George Clooney is officially a Frenchman.
In a move that solidifies their exit from the Los Angeles limelight, the Oscar-winning actor and his wife, Amal Clooney, have been granted French citizenship. Their eight-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, also received citizenship. The naturalization was confirmed via an official decree published in the French government gazette this week. It marks the final step in the family’s transition to a quieter, more European lifestyle.
The Ocean’s Eleven star has long been a citizen of the world. He has spent years split between Italy, England, and the U.S. However, this legal shift signals that the Clooneys are planting their roots firmly in French soil.
The “Privacy” Factor
Why France? According to Clooney, the decision was not just about the wine. It was about protecting his children.
In a candid interview with RTL Radio earlier this month, the 64-year-old actor revealed that strict French privacy laws were the primary draw. Unlike in the United States, where paparazzi can freely photograph celebrity children, French law strictly prohibits publishing images of minors without parental consent.
“Here, they don’t take photos of kids,” Clooney told the station. “There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us.”
He also gushed about the culture. He admitted that while his French is still “bad” after 400 days of lessons, the country is where his family is “happiest.”
The family’s new home base is a far cry from the Hollywood Hills. They reside at Domaine du Canadel, a stunning 18th-century wine estate located near the medieval village of Brignoles in the Var region of Provence.
Purchased in 2021 for a reported $8.3 million, the 425-acre property is a secluded paradise. It features a swimming pool, tennis court, olive groves, and an ornamental lake. It puts them in good company, too. Brad Pitt’s Château Miraval is just a stone’s throw away, and George Lucas owns the nearby Château Margüi.
The Clooneys have fully embraced the “gentleman farmer” lifestyle. George has reportedly been involved in the estate’s winemaking operations. He is working with local experts to produce white and rosé wines from the property’s Vermentino grapes.
This citizenship news serves as the capstone to a slow but deliberate withdrawal from the American West Coast.
Over the past few years, the Clooneys have reportedly offloaded their properties in Los Angeles and Mexico. This signals a permanent shift in priorities. They still own homes on Lake Como in Italy, a manor in Sonning Eye in England, and an apartment in New York City. Yet France has become the primary hub for Ella and Alexander’s schooling and childhood.
“I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood,” Clooney told Esquire earlier this year. “I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life. France… they don’t give a s*** about fame.”
Now, with French passports in hand, the Clooneys aren’t just visitors anymore. They are locals.
Would you trade Hollywood fame for a quiet life in Provence? Let us know in the comments!
