2. Marlon Brando

2. Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando is sadly no longer with us, but while he was, he was old-school Hollywood royalty. In his era, anyone who was anyone had to have their own island, or they just weren't keeping up with the jet set! Brando didn't just choose one at random though; he fell in love with a location he was filming a movie in, and decided he couldn't bear to part with it when filming was over.

The island, which is in French Polynesia, is called Tetiaroa. It's far better known by its nicknames though - 'Desire,' and 'The Grandfather of Private Islands.' That should give you an idea of how beautiful and idyllic it is. Not only did Brando enjoy filming on the island, but it's also the place he fell in love with his third wife. Now he's no longer around to enjoy it, the island plays host to an environmentally-friendly holiday resort for the rich and famous to enjoy. If you want to see it for yourself, you're welcome - but prices start at $12,400 per night.

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Did You Know...

I

When we think of inventors, the image that comes to mind is usually that of a frazzled scientist toiling away in a lab, not celebrities pulled from the pages of Us Weekly. However, a number of well-known public figures hold patents for various innovations. Some are related to the work that made them famous, while others are offshoots of hobbies or just a single great idea.

II

Part of guitar wizard Eddie Van Halen's signature sound was his two-handed tapping technique, but letting all ten fingers fly while simultaneously holding up the guitar's neck could get a bit tricky. Van Halen came up with a novel way to get around this problem, though; he invented a support (top) that could flip out of the back of his axe's body to raise and stabilize the fretboard so he could tap out searing songs like "Eruption." While Van Halen was obviously interested in improving his guitar work, the patent application he filed in 1985 notes that the device would work with any stringed instrument. Want to tap out a scorching mandolin solo? Find someone selling Eddie's device.

III

It’s probably not surprising that James Cameron—who designed a submersible to take him to the deepest known part of the ocean—will often invent technology to make his films if what he needs doesn’t exist. He holds a number of patents, including US Patent No. 4996938, “apparatus for propelling a user in an underwater environment,” that he and his brother, Michael, created to film The Abyss and patented in 1989. The device is basically an underwater dolly equipped with propellers that makes it easy for a camera operator to maneuver in the water—and allowed Cameron to capture the shots he wanted for the 1989 film, part of which was filmed in an abandoned nuclear reactor.

IV

In 1987 Jamie Lee Curtis designed and patented a disposable diaper that included a waterproof pocket that held baby wipes. She hasn't profited from her idea yet, though, since she refuses to license the patent until diaper companies make biodegradable products.

V

You know him as a rock legend, but Neil Young also loves trains—so much that he owns a stake in a model train manufacturing company and has an extensive collection. He also holds seven patents related to model trains, including Patent No. US5441223, "Model train controller using electromagnetic field between track and ground."

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