Paris, (TECHY QUANTUM) Dec. 30, 2025 — France has granted citizenship to Hollywood actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, along with their eight year old twins, according to decrees published over the weekend by the French Ministry of Justice.
The orders of naturalization formalize the couple’s legal status as French citizens while allowing Clooney to retain his US citizenship, in accordance with French law.
Mr. Clooney, 64, who was born in Lexington, Kentucky, has long expressed admiration for French culture and the country’s strict privacy laws.
In interviews with French media outlets, he said that these protections have allowed his family to enjoy a quieter life, particularly for their children.
“Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us,” Clooney said in a recent interview with RTL. “We also have a house in the United States, but our happiest place is on this farm where the kids can have fun.”
The Clooneys purchased a farmhouse in the southern town of Brignoles in 2021 for approximately $10 million, according to French media reports. The property sits on a vineyard and includes 100 acres of grapes, 1,200 olive trees, and a vegetable garden.
Clooney told Esquire magazine in October that the family “live on a farm in France,” describing their life there as peaceful and centered around the land. Analysis and expert views on naturalization trends
Naturalization of high profile foreign nationals in France has drawn attention in recent years, particularly as the government plans to tighten language requirements for applicants starting next year.
Clooney told RTL that he had been learning French using the Duolingo language app but admitted the process was challenging at his age.
Dr. Julien Lefevre, a political scientist at the University of Paris, said Clooney’s case illustrates a broader trend of wealthy foreigners seeking French citizenship for privacy and lifestyle benefits.
“France offers a combination of legal protections, cultural appeal, and property investment opportunities that are particularly attractive to public figures,” Lefevre said.
Clooney’s naturalization coincides with changes to French residency rules that will increase the language proficiency requirement for applicants.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the number of naturalizations granted annually in France has averaged around 120,000 over the past five years, with notable increases among high net worth individuals seeking residency through property investment or family connections.
Local residents in Brignoles have reacted with a mixture of curiosity and excitement at the presence of the Clooneys. Marie Fournier, a vineyard owner nearby, said the couple has been “respectful neighbors” and largely keeps to themselves. “We see them at the market sometimes.
They are friendly but very private,” Fournier said. Tourism officials in the region have noted that celebrity property ownership can sometimes increase interest in local real estate, though they emphasized that Clooney’s move does not significantly alter the town’s character.
“Brignoles is still a small, agricultural community,” said Olivier Martel, director of the local tourism office. “Celebrity homes do not change that.”
With French citizenship, the Clooneys gain access to the full range of rights and privileges afforded to French nationals, including simplified travel within the European Union and eligibility for social services.
Observers say the move may encourage other international figures to consider France as a base for residence, particularly those seeking privacy for their families.
Clooney’s professional life continues to be centered in the United States and Europe. His latest film, Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, features a story of an aging American actor traveling from Paris to Tuscany, Italy, a narrative that mirrors the actor’s own cross border lifestyle.
The naturalization of George and Amal Clooney underscores France’s ongoing appeal to international figures seeking a balance of privacy, cultural immersion, and property investment.
As the country implements stricter requirements for future applicants, the Clooneys’ successful citizenship application highlights the intersection of celebrity influence and French immigration policy.
The couple’s quiet life on their Brignoles farm demonstrates how high profile individuals navigate the balance between public recognition and personal privacy in a foreign country.
