Francis Ford Coppola’s Many Homes, From Private Islands to Vineyards

Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

When you hear the name Francis Ford Coppola, cinema most likely comes to mind. But the famed director of Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders, The Godfather trilogy, and more classic movies wears many hats. In addition to his renowned contributions to the film industry, Coppola is also a winemaker and accidental hotelier. What started out as mere hobbies turned into two highly profitable companies: Francis Ford Coppola Winery and The Family Coppola Hideaways. Below are the properties that started it all.

The historic Hancock Park Tudor

If there’s one thing all of Coppola’s former homes have in common, it’s historic charm. The movie director once owned a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom Tudor mansion in Los Angeles’s Hancock Park neighborhood. Coppola lived in the 6,041-square-foot home back in the 1980s. The home has all the charm that comes with a Tudor home, such as 12-foot coffered ceilings, a wood-paneled dining room, a primary suite with a fireplace and marble bathtub, plus a gourmet kitchen complete with Viking appliances and marble counters. The outdoor space was made with entertaining in mind. The 0.39-acre property has a redbrick-framed pool, raised spa, an outdoor fireplace, and a built-in barbecue. Since Coppola lived there, the property has changed hands various times, most notably when Ariana Grande called the Tudor mansion home in the early 2010s. It hit the market in 2019 and sold for $7.05 million.

The Italian villa and the Family Coppola Hideaways

It comes as no surprise that ​Coppola would have a palatial home in Italy—one fit for Vito Corleone of The Godfather. Palazzo Margherita is the definition of grandiose. Built in 1892 in Bernalda, Italy, the 19th-century villa was once home to the Margherita family. The town also happened to be the birthplace of Agostino Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola’s grandfather, who always referred to the villa as “Bernalda bella.” Coppola fell under the spell of the Palazzo just like his grandfather and purchased the Palazzo in 2004. He had intentions of introducing the grand home to the world by transforming it into a luxurious boutique hotel—and so it became a part of The Family Coppola Hideaways. The film director teamed up with French designer Jacques Grange to create an authentic Italian experience. “Surrounded by gardens, a courtyard, and a swimming pool, all just steps from a small, bustling town in which the visitor is a friend and neighbor rather than a tourist,” states the official website of The Family Coppola Hideaways. In addition to staying at Palazzo Margherita, guests can also book rooms at Coppola’s properties in Belize, Guatemala, and Argentina.

The private island

After decades in the Hollywood spotlight, it makes perfect sense for Coppola to find solace on Coral Caye, a private 2.5-acre island in Belize. The self-sustaining island has a main house, two cottages, and a dock positioned right on the tranquil turquoise waters of the Belize Barrier Reef. Though the private island feels secluded from reality, it’s only eight miles off the coast of Placencia, or a 25-minute boat ride. After leasing the property for six years and using it as a family getaway, Coppola listed the property in 2022 for $2.2 million. Coppola also owns Turtle Inn, another property in Belize, where his daughter, Sofia Coppola, has a holiday home.

The Napa Valley estate

In addition to being one of the world’s great filmmakers and a hotel magnate, Coppola is also a talented vintner. Afterall, winemaking is in the Coppola family DNA. His grandfather, the same one who was born in Bernalda, made wine in the basement of his New York apartment using concrete vats he constructed himself, according to Forbes. In 1975, with the profits from The Godfather series, Coppola purchased Niebaum Mansion in Rutherford, California, along with 100 acres of premium Napa vineyards. Niebaum was once part of Inglenook, which some consider the most beautiful wine estate in the world. It’s as close as Napa gets to hallowed ground. Coppola restored the property over the course of 40 years, and thus Francis Ford Coppola Winery was born and Inglenook restored to its former glory. In 2021, the director sold parts of Francis Ford Coppola Winery to Napa-based Delicato Family Wines to fund his latest film, Megalopolis. The grand Inglenook château was not included in the sale and still remains Coppola’s primary residence.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

More Great Celebrity Style Stories From AD

• The Full House House Hits the Market for $6.5 Million—Take a Peek Inside

• Julianne Moore’s Homes: A Look at the Oscar Winner’s Stunning Residences

• The Home Alone House is About to Have A New Owner

• For Jasmine Tookes, Home Is Where You Have the Most Fun

• Bridgerton Season 3: Tour the Elaborate Sets

• Cabaret Transforms a Classic NYC Theater Into an Uninhibited German Underground

• The Eras Tour Stage: See the Intricate World-Building of Every Set in Taylor Swift’s Most Ambitious Shows Ever

• Gwyneth Paltrow Lists Her Traditional-Style LA Home—Where Kendrick Lamar Is a Neighbor—for $30 Million

• Not a subscriber? Join AD for print and digital access now.

• Browse the AD PRO Directory to find an AD-approved design expert for your next project.