There is something about an island that will always have romantic connotations – of running away to the South Seas, of buried treasure, of a paradise far from the madding crowd.

Fact is, some desert islands are downright crowded these days, running wall to wall celebrities, not to mention the wannabes who follow in their Havaiana-steps.

Almost all the islands you see the likes of Becks and Posh, Nicole and Keith or Brangelina frolicking on are also available to you – for a price, of course.

But if you’ve got the money, you’ve got the go to become part of how the other half (half a per cent, that is) lives.

And some celebrities love the privacy of island resorts so much, they buy their own. Mel Gibson bought Mago Island, Fiji, for $17.2m in 2004 as a private hideaway, complete with two lagoons and an eight-lane bowling alley.

The latest couple to join the exclusive island-owners’ club is Pitt and Jolie, who secured a man-made island in the Dubai development The World. They have reportedly bought Ethiopia (their two-year-old daughter Zahara was born in the real Ethiopia). Their neighbours will include Richard Branson and Rod Stewart and the islands are priced from $7.7 million to $46.1 million.

Other island owners include Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. Some of them, such as Branson and, soon, DiCaprio, rent out their islands when they’re not there.

The trend started many decades ago and one of the most notable island resort owners was the late Marlon Brando.

He fell in love with Tahiti in 1965 while making the film Mutiny on the Bounty and bought the atoll of Tetiaroa.

The atoll already had a celebrity history in its own culture before Brando came along, as the holiday getaway for the chiefs and kings of Tahiti.

It is rumoured that there is still buried treasure on the island. Brando had the Hotel Tetiaroa Village built there, 13 basic palm thatched fares (villas) that were popular with rich couples who wanted a romantic holiday away from five-star hotels. The resort, however, became very run down and closed in 2004.

Now, however, developer Richard Bailey has bought part of the atoll and will turn it into a luxurious eco-resort called The Brando, scheduled to open next year and include accommodation for 30 couples at $1700 a night.

In the meantime, Brando’s son Teihotu, 42, is the only official resident of Tetiaroa and works for Bailey as the atoll’s caretaker.

Necker Island in British Virgin Islands is one of the world’s most expensive resorts, owned by billionaire Sir Richard Branson.

Fly to San Juan (Puerto Rico), St Thomas, Antigua or Barbados, take a connecting flight to Beef Island, Tortola, than a short launch or helicopter trip to Necker.

Prices range up to $52,700 a night for 26 people, including meals and drinks, water sports and Internet services, and laundry, too. When there’s not an exclusive booking, couples can stay from $25,800 a week.

A favourite spot of Mel Gibson, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Douglas and Prince Charles.

The Musha Cay in the Bahamas is owned by magician David Copperfield, who named it as Copperfield Bay after himself.

Google founder Sergey Brin was married there this year while John Travolta and Winfrey frequents this place.

Eight people stay cost  $28,370 a night (extra for more people, up to 24). Minimum three-night stay and $28,647 security deposit. The rate includes food and drink but not airport taxes, tips or phone use.

In October, a 22-year-old American woman who had stayed on the island accused Copperfield, 51, of raping her there. He has denied the claims and FBI agents are investigating.

The Goldeneye Resort in  Oracabessa village, Jamaica was the former home of writer Ian Fleming, who wrote his James Bond novels at Goldeneye Hotel.

Fly to Kingston Airport and then it’s three hours by car to the village of Oracabessa, or take a small plane to Boscobel Aerodrome.

Ian Fleming’s house costs from $2865 a night for up to six people, villas from $756 a night.
One of the villas has a media room with a full-sized movie screen and a library of James Bond-only DVDs.

The Turtle Island in Fiji offers champagne and lobster beach picnics. A vacation spot for Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears

Fly to Nadi then take a 30-minute seaplane flight ($905 a couple).

There’s 100 cottages for a maximum 14 couples, who pay from $1870 to $2738 a night, including meals, beach picnics and deep-sea fishing.

Guests are encouraged to eat meals at a communal table, whether they are a Hollywood goddess or Bruce and Val from the Melbourne suburbs.

The Wakaya Club, owned by David Gilmour, is also located in Fiji which prides itself on being paparazzi-free.

Among the celebrities  that visited the place includes  Tori Spelling, Nicole Kidman, Keith Richards, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Celine Dion, Russell Crowe.

Fly to Nadi, then a domestic flight on Air Wakaya ($1100 a couple). There are four-poster beds and outdoor showers. Rates are from $2177 to $8710 a night.