Sylvester Stallone Says Florida Life Is ‘Perfect Paradise’—And Fans Can’t Believe He Regrets Not Leaving L.A. Sooner

Sylvester Stallone, the legendary star of Rocky and Rambo, has officially traded Hollywood’s glitz for Florida sunshine—and he says it’s the best decision he’s ever made. In a new Veranda magazine cover story for September/October 2025, the 79-year-old actor revealed that his Palm Beach life with wife Jennifer Flavin and their family is “paradise,” and admitted he regrets not leaving Los Angeles sooner. The candid confession has fans buzzing across social media, with some celebrating his fresh start and others debating his reasons for abandoning the city he once called home.

A Dream Home on the Water

Stallone and Flavin, married nearly 30 years, settled into their Palm Beach estate in late 2020 after touring several properties that failed to capture their hearts. Purchased for $35.38 million, the 13,241-square-foot waterfront home offers seven bedrooms, 10.5 bathrooms, a private beach, a resort-style pool, and sweeping views along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Unlike the grand, impersonal mansions they viewed post-Covid, Stallone said this 2014-built Caribbean-style residence “automatically felt like home.” With help from celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, they transformed it into a warm, inviting family space filled with Stallone’s personal touches—including his expansive art collection and treasured Hollywood memorabilia.

The screening room pays tribute to his career with pieces like the knife from First Blood and the robe from Rocky. But the vibe throughout the home is less about showcasing wealth and more about celebrating family. “Our family is precious, but the material things are not precious,” Flavin told Veranda, underscoring the couple’s focus on making the home a comfortable gathering place.

Why Stallone Left Los Angeles

The decision to leave California was captured in season two of the Paramount+ reality series The Family Stallone. During an emotional dinner, Stallone told his daughters—Sophia (28), Sistine (27), and Scarlet (23)—that he and Flavin had decided to “leave the state of California permanently.”

The move came as the couple transitioned into empty-nest life. With two daughters building careers in New York and Scarlet studying at the University of Miami, Flavin pushed for a fresh start. Stallone admitted it wasn’t easy: “We have a lot of roots in California, so it’s not an easy transition to Florida. But Jennifer really had her heart set on it. I gave in.”

In hindsight, he says he wishes they had left earlier. In his Netflix documentary Sly, Stallone described the move as a way to “jump-start” his life. That sense of renewal now permeates their Florida home, where family time and creative inspiration take center stage.

Fan Frenzy and Political Reactions

News of Stallone’s Florida move has fueled widespread buzz online. Many fans cheered his decision, praising his praise of the “Free State of Florida.” Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis even welcomed him with a post on X, writing, “Welcome to the Free State of Florida.”

But reactions haven’t been universally positive. Some critics suggested his comments about regretting Los Angeles reflected broader frustrations with California’s high taxes, housing costs, and political climate. On X, one user wrote: “Gee, I wonder why,” hinting at the city’s challenges. Still, most fans expressed excitement at seeing Stallone happy, settled, and surrounded by family.

A Full-Circle Moment

For Stallone, the Florida move is also a return to familiar territory. He attended the University of Miami in the 1960s, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and previously owned a waterfront property in Biscayne Bay during the 1990s. Now, decades later, Palm Beach offers both nostalgia and renewal.

As Stallone approaches 80, his message is clear: family and peace matter more than Hollywood lights. “When we saw this home, it just felt right,” he said. Fans, meanwhile, are applauding his candor, calling his reflections both surprising and relatable.

👉 Would you like me to expand this into a feature-length lifestyle piece—with more about Stallone’s family dynamic, design details of the Palm Beach estate, and how this chapter compares to his Hollywood years—or keep it as a tight celebrity news article focused on the buzz?