner of Philadelphia Phillies)
- Jeff Lurie (owner of Philadelphia Eagles)
- Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson IV (owner of New York Jets)
- Charles Schwab (discount broker pioneer)
- Steve Wynn (casino and resort mogul former head of Wynn Resorts)
- Jennifer Flavin (Stallone) - (former model)
- Stephanie Seymour (Brant) - (former model)
- Dee Ocleppo (Hilfiger) – (fashion and accessories designer)
- Kelly Klein (photographer)
