George Clooney used to be the world's most committed bachelor. You remember those days. He had the pig, the sprawling Lake Como villa, and a revolving door of high-profile dates. Then he met Amal Alamuddin, and everything shifted. But the real curveball? That came in June 2017. George Clooney and twins—specifically Alexander and Ella—became the center of a universe that used to revolve entirely around movie sets and Nespresso commercials.
The twins are eight years old now. They aren’t just "celebrity kids" anymore. They are little people with distinct personalities, French passports, and a father who is obsessed with making sure they don't grow up as entitled Hollywood brats. Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock to see the guy who played Danny Ocean talk about teaching his kids how to fix a pool cover or paint a fence.
But that is exactly what is happening on a farm in Provence.
Why George Clooney and Twins Left Hollywood Behind
If you look at the headlines from late 2025, you’ll see a massive shift. The Clooney family officially became French citizens in December 2025. This wasn't just a symbolic gesture. George sold his long-time Los Angeles home—the one he’d owned since 1995—to move full-time to Europe.
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Why the sudden exit?
He’s been pretty blunt about it. In a 2025 interview with Esquire, he admitted he was worried about the "culture of Hollywood." He didn't want Alexander and Ella being compared to other famous kids. He didn't want them tracked by paparazzi at the school gates. France, according to George, just doesn't "give a s--- about fame."
It’s about privacy. Pure and simple.
Amal’s work as a human rights lawyer adds another layer to this. She deals with dangerous people—terrorist groups, dictators, the kind of "bad guys" most of us only see in movies. Because of this, their security is intense. Their English estate in Berkshire has been described as a "bunker," complete with a sophisticated 18-camera CCTV system and 24-hour surveillance. But on the farm in France? Things are different.
The "No iPad" Rule and Farm Life
The life George Clooney and twins lead now is surprisingly analog. George grew up on a farm in Kentucky and, funnily enough, he hated it. He spent his youth picking tobacco and dreaming of getting out. Now, at 64, he’s recreated that exact environment for his children—minus the tobacco.
They live on an $8.3 million estate called Domaine du Canadel. It has:
- Over 1,200 olive trees.
- A working vineyard.
- A pool (that George fixes himself).
- A tractor (which is apparently a huge hit with the kids).
The rule in the house is simple: no iPads. George wants them to have a "much better life" than the one they’d find staring at a screen in a Beverly Hills mansion. They eat dinner with the adults. They have to clear their own dishes. It sounds mundane, but for the children of one of the world's most famous men, it’s a radical act of parenting.
Meet Alexander and Ella
They might be twins, but they aren't carbon copies. Alexander, who arrived two minutes before his sister at London’s St. Mary’s Hospital, is the joker. He’s got George’s face and, apparently, his "knucklehead" sense of humor. George has joked on the New Heights podcast that his son's favorite thing to do is prank people.
He even showed Alexander Batman & Robin. You know, the 1997 movie George usually apologizes for? Well, Alexander loved it. He even went as Batman for Halloween in 2025. George was shocked. He thought it was a terrible movie for adults, but "great for 8-year-olds."
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Then there's Ella.
She’s more like Amal. George says she looks exactly like her mother and has a much more serious streak. While Alexander is trying to get a laugh, Ella is the one making sure everyone plays by the rules. But don't let the "serious" label fool you. She’s not into the princess stuff. Last Halloween, she skipped the tiara and went as a "scary witch."
The Taylor Swift Factor
Despite living in the middle of the French countryside, you can’t keep the 2020s out forever. Even the Clooney twins are Swifties. While they are famously unimpressed by their dad’s friends—Robert De Niro can be sitting in their living room and they won’t even blink—they desperately want to see Taylor Swift. They are also big fans of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande after seeing Wicked.
It’s a funny reminder that no matter how many olive trees you have or how many French government decrees you sign, you’re still a dad trying to figure out how to get concert tickets.
The Reality of Raising Kids Abroad
Living in France isn't all wine and sunsets. George has admitted his French is "horrible." He’s been trying to learn on Duolingo, but progress is slow. Imagine being a global superstar and struggling to ask for a baguette at the local bakery.
There's also the pressure of the "Retirement Vow." Insiders have whispered to outlets like the National Enquirer that George promised Amal he’d slow down his career to focus on the twins. But his 2026 calendar is packed. He’s doing Broadway (Good Night, and Good Luck), promoting new films like Jay Kelly, and running a production empire.
Balancing that "analog farm life" with the demands of being George Clooney is a constant tug-of-war.
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What We Can Learn From the Clooney Parenting Playbook
If you’re looking to apply some of this "Clooney-style" parenting to your own life, you don't need a villa in Provence. The core of what they are doing is accessible:
- Enforce Digital Boundaries: You don't need a farm to put the iPads away. Encouraging "boredom" leads to creativity.
- Assign Responsibility: Even if you aren't fixing a pool cover, having kids take their own dishes to the sink builds a sense of self-sufficiency.
- Prioritize Privacy: In an era where every "sharents" their kids on Instagram, the Clooneys' refusal to post photos of Alexander and Ella is a lesson in protecting a child's right to their own image.
- Practical Skills: George makes the kids help with manual labor, like painting the fence. It’s not about the quality of the paint job; it’s about the value of the work.
The story of George Clooney and twins Alexander and Ella is still being written. They are growing up in a world that is half-Hollywood and half-countryside, navigating the complexities of fame with a father who is determined to keep them grounded. Whether they stay in France forever or eventually find their way back to L.A., one thing is clear: they won't be your typical celebrity kids.
Next Steps for You:
If you're interested in how other high-profile families manage privacy in the digital age, you should look into the "phone basket" rule Amal Clooney uses during dinner parties. It’s a simple, low-tech way to reclaim your personal space and ensure your family time remains actually private. You might also want to explore the legal nuances of French privacy laws, which are significantly stricter than those in the U.S. and provide a much safer environment for children of public figures.