George Clooney is officially a French citizen, despite still being “bad” at speaking French after 400 days of lessons.
The 64-year-old actor and his 47-year-old wife, Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer, will receive their French passports alongside their eight-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, according to an official decree released in Paris.
George and Amal bought a home in the South of France in 2011, before purchasing an even larger one in Cannes for £ 6.7million ($ 9million) the following year.
He and Amal own several properties across Europe, including a manor in Berkshire, and an estate on Lake Como, Italy.
In June 2017, George announced the birth of their children on French TV, and he has frequently expressed appreciation for the country’s privacy laws.
Speaking to French radio in December, he said: “I love the French culture, your language, even if I'm still bad at it after 400 days of courses.
“Here, they don't take photos of kids. There aren't any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That's number one for us.”
The couple decided to make their 25-bedroom Italian house with a tennis court on Lake Como a “holiday home” after buying the Domaine du Canadel wine estate near the village of Brignoles, in the South of France.
The estate comes replete with 425 acres, an olive grove, a vineyard, a tennis court, and a boules pitch.
.png)
George has a good relationship with the local mayor, Didier Bremond, and even recorded a New Year message for the people of Brignoles, which started with: “Bonjour, Didier!”
He went on: “First of all, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday season. We want to thank all of you, because we love spending time in the Var and in Brignoles. And we are very grateful for your hospitality and for the friendship that Didier shows us.”
The couple also has properties across the US, including homes in Kentucky and New York City.
On top of being an Oscar-winning actor, George makes a sizeable income from advertising deals, including with Omega, which reportedly earns £2.2million every year, Fiat, earning him up to £1million, as well as Martini & Rossi, DNB Bank, Omaze, Warburtons, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and of course, Nespresso.
The star is thought to be worth £500million, after combining his TV roles and brand partnerships.
However, his endorsements pale in comparison to actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who holds a whopping 14 brand deals.
George, a longtime Democrat and core financial donor for the party, is credited for being the reason Joe Biden decided against standing for re-election.
The actor wrote an op-ed in the New York Times last July, urging the party to find someone new to put on the presidential bid list.
In his July 2024 op-ed, George wrote: “I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he's won many of the battles he's faced.
“But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe 'big f***ng deal' Biden of 2010.
The actor added, “He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate, in reference to the disastrous CNN event from the month before.”
