George Clooney says raising his children in France will give them a ‘much better’ life than they ever would have had in LA
Hollywood star George Clooney is open to why raising his children in France will give them a “much better” life than if they had been raised in Los Angeles – ruling out removing his children from the US will allow them to escape the trappings of their parents’ fame.
The 64-year-old actor shares 8-year-old twins Ella And Alexander with his wife, Amal Clooney47, and revealed in a new interview with Esquire That the couple has chosen to live mainly on a farm in France to give their children a better quality of life.
“We live on a farm in France. A lot of my life was growing up on a farm, and as a child I hated the whole idea of it. But now, because [the twins]it’s like they’re not on their iPads, you know? They dine with adults and have to take their dishes with them,” explained George, who spoke to the outlet from his villa on Lake Como in Italy.
“They have a much better life. I worried about raising our kids in LA, in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they would never get a fair shake in life.”
George further expressed concern about how his profile in Hollywood – and the resulting spotlight it has shone on his children – has negatively affected the twins, noting that he wanted them to enjoy a carefree lifestyle away from photographers and industry stereotypes.
“France-they don’t give a shit about fame. I don’t want them walking around worrying about paparazzi. I don’t want them to be compared to someone else’s famous kids,” he added.
George noted that he is very grateful that there is a large age gap between him and his children because they don’t have to deal with people comparing their successes to his own career.
“The one thing I’m lucky about is that I’m so much older that the idea that my son would be compared to me is quite unlikely because by the time he’s actually done anything, I’m going to be chewing my bread,” he said.
He also noted that it is crucial to him for his children to be self-sufficient, adding that he often suggests that they check on him things around the house, such as the coverage of the pool or their coffee maker.
“It’s important to me that they can survive,” the actor added.
George did not reveal when he and Amal made the decision to move to France full-time. However, the couple is believed to have purchased a sprawling estate in the European country for $8.3 million in 2021.
His candid explanation for why he has moved away from the US, where he was born, comes just months after his wife, a human rights lawyer who was born in Lebanon and raised in the UK, was issued a warning by the UK Foreign Office that Trump could hand down sanctions that would affect her ability to enter the US
According to the Financial Times, several high-level lawyers were warned of possible sanctions that could be leveled against them as a result of the legal advice they provided to the International Criminal Court in a war crimes case against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav brave.
To date, no such sanctions have been introduced.
However, Amal has been open about wanting to create a retreat for her family, where they can enjoy “private moments” away from the spotlight – something her husband seems confident they can do on their French home base.
In an interview with Glamourfor which she was accompanied by her good friend, celebrity makeup artist Charlotte TilburyAmal confessed that she has implemented a strict phone ban in her lavish estate, noting that anyone who enters through her door must place their device in a special basket.
“Creating private moments and spaces is becoming increasingly difficult,” Amal admitted. “But that’s also why we entertain a lot at home. I now have a phone basket that I use to take away everyone’s phones!
“It’s important to get that balance where you have time alone with your family and with your friends, where people feel like you can have a safe and candid exchange.”
Yet the human rights lawyer manages to find a lot of “joy” in her life at home, which she described as one of her greatest sources of happiness.
“The people I love — my husband, our children, our friends, who fill our home with people we love,” she told the publication. “That is the greatest joy in my life and what gives me balance.”
The house in question was purchased by the couple for a reported $14 million in 2014, just a few days before they tied the knot, and it was in the grounds that the couple spent their honeymoon, with Amal revealing in a 2018 interview with Fashion that the duo camped together in their unparalleled abode.
Shortly after their honeymoon ended, however, they began a reported 18-month renovation process to transform the historic home into the home of their dreams—where they have raised their children together for the past eight years.
Located in Sonning Eye, overlooking the River Thames, the property dates back to the 17th century and still retains many historic touches. George and Amal’s renovations have also equipped it with many more modern amenities.
These include a home theater and a pool house bar, which is used as both a “party zone” for the duo when entertaining friends and a shared work space for the two.
According to the British Vogue piece, the duo’s home is largely filled with photographs, as well as some sentimental works of art, including a tongue-in-cheek portrait of George’s late dog, Einsteinposed as a professor on a blackboard and one of a giraffe’s head in a nod to Amal’s love of animals.
While the property serves as the couple’s main home, it is far from the only home they own.
In fact, the Clooneys have an extensive portfolio of properties that cross several countries – from Italy and France to New York City – having also included homes in Los Angeles and Mexico in the past.
Long before he and Amal tied the knot, George began building up all his European property holdings, starting with the purchase of two adjacent villas in Lake Como, which he reportedly snapped up in the early 2000s.
The historic properties are located right on the water and have been visited by a number of high-profile guests over the years, including Prince Harry And Meghan Markle,, Brad Pitt,, Matt Damon,, Jennifer Anistonand former president Barack Obama.
They are also understood as still a luxury apartment in Manhattan, which was purchased in 2016.
