George and Amal Clooney Become French Citizens After Moving to Europe To Give Their Kids a ‘Much Better’ Life

Hollywood actor George Clooney has been granted French citizenship, along with his wife, Amal, and their twins—months after revealing that the family had relocated to Europe in a bid to give the children a more normal lifestyle.

George, 64, who was born in Kentucky, will still be able to retain his U.S. citizenship under French law, according to the New York Times.

The naturalizations of the actor and his family were revealed over the weekend in the Journal Officiel, a publication in which French government decrees are officially shared.

It comes just a few months after the "Ocean's Eleven" star revealed that he had officially moved to France with his 47-year-old spouse and their 8-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander, having purchased a farmhouse in the European country in 2021.

In an October interview with Esquire, George said he hoped living in the European countryside would enable his children to enjoy a more traditional upbringing.

“We live on a farm in France. A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid, I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for [the twins], it’s like, they’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in," George, who spoke to the outlet from his villa on Lake Como in Italy, explained.

“They have a much better life. I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life."

He went on to voice his concerns about how his profile in Hollywood—and the resulting spotlight this has shone on his kids—might have negatively affected the twins, noting that he wanted them to be able to enjoy a carefree lifestyle away from photographers and industry stereotypes.

"France—they kind of don’t give a s--t about fame. I don’t want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids," he added.

George noted that he's very thankful there is a large age gap between him and his children because they won't have to deal with people comparing their successes to his own career.

“The only thing I feel lucky about is that I’m so much older, that the idea that my son would be compared to me is pretty unlikely, because by the time he actually will have done anything, I’m gonna be gumming my bread," he said.

He also noted that it is crucial to him for his kids to be self-sufficient, adding that he often suggests they watch him fixing things around the house, such as the swimming pool cover or their coffee machine.

“It’s important to me that they can survive,” the actor added.

George did not reveal when he and Amal decided to relocate to France full time. However, the couple are understood to have purchased a sprawling estate in the European country for $8.3 million in 2021.

The on-screen star doubled down on his praise of the country in an interview with local radio network RTL earlier this month, when he revealed how much more privacy he and his family have been able to enjoy since moving.

"Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s No. 1 for us," he said.

George added that the family does still own a property in the U.S.—as well as his sprawling Lake Como estate—but that the French abode was their "happiest" place.

"We also have a house in the United ​States, but our happiest place is ​on this farm where the kids can ​have fun," he shared.

The actor has been working hard to try to fit himself into the local community by learning French on the popular language app Duolingo, although he has previously confessed that progress on that goal was somewhat slow, admitting in 2024 that his grasp on the dialect was "horrible."

Meanwhile, his wife, Amal, shared some insight into the family's private life earlier this year, when she opened up to Glamour about how they attempt to maintain their safety and security behind closed doors.

Amal confessed that she had implemented a strict phone ban inside her opulent estate, noting that everyone who enters through her door must put their device inside a dedicated basket.

"Creating private moments and spaces is becoming increasingly difficult," Amal admitted. "But that’s also why we entertain a lot at home. I now have a phone basket that I use to take everyone’s phones away!

"It’s important to get that balance where you have time alone with your family and with your friends, where people feel like you can have a safe and frank exchange."

Still, the human rights advocate manages to find plenty of "joy" in her life at home, which she described as one of her greatest sources of happiness.

"The people I love—my husband, our children, our friends—filling our house with people we love, that’s the greatest joy in my life and what gives me balance," she told the publication.

In addition to their homes in Europe and New York, the Clooneys are also understood to still hold the keys to a historical abode in the U.K., which they purchased for a reported $14 million in 2014, just a few days before they tied the knot.

Soon after their honeymoon, they embarked on a reported 18-month renovation process to transform the historical dwelling into the home of their dreams—where they have been raising their children together for the past eight years.

Located in Sonning Eye, overlooking the River Thames, the property dates to the 17th century and still boasts many historical touches. George and Amal's renovations have also seen it outfitted with many modern amenities.

Long before he and Amal tied the knot, George already started building up his European property holdings, beginning with the purchase of two adjacent villas in Lake Como, which he is reported to have snapped up in the early 2000s.

The historical properties are located right on the water and have been frequented by a number of high-profile guests over the years, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Jennifer Aniston, and former President Barack Obama.