George Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney, and their 8-year-old twins Ella and Alexander have obtained French citizenship, according to an official decree in France’s government gazette that made the family lawful citizens on December 29, 2025.
The two-time Oscar winner, 64, joins a growing list of American celebrities taking up permanent residences in other countries, including Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres. Actress Angelina Jolie is also considering leaving the country. Director Jim Jarmusch has been mentioned among those discussing relocations.
Though their citizenship only became official this week, the Clooney family has already made France their home. They purchased a farm in southern France in 2021, where they have been raising their twins ever since.
George Clooney has been vocal about why France offers a better environment for his children, particularly citing the country’s strict privacy laws that keep paparazzi at bay. In December 2024, Clooney praised France on RTL Radio, emphasizing the protection these laws provide. “Here, they don’t take photos of kids,” Clooney said. “There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us.”
France prohibits the press from snapping and publishing photos of minors. The country strengthened its anti-paparazzi laws in 2000, three years after Princess Diana’s death.
In October 2024, Clooney told Esquire magazine his children have a better life in France than they would have had in the United States. “They have a much better life,” he said. “I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life.”
The actor explained that France’s culture offers a reprieve from the celebrity-obsessed atmosphere of Hollywood. He added that he doesn’t want his children walking around worried about paparazzi or being compared to other famous kids.
While Amal Clooney, 47, is fluent in French thanks to her work as an international human rights lawyer, George has been working hard to master the language. During his December 2024 radio appearance, he admitted struggling with French despite taking 400 days of courses, joking about still being bad at the language while praising French culture.
The citizenship move comes amid ongoing tensions between Clooney and former President Donald Trump. The actor has been an outspoken critic of Trump, making him a frequent target of political commentary. The timing of the citizenship announcement has sparked discussions about celebrity activism and political positions, though the Clooneys have framed the decision primarily around protecting their family’s privacy and providing their children with a more grounded upbringing.
Beyond privacy concerns, Clooney has spoken about how farm life in France keeps his twins grounded. The family’s decision to establish permanent citizenship in France represents a significant commitment to their life abroad, though they maintain connections to the United States through George’s continued work in the entertainment industry.
The actor has built a career spanning decades, earning recognition for his performances and humanitarian efforts alongside his wife’s international legal work. France’s appeal to American celebrities seeking refuge from intense media scrutiny continues to grow, with the Clooney family’s move highlighting the stark differences between privacy protections in the two countries.
The Clooneys’ choice to raise Ella and Alexander in France reflects a broader trend of high-profile Americans reconsidering where they want to build their lives, particularly when children are involved. For George and Amal, the decision appears rooted in creating an environment where their twins can grow up without the constant glare of cameras and celebrity culture, while still maintaining access to rich cultural experiences and educational opportunities.
As the family settles into their new status as French citizens, they join a small but growing community of Americans who have chosen to formalize their connection to France through citizenship. The move ensures the entire Clooney family can fully participate in French civic life while continuing to maintain their international presence through both George’s entertainment career and Amal’s legal work around the globe.