Others included in the starry line-up are American actors Billy Crudup, Grace Edwards and Patrick Wilson, while Eve Hewson – daughter of U2 singer Bono – and actress Riley Keough, granddaughter of Elvis, have also been spotted enjoying the late summer Italian sunshine. The whole group was spotted leaving the Clooneys’ villa to hop on a motorboat and speed a few miles down the lakeside to the exclusive Villa d’Este for a lively lunch. The restaurant and hotel’s reputation for historic grandeur and discreet service has made it a favourite among the famous and super-rich, with notable guests including everyone from Elizabeth Taylor and Alfred Hitchcock, to Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.
The couple treated their friends to lunch at the moneyed Villa d’Este, a prime location for the super-rich
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The Clooneys and their friends could be seen enjoying their time on the boat before lunch, with Amal – dressed in a white dress and an oversized straw boater – smiling happily at George, who had an arm around his young son. Although plenty of rumours have swirled over the years that the Clooneys are ready to sell Villa Oleandra, the family appears to be devoted to this peaceful spot in one of Italy’s most upscale resorts. The actor – who normally stays for up to four months a year – can often be spotted riding his motorbike through the winding streets, and hopping onto boats to visit local towns and restaurants.
George Clooney paid just $10 million for the house when he bought it from the Heinz family in 2002 – a sum which, on the shores of Lake Como today, is barely pocket change. The actor’s purchase set off a real estate boom, prompting property prices in the area to soar, and now the Clooneys’ 25-room villa is worth just over $100 million. It’s little wonder: the 18th century home, located in the Laglio area, was reportedly given a major renovation upon purchase, and the Clooneys own several other adjacent villas, taking the footprint of the property up to 100,000 square feet. Of course, there are all sorts of extras one might expect of a celebrity pad: a speedboat pier, swimming pool, tennis court, a gym and even a pizza room.
George and Amal Clooney met one another at Villa Oleandra in 2013, when Amal attended a dinner party thrown by the actor
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