A-List Islands

It was 1979 when Richard Branson purchased Necker Island, a pristine speck in the British Virgin Islands, for $180,000. The Virgin Records founder had a plan for the 74-acre retreat: to turn it into an exclusive hideaway for his many famous clients, including Keith Richards to Roy Orbison. In the process, Branson created a new kind of resort—the celebrity-owned tropical retreat touting all of the amenities an A-lister might demand. Here’s a look at a few of the elite island-resorts owned—and adored—by celebs today.