Hollywood’s migration to Florida just gained another heavyweight.
The exodus from California that Democrats tried to ignore is accelerating.
And Mark Wahlberg’s $37 million Florida purchase confirmed Hollywood’s worst nightmare.
Wahlberg Joins Trump, Stallone in Florida’s "Billionaires Row"
Mark Wahlberg officially closed on a $37 million estate in Stone Creek Ranch, the exclusive gated community west of Delray Beach known locally as "Billionaires Row."¹
The 54-year-old actor purchased Palazzo di Lago, a fully-furnished Italian-inspired mansion spanning 26,000 total square feet on October 14.²
Wahlberg’s new Florida pad includes 17,797 square feet of interior living space with seven bedrooms, a private tennis court, home theater, wellness wing, saltwater lagoon pool, and what the listing called a "car gallery."³
The property sits on 2.7 acres in one of South Florida’s most secure enclaves, featuring 24-hour guarded access and only 37 luxury estates in the entire community.⁴
Stone Creek Ranch has become a magnet for billionaires and celebrities seeking privacy that California can no longer provide.
Hedge fund legend Steve Cohen, New York Mets owner, already owns a mansion in the community.⁵
Office Depot CEO Gerry P. Smith and NFL star Khalil Mack call Stone Creek Ranch home.⁶
Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys and Grammy winner The Weeknd have reportedly toured properties in the ultra-exclusive neighborhood.⁷
But Wahlberg isn’t alone among A-list stars making the Florida move.
Sylvester Stallone purchased a $35.4 million Palm Beach estate in 2021 and hasn’t looked back.⁸
"First of all, the air seems to always be clean," Stallone told Fox News Digital about his Florida move. "We’re very, very near the water and that makes my wife incredibly happy. It makes me happy, and it’s just something about it. It’s just so lush."⁹
Stallone’s wife Jennifer echoed the sentiment in 2023: "It’s an incredible move, I have to say I’m really happy with our move and our change. I was born and raised there, two of our kids were born there, but now everyone’s out, our daughters moved to the East Coast … so there wasn’t really anything left for me in California."¹⁰
Sydney Sweeney grabbed a $13.5 million oceanfront property in the Florida Keys last year, joining the growing ranks of celebrities trading Hollywood for the Sunshine State.¹¹
The Real Reason Hollywood Can’t Stop the Florida Exodus
Wahlberg already abandoned California for Las Vegas back in 2022, citing his desire to give his four children "a better life."¹²
"I want to be able to work from home. I moved to California many years ago to pursue acting and I’ve only made a couple of movies in the entire time that I was there," Wahlberg explained during his Las Vegas announcement.¹³
He sold his lavish Beverly Hills estate to Paris Hilton earlier this year for $63.1 million after initially listing it for $87.5 million in 2022.¹⁴
The 6-acre Beverly Park compound designed by celebrated architect Richard Landry included 12 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, a golf course, skate park, and resort-style pool.¹⁵
Wahlberg purchased the land for just $8.25 million in 2009, building the estate before California’s policies pushed him out.¹⁶
Now Wahlberg is making another move — this time from Las Vegas to Florida’s tax-friendly shores.
Florida real estate broker Darren Weiner explained the massive appeal to Fox News Digital.
"If you want to be in the heart of the limelight, there’s Miami, if you want privacy and farms, there’s Wellington (big billionaire and celebrity enclave for equestrian enthusiasts and their children), Ocala (John Travolta), and Southwest Ranches (numerous pro athletes)," Weiner said.¹⁷
"Palm Beach has always been the uber wealthy’s winter retreat, but it has now become home to many more billionaires and celebrities," he added.¹⁸
The numbers tell the brutal truth Democrats don’t want to acknowledge.
Florida gained $196 billion in net adjusted gross income from interstate migration over the last decade.¹⁹
California lost $102 billion, New York hemorrhaged $111 billion, and Illinois bled $63 billion during the same period.²⁰
Texas was the only other state besides Florida to see significant gains, picking up $54 billion.²¹
Why Florida Beats California and Nevada for the Ultra-Wealthy
Florida offers what high-earners desperately need: no state income tax, no estate tax, and no inheritance tax.²²
Property tax exemptions can substantially reduce costs for primary residents through Florida’s homestead exemption on the first and third $25,000 of assessed value.²³
The Save Our Homes amendment limits annual property tax increases to just 3% or the change in the consumer price index for properties with homestead exemptions.²⁴
Compass agent Michael Costello, who represented Wahlberg in the purchase, explained Stone Creek Ranch’s appeal to high-profile buyers.
"It’s a super private, very exclusive, high-security community," Costello said. "It’s really one of the only options without paying $150 million to $200 million for something on Palm Beach so that’s why people gravitate there."²⁵
The timing of Wahlberg’s Florida move is telling.
He initially fled California for Nevada in 2022, even purchasing 2.5 acres of land in Las Vegas for $15.6 million with plans to build a studio and create "Hollywood 2.0."²⁶
But Nevada’s tax advantages pale in comparison to Florida’s complete package of benefits, privacy, and security.
