Francis Ford Coppola — Jungle Resorts in Five Countries

The Godfather director used his film profits to buy properties in Belize (Turtle Inn, Blancaneaux Lodge), Guatemala (La Lancha), Italy (Palazzo Margherita in his ancestral village of Bernalda), and Argentina. Each resort reflects Coppola's cinematic eye — the Belize properties are on the Caribbean coast with hand-thatched cabanas and $250/night rates that are 50% cheaper than the typical rival jungle resort. Palazzo Margherita was where his daughter Sofia filmed parts of her work. Coppola wines, made at his Napa estate, are served at every property. The man makes movies about empires and then builds actual ones. Compared to #5 De Niro's Greenwich Hotel, Coppola's properties offer a 70% lower starting price per night.