Celebrities who call Naples home include: Judge Judy, Bob Seger, and Newt Gingrich
With Judge Judy recently making headlines for filing a lawsuit in Collier County, now is a good time to explore some of the most famous people from Southwest Florida.
Judith Sheindlin, a part-time Neapolitan, made news this week when she sued Georgia-based media businesses for publishing an article titled “Inside Judge Judy’s Quest to Save the Menendez Brothers Nearly 35 Years After Their Parents’ Murder.”
She and her spouse have lived in Southwest Florida for several years, according to a recent article by Dave Osborn of Naples Daily News.
Here are some other well-known personalities from television, music, and politics who spend at least a few months each year here:
Bob Seger, a Detroit rocker, has lived in Naples for several years.
The Michigan rocker has lived in Naples for more than 25 years, spending part of his time in a Gulf-side condo.
During his 2015 performance at the Germain (now Hertz) Arena in Estero, Seger told the sold-out crowd, “I get to play one of my hometowns. We feel right at home here.”
Seger has written and recorded numerous songs, including “Against the Wind,” “Hollywood Nights,” “Old Time Rock and Roll,” and “Still the Same.” Seger, who turned 79 earlier in May, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Tucker Carlson relocated to Boca Grande in 2022.
In April 2022, Fox News fired Tucker Carlson, a renowned TV personality.
A few months later, Carlson relocated to a 1969-built 2,812-square-foot home on 18th Street West in Boca Grande. According to Lee County property records, the home has three bedrooms and 3½ bathrooms.
According to Zillow.com, the residence was purchased for $5.5 million on August 3, 2022.
Judge Judy is a longtime Naples seasonal resident.
Sheindlin, 81, who hosted the syndicated television show “Judge Judy” for 25 years, has lived part-time in Naples for decades.
In 2023, she was ranked 56th on Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women, with a net worth of $480 million.
Sheindlin, who has residences in several states, is periodically spotted at the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival.
Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker, holds a house in Naples.
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, bought a $3 million home in the Quail West Golf & Country Club development in North Naples in 2021, according to Collier County property records.
Gingrich was a Republican congressman from north of Atlanta for 20 years before rising to fame as House Speaker from 1995 to 1999. Following his time in public service, he became an author and frequently appears on conservative networks to debate politics.
Ted Nugent his wife Shemaine own North Naples penthouse.
The Motor City Madman and his wife, Shemaine, have a Gulf-side penthouse condo in North Naples.
Ted Nugent has gained national notoriety in recent years for his political commentary, although he was best known as a musician for decades prior. His successful songs include “Cat Scratch Fever,” “Free-for-All,” “Wango Tango,” and “Stranglehold.”
In a 2017 Naples Daily News article, Nugent listed one of his favorite restaurants on U.S. 41 in downtown Naples.
“Grouper & Chips — I could come down just to eat Grouper & Chips!” exclaimed he. “The cuisine is fantastic, as are the people. I’ve always adored Florida. Since 1967, I’ve been playing, hunting, and grooving in Florida.”
Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman and wife own a Marco Island home.
In 2023, Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman and his wife, Francie, relocated to Marco Island.
Chapman rose to prominence as a television star, amassing a big and loyal fan base over the years with his different shows, which followed the daily lives of a bounty hunter and his family.
In a 2023 interview with the News-Press, Fancie stated that since coming to Marco Island, the couple has been actively involved in the community, particularly with several churches in Naples. She talked about how warmly the town greeted and embraced them.
“The people here are wonderful, and we’re starting to build a community and get plugged in. Everyone has been incredible.” “It has amazed and floored me how accepting people are of what we’re doing,” Chapman added.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News