The actor turns paradise into prestige, blending personal passion with elite tourism in a sanctuary of privacy and sustainability.
Barbuda, Antigua y Barbuda — September 2025
At 82, Robert De Niro has launched a bold new venture: a luxury resort project in Barbuda, investing US$ 250 million in what he and his partners call The Beach Club Barbuda, located on Princess Diana Beach—the same white-sandy shore once favored by Diana, Princess of Wales. Slated for completion by the end of 2026, the complex promises exclusivity, luxury, and deep connection to nature, with design mindful of environmental integration and local character.
The resort will feature 17 high-end villas, several measuring over 500 square meters, each with private pool and direct sea access. In addition, about twenty villas will be available for sale, priced from US$ 12 million, each offering amenities like private cinemas, wine cellars, and bespoke furnishings. A new residential house with tennis court is also planned on a parcel where De Niro once owned a modest home destroyed by Hurricane Irma, which will now be replaced. The setting emphasizes privacy and understated architecture, limiting building heights to one story and embedding structures within the island’s lush vegetation.
Accessibility plays a role in the allure: Barbuda’s Burton-Nibbs airport, capable of handling private jets, boosts exclusivity by keeping the destination relatively secluded. De Niro, known for his refined taste and passion for places of solitude, has long had a personal affinity for the island, returning often over decades. The investment not only furthers his business ambitions—through the Nobu Hospitality brand, which already has dozens of hotels and restaurants worldwide—but also reflects a personal dream of creating a space that balances legacy, natural beauty, and sustainable luxury.
Yet locals and environmental advocates express concern over the project’s social and ecological impact. Potential issues include land displacement, pressure on limited natural resources, and disruption of traditional community life. Authorities in Antigua and Barbuda say the government aims to position Barbuda as a premium destination for high-end global tourism, but critics warn that this development model may privilege wealthy outsiders over local needs.
De Niro has responded by emphasizing his commitment to preserving the natural environment and respecting Barbuda’s cultural heritage. Landscape design will be handled by Raymond Jungles, known for integrating architecture with nature. Structures will remain low-rise, hidden among foliage, avoiding any appearance of imposing cathedral-like monuments.
The resort project also responds to Hurricane Irma’s devastation, which destroyed much of Barbuda and displaced most of its population for over a year. The disaster renewed interest from international investors in rebuilding—but with higher standards. The Beach Club Barbuda seeks to meet these, offering design resilience, sustainable materials, and infrastructure appropriate for upscale tourism without erasing Barbuda’s character.
For De Niro, the project is more than a commercial leap: it is personal. It honors his long-standing love for the place, the memories, the natural beauty, and the desire to preserve them. The resort stands to be a statement: that luxury can walk alongside conservation if done with sensitivity, intention, and vision.
Behind every data point, there’s an intention. Behind every silence, a structure.