Montana has become a hotspot for celebrities looking to escape the chaos of New York and Los Angeles.
Some celebrities, like Glenn Close and Michael Keaton, have lived in this idyllic state for decades, while others, including Paris Hilton, are newer to the area.
However, the influx of posh new residents has also contributed to the cost of housing skyrocketing, leaving some locals unimpressed with the state’s growth.
Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel are often spotted in Bozeman, which is about an hour from the gated community in Big Sky where the Hollywood couple lives with their two children.
“They are very sensible and respectful people. We often see them walking with their children or having coffee in the city,” said one resident.
“They can live a fairly normal life here and the locals don’t bother them. The only ones who make a fuss are the dazzled tourists.”
Celebrities such as Justin Timberlake (pictured) have made Montana their home in recent years, but the influx of immigrants has rankled some locals.
Locals have often spotted Timberlake with his wife Jessica Biel and their two children (pictured) in Bozeman.
One celebrity who caused a stir recently was Jason Momoa, who came to Belgrade for a meeting and promotion of his new vodka line.
Lines to meet the Aquaman hunk snaked around the block and many locals shared stories in the days following of taking selfies with the star.
In addition to the low-key lifestyle that Montana can offer celebrities, some stars are also drawn to the opulence of the famous Yellowstone Club.
Located approximately one hour from Bozeman, the Yellowstone Club spans 15,200 acres in Big Sky and is known for its exclusivity, privacy and luxury amenities.
Its members include Bill Gates, former US President Dan Quayle, Tom Brady, Paris Hilton and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
In 2018, the initial membership fee was $400,000 on top of a $40,000 annual fee, although that price is believed to have since increased.
Members must also purchase a home in the club, which can range in value from $4 million to $25 million or more.
Paris Hilton and her husband, Carter Reum, have been enjoying the ski slopes of Montana after joining the Yellowstone Club.
Located approximately one hour from Bozeman, the Yellowstone Club spans 15,200 acres in Big Sky and is known for its exclusivity, privacy and luxury amenities.
Yellowstone Club members include Bill Gates, former US President Dan Quayle, Tom Brady and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
Yellowstone Club members can relax in a hot tub overlooking Montana’s snow-capped mountains.
There is also a limit of 864 members to maintain exclusivity, and more members come from the business and tech worlds than from Hollywood.
“They are more business leaders than celebrities,” one member said. The San Francisco Standard“It’s too expensive.”
For stars who don’t want to shell out millions to live inside the Yellowstone Club, there are still plenty of picturesque places in Montana where celebrities can set up shop.
Michael Keaton has owned a 1,000-acre property in the small town of Big Timber since the early 1990s.
Bill Pullman also has his own ranch in Boulder Valley, while John Mayer has his own place in Paradise Valley (which inspired his 2013 album of the same name).
Glenn Close has lived in and around Bozeman since the early 1980s, and currently lives there full-time in a ranch-style home with her family, where her daughter, Annie Starke, films her Magnolia Network series, The Mountain Kitchen.
At one point, Glenn and her sister, Jessie, even co-owned a local coffee shop in downtown Bozeman.
Kelly Clarkson also purchased a $10.4 million ranch in 2018 with her then-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
Although the American Idol winner dreams of living on the ranch full-time, she can only visit the property once a month due to her filming schedule for The Kelly Clarkson Show in New York.
John Mayer has had his own spot in Paradise Valley (which inspired his 2013 album of the same name) for more than a decade.
Michael Keaton has owned a 1,000-acre property (pictured) in the small town of Big Timber since the early 1990s.
Glenn Close has lived in and out of Bozeman since the early 1980s, and currently lives there full-time in a ranch-style home (pictured) with her family.
Kelly Clarkson also purchased a $10.4 million ranch in 2018 with her then-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
When asked what makes the state, nicknamed “The Last Best Place in America,” so special, real estate agent Elizabeth Dellwo of The Agency Bozeman said proximity to nature was a big factor.
“Montana offers some of the best outdoor recreation in the United States,” Elizabeth told DailyMail.com.
‘Living in Bozeman means you have so much going on right at your doorstep, which allows for a better work-life balance and creates a better overall quality of life. That’s why everyone wants to be here.’
The influx of celebrities and people moving from the coast has created tension in the state, particularly in Bozeman, which saw a flood of people moving from big cities and fleeing to the freedom-loving Republican state during the pandemic.
Many of those moving from California and New York have more to spend on property than locals, which has driven up the cost of housing and priced many long-time residents out of the market.
Over the past six years, Bozeman home prices have nearly doubled; the median price of a single-family home is now about $737,000, after hitting a staggering high of $795,000 last year.
Some locals now refer to this trendy town by the nickname ‘Boz Angeles’ and discussions about whether this once quiet enclave has become more progressive or not are becoming more frequent.
However, while it’s easy to blame recent transplants for the cost of living and increased traffic, the problem actually goes back decades.
A 1992 article in the Chicago Tribune Celebrities including Mary Hart, Ted Turner and Brooke Shields who moved to Montana detailed the concerns of the local community.
“What people here feel is not so much resentment as fear of losing their city. Is it a place we want to live in?” one resident told the publication at the time.
“Celebrities are quite a fixture here,” he continued. “I think there’s been more concern about Californians in general, who have come here and driven up home prices. Property values have been increasing 2 percent a month since 1990.”
Although some locals remain standoffish toward outsiders, many Montana business owners have benefited from the surge in immigrants and tourists.
Brett Ashley McMillan, owner of Juniper Face + Figure medical spa in Bozeman, says she is just one of many local businesses being positively impacted by all the new faces in town.
Local business owner Brett Ashley McMillan (pictured) says the influx of transplants and tourists has been great for her medical spa, Juniper Face + Figure.
“Small businesses like mine serve local Montanans across the state, but we also benefit from seasonal tourism and newcomers looking to make Bozeman and Big Sky their new home,” he said.
‘I’ve seen all kinds of people at Juniper Face + Figure, from Montana locals to transplant patients, tourists, athletes, influencers, and even some cast members from the TV series Yellowstone.’
She continued: “I would say my business has thrived with the growth in population. Especially since some of my treatments, such as cosmetic injections and vaginal rejuvenation, may be a new concept here in the Wild West.
“But the transplants that come here often come from places like New York and California, where facial and body treatments are more normalized and accepted, so it’s been great for me.”
