A-list actor Mark Wahlberg is the latest celebrity to abandon Hollywood for culturally safer climes on behalf of his children.
“It’s really giving the kids a chance to thrive,” the 51-year-old actor told Fox News Digital regarding relocating his family to Las Vegas.
“It just has the best of both worlds. I know a lot of people, when they think Las Vegas, they think the Strip. But just about 15, 20 minutes away, there’s a whole lot of other amazing areas that are all about family and community,” he explained.
Wahlberg has four children with wife Rhea Durham. He told the outlet that his daughters Ella, 19, and Grace, 13, and sons Michael, 17, and Brendan, 14, are all doing well after he sold their home in Beverly Hills a year ago next month.
“My daughter’s an equestrian,” the “Father Stu” star told the outlet. “My son’s a golfer. My oldest daughter, now she’s off to college. My son’s a junior. There’s lots of opportunity here as well for me. We’re trying to create a studio. We’re trying to build the shoe factory. We want to create lots of jobs here.”
“I moved to Nevada where, after this gubernatorial election, hopefully, it will go to legislation and get a bill passed so we can get a tax credit for the state — build a state-of-the-art studio here and make this Hollywood 2.0,” Wahlberg added.
The veteran of Hollywood further commented that Las Vegas had the potential to develop into a fresh entertainment hub. However, he also emphasized that his primary focus is on his children’s happiness.
“We’re always looking for new opportunities and new adventures,” Wahlberg continued. “I hope to create a lot of opportunity here. And I moved to California originally to make movies. I’ve made three movies in the last 15 years in L.A. So, as you know, it’s been difficult.”
“The kids are really happy, and it’s all about them,” he concluded.
The actor also explained that he managed to persuade others to move with him, highlighting the advantages of getting a larger house for their money outside of California.
“When I moved here, I brought probably like 15 or 20 people that work with me also moving here,” Wahlberg said. “They went from three-bedroom houses that they were really struggling to pay rent for. And now they have a six-bedroom house. And it’s, you know, half the cost.”
“And, you know, they walk their dogs,” he went on. “They’re in a gated community. They’ve got the school right there, two blocks down the road. It’s just a much better lifestyle here and more affordable.”
