10 Stars Who Packed Their Bags and Left America Behind

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp was born in Owensboro, Kentucky before making it big in Hollywood. But he’s spent much of his public life living abroad. In the 90s, the actor moved to France, the home country of then-partner Vanessa Paradis, saying he was “disappointed” in the direction of the U.S. in a 2001 interview. However, he was living in the States during his marriage to actress Amber Heard. During their highly publicized defamation trial, Depp was living in London with famed guitarist Jeff Beck, who died the following year. Depp has since remained in London, with a source telling People he “really feels London is a home.” His ex Heard has also left the U.S., moving to Madrid.

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly was already Hollywood royalty. But her marriage to Prince Rainier III in 1956 made her actual royalty. The Philadelphia-born Kelly became Grace of Monaco. This, of course, necessitated her saying goodbye to her life as a screen star. But she very much remained in the public eye, particularly with her extensive philanthropy. She didn't completely cut ties to the entertainment industry, either, becoming one of the first female board members at 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation in 1976. She and Rainier even worked together on “Rearranged,” an independent film that received interest from the ABC network. Tragically, Kelly died following a car accident in 1982, at the age of 52.

Richard Gere

From “American Gigolo” to an American abroad. Richard Gere was also born in Philadelphia. He performed on stage in the U.S. and London before breaking out in Hollywood films. Though the politically outspoken Gere has made many remarks criticizing the U.S., and other governments, he, his wife, Alejandra Silva, and their two sons had been living in Connecticut for several years. That is, until 2024, when they moved to Madrid. Gere told Vanity Fair Spain this allowed Silva to be closer to her family, calling the country “a beautiful place.” He hasn’t lost his knack for political activism either. In February 2025, while accepting an honorary award from the Spanish Film Academy, he spoke out against the rise of authoritarianism and President Donald Trump.

Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie O’Donnell has also been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, with their public feud starting in 2006. While the New York-born comedian and talk show host didn’t leave the U.S. during Trump’s first term, in 2025, just days before Trump’s second inauguration, O’Donnell moved to Ireland with the 12-year-old child, Clay. In a TikTok, posted in March, she said this was the best decision for them. O'Donnell, who has Irish grandparents, is currently working on getting her Irish citizenship. While she expressed hopes of eventually returning to the U.S., O'Donnell also has much praise for her new home city of Dublin and its inhabitants. And the bickering between her and the President of the United States shows no sign of slowing down.

George Clooney

George Clooney was born and raised in Kentucky and even tried out for the Cincinnati Reds in hopes of becoming a professional baseball player before becoming a star of TV and film. The famously politically minded Clooney and his wife, international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, have owned homes around the world, including Los Angeles, New York, Mexico, Italy, and London. However, their “home base” since 2021 is reportedly the Provence region of France. Not only that, but Amal and their 7-year-old twins are also allegedly fluent in French. In 2024, he sold their L.A. home to model Olivia Culpo and her husband, NFL running back, Christian McCaffrey. Though he may be primarily living in France, Clooney is still fiercely outspoken regarding American politics.

Kevin Spacey

The New Jersey-born Kevin Spacey was working steadily in Hollywood, prior to allegations of inappropriate conduct in 2017 permanently altering his reputation. However, he’s spent much of his time in the public eye living in London. In 2003, Spacey moved from New York to London, where he served as Artistic Director of the famed Old Vic theatre. Even when he was making the American politics-focused "House of Cards," he stayed loyal to the U.K. Amidst ongoing financial troubles, he put his London penthouse on the market in 2024. The same year, he also made headlines for refusing to leave his Baltimore mansion, following its foreclosure.

Ellen DeGeneres

After her daytime talk show ended in 2022, Ellen DeGeneres mostly retreated from the public eye. In 2024, she announced she would be leaving Hollywood following the end of her comedy tour. Though DeGeneres - born in Louisiana - had long had a public image as a beacon of kindness, her reputation took a major hit following reports of a toxic workplace on her set. In 2024, she and her wife, retired actress Portia de Rossi, reportedly moved from California to the Cotswolds in the English countryside. Though they have not spoken publicly about the matter, there has been speculation it was due to Trump’s re-election.

Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria was born in Corpus Christi, Texas to Tejano parents. She earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1998. That same year, she was also named Miss Corpus Christi USA. After entering a talent contest, she caught the attention of an agent, leading to a newfound career in Hollywood. In 2016, the "Desperate Housewives" star married media mogul José Antonio "Pepe" Bastón Patiño in Mexico, with whom she has a son. Towards the end of 2024, she announced that she and her family had left the U.S. splitting their time between Mexico and Spain. Though she’s been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, she did stress that the decision wasn’t politically motivated.

Tina Turner

The "Queen of Rock 'n Roll," Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee. Following her tumultuous marriage to Ike Turner, as well as the end of their musical partnership, she kept her married name and reinvented herself as a solo star. Turner took up residence in Zurich in 1994, and in 2013, she became a citizen of Switzerland, even renouncing her American citizenship. Among the requirements for obtaining her Swiss citizenship was demonstrating a strong knowledge of the German language. She died at her home, a decade later, in 2023.

Lindsay Lohan

Even before her breakthrough dual roles in "The Parent Trap," Lindsay Lohan, born in New York City, had amassed plenty of showbiz experience, appearing in numerous commercials, soap operas, and on "Sesame Street.” While she stayed in the public eye as she transitioned into adulthood, it soon became less about her movie roles and more about her personal struggles. However, while Lohan has made a comeback in recent years, you might not know she's been living in Dubai since 2014. Since moving there, she's married her husband, financier Bader Shammas, and given birth to their son. Speaking to Flaunt magazine in 2024, Lohan said her daily routine consisted of "the same things that any normal mom would do in their daily life."









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