With Judge Judy's recent lawsuits in Collier County in the news, it's a good time to revisit some of the famous people who call Southwest Florida home.
Judith Sheindlin, a part-time Neapolitan, was arrested this week by a Georgia-based media outlet for publishing an article with the headline, “Internal Judge Judy's quest to save the Menendez brothers, nearly 35 years after their parents' murder.” He sued the company and became a hot topic.
She and her husband have lived in Southwest Florida for many years. There are other famous people here who live here for at least a few months of the year, from TV to music to politicians.
Detroit rocker Bob Seger has lived in Naples for years.
The Michigan rocker has called Naples home for more than a quarter of a century, living part-time in a bayside condo.
And during a performance at Estero's Germain (now Hertz) Arena in 2015, Seager told a packed crowd: We truly feel like home here. ”
Seger has written and recorded numerous songs, including “Against The Wind,” “Hollywood Nights,” “Old Time Rock & Roll,” and “Still the Same.” Seger, who turned 79 in early May, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Tucker Karlsson will move to Boca Grande in 2022
Fox News has hired popular TV personality Tucker Carlson in April 2022.
A few months later, Carlson moved into a 2,812-square-foot home built in 1969 on West 18th Street in Boca Grande. It has three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, according to Lee County property records.
According to zillow.com, the home was purchased on August 3, 2022 for $5.5 million.
Judge Judy has been a seasonal resident of Naples for many years.
Sheindlin, 81, who aired the syndicated TV show “Judge Judy” for 25 years, has worked part-time in Naples for decades.
And in 2023, she ranked 56th on Forbes magazine's list of America's richest self-made women with a fortune of $480 million.
Sheindlin owns homes in various states and occasionally appears at the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival.
Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, home in Naples
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife Calista bought a $3 million home in the Quail West Golf and Country Club development in North Naples in 2021, according to Collier County public records.
Gingrich rose to prominence as Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999 and served as a Republican from north of Atlanta for 20 years. After his public office, he became a writer and frequently appears on conservative networks to discuss politics.
North Naples penthouse owned by Ted Nugent and wife Shemaine
The Motor City Madman and his wife, Shemaine, own a penthouse condo on the bay side of North Naples.
Ted Nugent has garnered national attention in recent years for his political commentary, but decades ago he was primarily known as a musician. His hit songs include “Cat Scratch Fever,” “Free‑for‑All,” “Wango Tango,” and “Stranglehold.”
In a 2017 Naples Daily News article, Nugent mentioned one of his favorite restaurants along U.S. 41 near downtown Naples.
“Grouper and chips — you can even come here just to eat grouper and chips!” he said. “The food is great, the people are great. I've always loved Florida. I've been playing, rock'n'roll, and hunting in Florida since 1967.”
Ohio's son, former Speaker of the House John Boehner, enjoys life in Marco.
Mr. Boehner, who served as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, lived in a $2 million, 2,100-square-foot Marco condo with his wife, Deborah, for more than a decade, records show.
Mr. Boehner was born in Reading, Ohio, in 1949 and served in the House of Representatives from 1991 to 2015, representing parts of southwestern Ohio, including rural and suburban areas near Dayton and Cincinnati.
Biden was sleeping here. So did Mr. Bush.Southwest Florida and Political Type Connections
Best-selling author Janet Evanovich calls Naples home year-round
The New Jersey native is known for her Stephanie Plum series of novels, with the 31st novel, Now or Never, set to be published in November.
In these books, Janet Evanovich writes about a fictional bounty hunter and also touches on her real-life job as a waitress while in college.
Evanovich and her husband moved to Naples more than 20 years ago after visiting the Gulf Coast town after a bail bond conference in Sarasota.
“We decided we wanted a home in Florida,” Evanovich told the Daily News in a 2018 article.
Evanovich has published over 200 million books worldwide.
“When we came to Naples, we were like, 'This is it, this is where we belong,'” she told the Daily News.
Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman and his wife's Marco Island home
In 2023, Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman and his wife Francie move to Marco Island.
Chapman rose to fame as a television star, securing a large and loyal fan base over the years for his various shows chronicling the daily lives of bounty hunters and their families.
In a 2023 interview with the News-Press, Fancy said that since moving to Marco Island, the two have been deeply involved in the community, particularly in various churches throughout Naples. She spoke passionately about how welcoming and accepting the community has been.
“The people here are really great and we’re starting to build community and connect…everyone’s been really great. I’ve been amazed at how open-minded people are to what we’re doing. I was impressed,” Chapman said.
Dave Osborn is regional features editor for the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram and the thread @lacrossewriter and X (formerly his Twitter) @NDN_dosborn..
