While ultra-rich travellers often use premium black charge cards to show their status, Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio used something even more exclusive. He used a a plain white card with no branding to leave a life-changing amount of money on the French Riviera.During a dinner with a group of fifteen guests in Saint-Tropez, France, the Hollywood star left a huge €50,000 tip, worth almost $60,000, for his waiter. The incredible gesture, which brought the restaurant worker to tears, was seen by French television presenter Benjamin Castaldi.Castaldi shared the story on his Europe 2 morning show, Casta réveille la France. He explained that DiCaprio paid with a clean white bank card that had no visible logos or personal information, a quiet sign of extreme wealth.
A generous gesture in the South of France
Saint-Tropez is known as a favourite destination for billionaires and celebrities, but tipping in France is usually much smaller. Customers normally leave around €2 to €5. DiCaprio’s tip, which may have been more than the entire dinner bill, is believed to be one of the biggest tips ever reported in the service industry. Another famous tip of a similar size came from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who left a $52,000 tip after his wedding celebrations in Venice.DiCaprio has visited the region regularly for many years and has often hosted charity events for his environmental foundation in Saint-Tropez.His use of private jets, luxury yacht trips, and helicopter travel has often received public attention, but this private act of kindness was not known until Castaldi mentioned it on radio. According to reports from French outlet Purepeople, the waiter serving DiCaprio’s table was completely shocked and emotional after receiving the money.
Unlike the US, in France, tipping habits are usually far more modest, often in the range of €2 to €5
Building a Hollywood hills fortress
The ability to leave such large tips comes from DiCaprio’s decades-long success in Hollywood and his smart property investments. The actor, who is currently working on five film projects including the upcoming drama One Battle After Another with Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro, has spent almost thirty years building a large real estate collection.His main home is a large compound in the Hollywood Hills, which he has created by buying five nearby pieces of land.DiCaprio started building the estate in the 1990s, when he bought his first home from Madonna for $2 million. He later purchased another nearby property. In late 2022, he expanded the compound again by buying a 1960s midcentury mansion next door for $10.5 million.Over the years, he has renovated the estate extensively, changing an outdoor basketball court into an entertainment area for private gatherings. He has also added a hidden garage, infinity pool, home theatre, and wine cellar.
Coastal holdings and Malibu bungalows
After the huge success of Titanic in 1997, DiCaprio began investing more heavily in coastal properties. In 1998, he bought a three-bedroom oceanfront bungalow on Carbon Beach in Malibu for $1.775 million.The midcentury home included a wooden deck, a private hot tub, and direct access to the beach. After trying to sell the property for $10 million, he finally found a buyer at that price in late 2021.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Palm Springs estate is available as a vacation rental starting at ,750 per night
In 2017, DiCaprio increased his Malibu property collection by buying a 1.76-acre estate in the exclusive Paradise Cove area for $23 million. When he bought it, the property only had a small 610-square-foot cottage. However, earlier owners had already received approval to replace it with a modern two-story house, a cliffside viewing deck, and a swimming pool.He added another Malibu home in 2021 with the private purchase of a $13.8 million modern house inside a secure, gated community.
Environmental restoration and urban wellness
DiCaprio’s passion for protecting the environment has influenced many of his property choices. In 2005, he purchased Blackadore Caye, a 104-acre empty island near Belize, for $1.75 million.Together with developer Paul Scialla, he announced plans for an eco-friendly luxury resort designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy. The project was expected to open in 2018, but construction delays and local environmental concerns have kept the island undeveloped.In New York City, DiCaprio has invested in high-tech wellness homes. In 2008, he bought a $3.67 million apartment in a sustainable building in Battery Park. In 2014, he expanded his ownership by purchasing the apartment next door for $8 million. The building includes solar panels, a water treatment system, advanced air filtration, and a dog spa.He also briefly owned a wellness-focused apartment in Greenwich Village, which he bought for $10 million in 2014. The home featured circadian lighting, aromatherapy technology, and vitamin-C shower systems. However, he sold it in 2016 for a $2 million loss.
Architectural history in Los Angeles and Palm Springs
Away from the beach, DiCaprio has shown strong interest in historic and midcentury architecture. In 1999, he bought a 1930s Spanish-style hacienda in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake area for $769,000. The home had original wooden beams and a private elevator. He later sold it in 2018 for $1.56 million. He also briefly owned a 1930s ranch house in Studio City, which he purchased for $2.05 million in 2014 and sold two years later for a small profit.For a desert getaway, DiCaprio purchased a 1.3-acre property in Palm Springs for $5.2 million in 2014. Originally built in 1964 for singer Dinah Shore, the midcentury home was designed by architect Donald Wexler. The property includes a tennis court, guesthouse, and heated pool, and it is often available as a luxury rental.
A view of the green roof at the Battery Park apartment building where DiCaprio owns two units
In the historic Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, DiCaprio has owned two different homes. In 2018, he bought a traditional 1920s mansion from musician Moby for $4.91 million, which he later sold to singer Miguel.In 2021, he replaced that home by purchasing a nearby 1920s Spanish Colonial mansion from Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson for $7.1 million. The house still has its dramatic and unusual interiors, originally designed by a professional set designer.With a property collection spread across the United States and several film projects ahead, DiCaprio remains one of the most financially successful people in modern cinema.