Washington state implemented a new 7% capital gains tax in 2021, driving wealthy residents like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to Florida.²⁷
"People are moving out of high-tax states," tax expert Nick Pantekidis explained to Fortune. "For low-tax states like Florida, Texas, Tennessee, you’re seeing large flows of capital for these reasons."²⁸
Even Nevada couldn’t compete with Florida’s combination of year-round weather, world-class beaches, top-tier security, and complete tax relief.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Started the Florida Migration
President Donald Trump made the strategic move to Florida in 2019, declaring Mar-a-Lago his primary residence.²⁹
"I cherish New York, and the people of New York, and always will, but unfortunately, despite the fact that I pay millions of dollars in city, state and local taxes each year, I have been treated very badly by the political leaders of both the city and state," Trump wrote on social media announcing the move.³⁰
The 126-room, 62,500-square-foot mansion became Trump’s primary home while also serving as a club, private beach resort, and historical landmark.³¹
Trump purchased the Mar-a-Lago property in 1985 for about $10 million, the equivalent of $30 million today, and invested heavily in its refurbishment.³²
His move set the template for wealthy Americans fed up with Democrat-run states bleeding them dry.
Wahlberg’s Florida purchase represents the culmination of a trend Trump started and Democrats can’t stop.
The actor who once hoped Nevada would become "Hollywood 2.0" realized Florida already claimed that title.
Stone Creek Ranch developer Aldo Stark purchased Palazzo di Lago in January 2025 for $26 million, completely overhauled the property, and relisted it in March for $45 million.³³
Wahlberg secured the fully-furnished estate for $37 million, represented by Compass while Douglas Elliman’s Senada Adžem held the listing.³⁴
The property was originally built in 2017 and described as "inspired by the tranquil glamour of Lake Como and infused with the seductive allure of James Bond’s ‘Casino Royale.’"³⁵
For Hollywood’s elite, the message is crystal clear — California’s high taxes, crime, and hostile policies drove them out.
Nevada offered a temporary reprieve but couldn’t match Florida’s complete package.
And Trump’s Mar-a-Lago established Florida as the destination for Americans seeking freedom from Democrat control.
Wahlberg’s $37 million Florida purchase confirms what Democrats feared most: their policies don’t just drive away businesses and middle-class families.
They’re losing Hollywood itself.
¹ Lauryn Overhultz, "Mark Wahlberg joins President Trump, Sylvester Stallone, Sydney Sweeney with $37M Florida mansion purchase," Fox News, October 21, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ "Mark Wahlberg joins Florida’s billionaire row. Who else lives there?" Yahoo Entertainment, October 17, 2025.
⁵ "Tour this $24 million mansion in Delray Beach, Florida, where home prices have doubled," CNBC, March 4, 2024.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Kimberly Miller, "Mark Wahlberg buys home in ‘billionaires row’ west of Delray Beach," Yahoo Celebrity, October 17, 2025.
⁸ Lauryn Overhultz, "Mark Wahlberg joins President Trump, Sylvester Stallone, Sydney Sweeney with $37M Florida mansion purchase," Fox News, October 21, 2025.
⁹ Ibid.
¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Ibid.
¹² "Mark Wahlberg Explains Why He Moved His Family to Las Vegas," Yahoo Lifestyle, December 8, 2023.
¹³ Ibid.
¹⁴ "Mark Wahlberg Buys $37 Million ‘Billionaires Row’ Mansion in Florida—Months After Selling $63.1 Million Beverly Hills Estate to Paris Hilton," Yahoo Entertainment, October 17, 2025.
¹⁵ Ibid.
¹⁶ Ibid.
¹⁷ Lauryn Overhultz, "Mark Wahlberg joins President Trump, Sylvester Stallone, Sydney Sweeney with $37M Florida mansion purchase," Fox News, October 21, 2025.
¹⁸ Ibid.
¹⁹ "Florida Continues to Attract New Residents; New York, California, and Illinois Lose the Most Population," National Taxpayers Union Foundation, August 19, 2025.
²⁰ Ibid.
²¹ Ibid.
²² "Celebrity Homes in Florida: Tax Breaks Attracting the Rich & Famous," Pasquale Pisana Real Estate.
²³ "Real Estate News: Celebrities Moving To Florida Include Tom Brady, J-Lo, Cindy Crawford & More," PRWeb, September 8, 2023.
²⁴ Ibid.
²⁵ "Mark Wahlberg could be moving again. This time, it’s Palm Beach. What to know," Yahoo Entertainment, October 17, 2025.
²⁶ "Why Did Mark Wahlberg Leave L.A.? Inside His Move to Nevada With Wife Rhea Durham and Kids," Closer Weekly, October 29, 2024.
²⁷ "Why did Jeff Bezos move to Florida? Tax experts see a billionaire migration," Fortune, February 16, 2024.
²⁸ Ibid.
²⁹ Lauryn Overhultz, "Mark Wahlberg joins President Trump, Sylvester Stallone, Sydney Sweeney with $37M Florida mansion purchase," Fox News, October 21, 2025.
³⁰ Ibid.
³¹ Ibid.
³² Ibid.
³³ "Mark Wahlberg Buys $37 Million ‘Billionaires Row’ Mansion in Florida After Selling $63 Million Beverly Hills Estate to Paris Hilton," California Luxury Houses, October 18, 2025.
³⁴ Ibid.
³⁵ Ibid.
