10 Celebrities Who Moved Out Of The US For Political Or Personal Reasons
For most people, moving overseas is anything but simple. It usually involves paperwork, residency visas, proof of income, and months—sometimes years—of planning. Every step has rules, waiting periods, and uncertainty. For celebrities, however, the process often looks very different. With teams of lawyers, agents, and advisors handling the logistics, an international move can happen quickly and smoothly, sometimes almost overnight. But convenience isn’t the only reason stars choose to leave the U.S. For some, it’s a response to political or cultural shifts; for others, it’s about privacy, safety, or a slower pace of life. Whether they’re seeking creative freedom, lower media scrutiny, or a fresh start entirely, many American celebrities have decided to build their lives abroad. From Europe to the Caribbean and beyond, these relocations reveal how fame can open doors most people never get to walk through. Here are 10 entertainment figures who’ve made that leap.
Eva Longoria — Mexico and Spain
Although Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria had been planning to leave the US for a while (she bought property in Spain in early 2024, and her husband José Bastón happens to be a Mexican media mogul), Trump’s reelection accelerated the decision. The Texas-born actress has stated the US (and in particular California, where she owned a mansion in Beverly Hills) had turned into a “dystopian” society that she no longer wanted to be a part of. She, Bastón, and their 7-year-old son Santiago will divide their time between Mexico and Spain.
Lindsay Lohan — UAE
Actress Lindsay Lohan grew up in New York and spent time living in LA, London, and Greece, but she’s truly found her place in Dubai, UAE. She first moved there in 2015 to enjoy some peace and quiet away from the paparazzi. As she explained in an interview with People in July 2025, it’s illegal in the UAE for the paparazzi to snap photos as they please. She has settled in Dubai with her husband Bader Shammas, a local who works in finance, and their toddler son Luai.
Pamela Anderson — Back to Canada
Pamela Anderson, the 1990s Baywatch star, was born in Vancouver but moved to LA in 1990 to launch her career as an actress. She remained there for 30 years, leaving in 2020 amid the COVID pandemic. Although she gave France a try, she ultimately returned to her roots, moving along with her two sons to a farmhouse that had once been owned by her grandmother.
Ellen DeGeneres — the UK
On the day before the 2024 US presidential election, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi moved into an English countryside home, and when the former talk show host’s phone blew up with text messages about Trump’s victory, she told the BBC in a July 2025 interview that they decided the move would be permanent. Disgraced after it had come out that the one-time popular TV personality was notoriously cruel to her staff, DeGeneres added without irony that it’s better in the UK because “people are polite.”
Janet Jackson — the UK
In 2012, pop icon Janet Jackson moved to the glitzy Belgravia District in London after marrying Qatari business tycoon Wissam Al Mana. She gave birth to their son Eissa in 2017 at the age of 50, possibly making her the oldest celebrity mom. Alas, the relationship didn’t last (the pair got divorced that same year), but Miss Janet remained in the English capital for the sake of her son, this time moving to Chelsea and renting out a £10 million ($12.2m) penthouse suite. But not all is rainbows and butterflies. In late 2024, Jackson moved out of the luxury apartment after discovering black mold. She sued the property, they filed a counterclaim, and now the parties are left in the middle of a legal mess.
Richard Gere — Spain
Sad news if you are a resident of Connecticut: legendary actor Richard Gere no longer lives amongst you. In October 2024, he sold his $11 million estate in New Canaan and hightailed it to Spain with his wife Alejandra Silva and their two young children so they could be closer to Silva’s parents. But fear not! It’s not a permanent move. Gere still maintains his other home in the New York countryside and intends to return to the US with his family “in a few years.”
Shania Twain — Switzerland
The Canadian-born country music singer has actually had a home overlooking Lake Geneva in Switzerland for quite some time, moving there in 2003 to live a more private life. She has stated locals don’t recognize her. Living with her husband, Swiss Nestlé executive Frédéric Thiébaud, Twain says she enjoys taking her boat on the lake and enjoying the fresh, local dairy products that Switzerland is famous for.
Rosie O’Donnell — Ireland
Rosie O’Donnell, the comedian and one-time talk show host, announced on social media in March 2025 that she and her son Clay had been living in Ireland since January and were intending to seek permanent residence status as a result of the current political climate. President Trump has threatened to revoke O’Donnell’s US citizenship. But she seems unbothered, stating Ireland feels safe.
Courtney Love — the UK
1990s alternative rock star and widower of Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love first moved to London in 2019. However, she informed People that she was now in the process of getting full UK citizenship and that it should become official in early 2026. Although she didn’t explicitly go into the details about her reasons, she has been a critic of Trump and has described the US as “frightening now.”
Britney Spears — Mexico (But Probably Not?)
In December 2024, Brit announced to her fans via Instagram that she was moving to Mexico! She explained that she was fed up with the “mean and cruel” paparazzi that would snap pictures of her that gave the appearance that she was wearing a “Jason mask.” Sources would later clarify that in spite of what Spears said, she was not, in fact, moving to Mexico. But, hey, she had just finished celebrating her birthday a couple of days earlier and her divorce from Sam Asghari was officially final, so perhaps “I’m moving to Mexico” was meant to be deeply metaphorical or something.