George Clooney Says Raising His Kids in France Will Give Them a ‘Much Better’ Life Than They Ever Would Have Had in L.A.

Hollywood star George Clooney is opening up about why raising his children in France will give them a "much better" life than if they had been brought up in Los Angeles—explaining that removing his kids from the U.S. will enable them to escape the trappings of their parents' fame.

The 64-year-old actor shares 8-year-old twins Ella and Alexander with his wife, Amal Clooney, 47, and revealed in a new interview with Esquire that the couple have chosen to live primarily on a farm in France to give their children a better quality of life.

“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 grownups and have to take their dishes in," explained George, who spoke to the outlet from his villa on Lake Como in Italy.

“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."

George 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 made the decision 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.

His candid explanation for why he has moved away from the U.S., where he was born, comes just months after his wife, a human rights lawyer who was born in Lebanon and raised in the U.K., was issued a warning by the U.K. Foreign Office that Trump could hand down sanctions that would affect her ability to enter the U.S.

According to the Financial Times, several high-level barristers were cautioned about potential sanctions that could be leveled against them as a result of the legal advice that they had given the International Criminal Court in a war crimes case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Thus far, no such sanctions have been put in place.

However, Amal has been open about wanting to create a sanctuary for her family, where they can enjoy "private moments" away from the spotlight—something her husband seems confident they can do at their French home base.

In an interview with Glamour, for which she was joined by her close friend, celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, Amal confessed that she has 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," she told the publication. "That’s the greatest joy in my life and what gives me balance."

The house in question was purchased by the couple for a reported $14 million in 2014, just a few days before they tied the knot, and it was in the property that the couple spent their honeymoon, with Amal revealing in a 2018 interview with Vogue that the duo camped out together in their unfurnished abode.

Soon after their honeymoon came to an end, however, 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 more modern amenities.

These include a home theater and a pool house bar, which is used as both a "party zone" for the duo when they host friends and a shared workspace for the two of them.

According to the British Vogue piece, the duo's home is filled largely with photographs, as well as some sentimental pieces of art, including a tongue-in-cheek portrait of George's late dog, Einstein, posed as a professor at a chalkboard, and one of a giraffe's head in a nod to Amal's love of animals.

While the property serves as the couple's main residence, it is far from the only home they own.

In fact, the Clooneys boast an extensive portfolio of dwellings that crosses several countries—from Italy and France to New York City—having also owned homes in Los Angeles and Mexico in the past.

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.

They are also understood to still own a luxury condo in Manhattan, which was purchased in 2016.