(Nicolas Cage, owner)

Languidly drifting amid the sprawl of the Exuma archipelago, 85 miles southeast of Nassau, is actor Nicolas Cage’s Leaf Cay, a sand-fringed plot of paradise equipped with a 1,500-foot airstrip, underground wiring and its own desalination facility. Measuring more than 40 acres, the rustic isle floats in pristine, crystal clear waters (often compared to the South Pacific) and reportedly cost Cage $3 million. "It's nice to walk on the beach and not have to worry about having your picture taken,” he told the Associated Press.

(Johnny Depp, owner)

In 2004, Johnny Depp reportedly plunked down $3.6 million for Little Hall’s Pond Cay, a mile-long, palm-littered getaway 60 miles south of Nassau. Blessed with majestic reefs, a lagoon, private harbor and six white-sand beaches, the enchanting atoll caught Depp’s eye while he was in the region filming Pirates of the Caribbean, and seemed like the perfect hideaway for a busy screen idol and his family. “It is so beautiful there,” Depp told the New York Post. “So peaceful, free and relaxed.”

(The Stewart Family, owners)

The Stewart family—which owns Sandals and Beaches Resorts—has purchased several private islands, among them Fowl Cay, a lush and sandy sanctuary in the deep blue climes of the Exumas (200 miles from Miami). In 2007, the Stewarts transformed the isle into the Royal Plantation resort, equipping it with six elegant villas, each with a butler who will restock your kitchen. Visitors can often be seen strolling the powdery beaches or cruising to one of the many sandbars for a champagne picnic lunch. “The place gives us the solitude that we crave as a family,” explains Adam Stewart. “The biggest distraction is the wind blowing through the trees.”

(Jeff Gram, owner)

There’s nothing like sunset on Cayo Espanto when the sky is streaked with shades of purple, pink, orange and blue. “It’s my favorite time on the island” offers owner and real estate developer Jeff Gram. “As the light changes, it seems like the clouds are dancing, even when they’re not moving.” Gram discovered the deserted isle, off the coast of Belize, in 1994, then gave it an upgrade—planting hundreds of coconut and almond trees and building a five-villa resort, each with a private pool and dedicated houseman. “I saw the opportunity to take a blank canvas and create the ideal private island.” he says. “Whenever I fly over the island, it still amazes me.”

(David Copperfield, owner)

Of his cache of four private islands, magician and illusionist David Copperfield rents out the immaculate, white-sanded Musha Cay, a 150-acre haven that plays host to such celebrated beachcombers as Oprah Winfrey and John Travolta. The tab for a full-island rental is up to $300,000 a week—but you get you money’s worth: You can choose from accommodations such as a five-bedroom villa on the beach or a 10,000-square-foot manor house on the crest of a hill; and the staff includes 30-plus trained pamperers and a world-class chef.

(Leonardo DiCaprio and real estate developer Jeff Gram, co-owners)

During a visit to the Cayo Espanto resort, Leonardo DiCaprio was so smitten with the exotic digs that he co-purchased the place next door: Blackadore, a narrow, two-mile strip of sand and greenery sprinkled with coconut palms and tropical vegetation. A devoted environmentalist, DiCaprio struck a deal with Four Seasons Resorts to build an eco-friendly hotel on the island (plus private pools and villas), which will still preserve the island’s majestic wildlife and marine life. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2008.

(David Gilmour, owner)

With a maximum of 14 couples sharing 30 beaches on 2,200 acres, there’s plenty of room at Fiji’s Wakaya Club to do some serious indulging. Book a private beach, scuba dive or golf, or have a champagne and lobster lunch on the sand. But leaving your 1,650-square-foot, Fijian wood room can be difficult: amenities include fully stocked bars, four-poster beds and eight-foot, volcanic outdoor showers. Owner David Gilmour, founder and CEO of Fiji Water, built the resort and neighboring village from the ground up, creating a church, school, organic gardens and 26 miles of roads. Guests have included Russell Crowe, Tom Cruise and Celine Dion, who love the fact that it’s one place on the globe that’s paparazzi-free.

(Richard Branson, owner)

Almost 30 years ago, a young and not-so-rich Richard Branson decided to visit the Virgin Islands on a shopping spree. When his helicopter hovered above the majestic beaches and spectacular reef of Necker Island, the man was sold. “There was this pristine, clear sea,” Branson told Cigar Aficionado magazine. “I’d never seen anything so beautiful in my life.” When Branson and his family aren’t in residence, guests such as Michael Douglas, Steven Spielberg and Prince Charles rent out the entire 74-acre island—which includes the spectacular nine-bedroom Great House atop Devils Hill, and five gorgeous Balinese-style houses.

(Richard Bailey, owner; Marlon Brando, former owner)

The island of Tetiaroa (26 miles north of Tahiti) was once a playground for Tahitian kings, with its magical lagoon and sweeping necklace of 13 deep green satellite islands. In 1965, actor Marlon Brando similarly fell under Tetiaroa’s spell while filming Mutiny on the Bounty in French Polynesia—so he bought it. Today, hotelier Richard Bailey holds the deed to Tetiaroa, and he plans to build a luxury eco-hotel there. According to Brando’s wishes, it will be energy-autonomous and constructed with natural materials; and a fulltime marine biologist and veterinarian will ensure the preservation of the island’s natural gifts, which include sea-turtle hatching grounds and rare indigenous seabirds.

(Mel Gibson, owner)

In 2004, actor Mel Gibson purchased Mago Island from Japan’s Tokyu Corp. for $15 million. The 5,411-acre hideaway is said to be one of the largest privately owned islands in Fiji. Encircled by protective reefs, and blanketed with lush growths of mango, coconut, grapefruit, guava and papaya, Mago (prounounced Mungo), plays host to two turquoise lagoons, a farm, and several hundred cattle. Oh, yeah—there’s even an eight-lane bowling alley.