Greece has long been a popular holiday spot for celebrities and VIPs looking to enjoy their summer.
Famous actors, athletes and entrepreneurs, along with members of royalty, are often spotted on the country’s islands, with some deciding they want more than a short break in Greece and its gorgeous beaches and set about buying their own Greek home.
Among the big names to recently buy a home in Greece is NBA champion Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Milwaukee Bucks basketball star made his first large investment in Greece, buying two villas at the super luxurious Costa Navarino complex, in Messinia, southwestern Greece.
Greek press reports that the cost of each villa ranges from 1.25 to 1.8 million euros. Each has its own private pool and garden, 3 or 4 bedrooms and basement on land stretching over a total area of between 700 to 1,300 square meters.
Antetokounmpo, also known as the Greek Freak, is said to have visited last year the Costa Navarino complex, located next to areas such as Pylos and Methoni, and have fallen in love with its amazing natural beauty.
Apart from providing world leading golfing facilities, Costa Navarino also provides other advanced training facilities that drew the basketball star’s attention.
When it comes to Hollywood stars that have made Greece their second home, Tom Hanks tops the list.
The Oscar-winning actor, who is married to Greek-American actress Rita Wilson, owns a 450 square meter villa on the beautiful island of Antiparos in a property acquired in 2004.
The six acre property is located between the villages of Glypha and Chora and offers the actor, who starred in Forest Gump and Cast Away, valuable privacy and protection from prying eyes.
Antiparos, located opposite the island of Paros, has been drawing celebrities despite its small size. Others reportedly spotted in its tiny chora (main village) include Matthew McConaughey, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.
Hanks, who has even been awarded honorary Greek citizenship, is believed to have purchased a second home in Greece, on Patmos Island. In 2018, Hanks purchased a villa in the Skala area of a home featuring classic Dodecanese architectural style. The home offers plenty of luxury and comfort but it is a nearby heliport located on the exclusive island, which clinched the deal.
On the mainland, close to the resort town of Porto Heli, the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, and his family, have purchased their own Greek villa.
According to Dutch press , the king and queen Maxima bought the Greek villa in the town of Kranidi about a decade ago from German advertising photographer Manfred Rieker for 4.5 million euros.
The villa features a swimming pool, a private marina and a private beach in a highly exclusive part of Greece.
Others believed to have owned houses nearby in recent years include former Greek king Constantine, Russian President Vladimir Putin and actor Sean Connery.
