Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t make headlines just for his talent; he’s also known for his penchant for younger women, his advocacy for climate change awareness, and his unabashed use of private jets and luxury yachts, contributing to the very climate crisis he condemns.
The man who founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 is no stranger to the impact of his choices on the environment, especially given his involvement in businesses that sell electric cars, vegan sneakers (an investment he made after facing numerous accusations of hypocrisy for enjoying a luxurious lifestyle while urging others to fight climate change), and even plant-based meat. However, this doesn’t stop him from occasionally using private jets or regularly indulging in the luxury of superyachts. On several occasions, he has been labeled a hypocrite.
In 2016, he flew on a private jet between Cannes and New York to receive an award for his environmental activism. The 12,000-kilometer journey by private jet sparked much criticism, but that didn’t stop the "Revenant" star from flying privately to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, the same year.
At this summit, the Oscar winner received the Crystal Award for his "leadership in addressing the climate crisis." "We have only one planet. Humanity must take large-scale responsibility for the reckless destruction of our shared home. Protecting our future on this planet depends on the conscious evolution of our species," DiCaprio said in one of his speeches.
Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar at the 88th Academy Awards in 2016, where he stated: "Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work together to stop it." DiCaprio continued: "We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters, but for all of humanity, for the indigenous people of the world, for the billions and billions of underprivileged people who would be most affected. For our children’s children, and for those people whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed. I thank you all for this incredible award tonight. Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted."
The "Wolf of Wall Street" star has even defended his actions by stating that he offsets his annual carbon footprint of 11 tons by participating in an organization called Future Forests, which plants trees based on the amount of carbon dioxide passengers emit into the atmosphere using planes, trains, and luxury yachts. Leo’s affinity for superyachts runs even deeper than his fondness for private flights. Although he attempted to mend his ways by flying commercially to COP26 in 2021, the change didn’t last long. The Daily Mail reported that in late February and early March 2023, the 48-year-old actor traveled nearly 20,000 kilometers by private jet to enjoy the company of beautiful women in cities like Milan, London, Paris, and Los Angeles.
In July 2023, he made the most of the Mediterranean summer aboard the $190 million yacht Vava II in Tuscany, where helicopters were at his disposal for onshore enjoyment. The acting star and his model friends frequently traveled to the harbor for lunch, dinner, or dancing until dawn. Leonardo is a regular guest on luxury vessels every year, despite the criticism. He was seen on a luxury yacht for New Year’s in 2021 and again with Tristan Thompson in the summer of 2022.
Before that, DiCaprio and 20 of his friends turned the 482-foot, $678 million yacht of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (owner of Manchester City Football Club) into their epicenter of fun. Hollywood stars threw an 80s-themed party on board while enjoying the 2014 FIFA World Cup in style.
From ordinary people to some celebrities, many have called him out for this hypocritical behavior. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro labeled DiCaprio an environmental hypocrite and urged him to stop partying on luxury yachts before lecturing others on environmental issues. Interestingly, according to Politico, Leo was voted the most trusted authority in America on climate change and other environmental issues, even ahead of Greta Thunberg, Al Gore, Joe Biden, and Bill Gates.
