Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—the man we all know as Bad Bunny—is basically the unofficial king of Puerto Rico. If you’ve ever walked through Santurce or grabbed a drink in Calle Loíza, you’ve probably felt that lingering energy like he might just pop around the corner. But when you’re a global superstar with a net worth that has more zeros than a box of Cheerios, the question of does Bad Bunny live in Puerto Rico gets a little complicated. It’s not just about a mailing address anymore. It’s about taxes, security, and the reality of being the most streamed artist on the planet.
He’s there. Then he’s not.
Most fans want a simple yes or no. The truth? It’s a bit of a hybrid life. Benito hasn’t abandoned his roots, but he certainly isn't sitting in a Vega Baja porch 365 days a year. He moves between high-rise luxury in San Juan, sprawling estates in California, and hotel penthouses in whatever city his tour bus just rolled into.
The San Juan Connection and Act 60
Look, Puerto Rico is more than just home for Benito; it’s his brand. But from a logistical standpoint, he maintains a massive footprint on the island. While he owns a ridiculous $8.8 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills (more on that later), his primary "soul" residence remains PR.
For a long time, rumors swirled about how much time he actually spends on the island versus Los Angeles. In 2023 and 2024, people spotted him at local basketball games—specifically supporting the Cangrejeros de Santurce, a team he actually co-owns. You don't buy a local basketball team if you’re planning on living in Miami full-time. That’s a "boots on the ground" kind of investment.
There’s also the boring stuff: taxes. Puerto Rico has these things called Act 20 and Act 22 (now rolled into Act 60) which offer massive tax breaks to wealthy individuals who make the island their primary residence. While many "gringo" investors use this to dodge IRS bills, local celebrities like Bad Bunny utilize these structures to keep their business operations centered in San Juan. If you’re asking does Bad Bunny live in Puerto Rico for legal reasons, the answer is generally yes—he is a resident.
But he’s a resident with a very fast private jet.
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The $18 Million Gilded Cage in Los Angeles
You can’t talk about where Benito lives without mentioning the West Coast. In early 2023, he dropped nearly $9 million on a home in the Bird Streets of Los Angeles. Then, he doubled down. He reportedly picked up a much larger, $18 million estate in the same area.
Why? Because the industry is there.
When he was dating Kendall Jenner, the paparazzi shots weren’t coming from the El Yunque rainforest. They were coming from Sushi Fumi and the Gucci boutiques in Beverly Hills. During that era, his physical presence in Puerto Rico dipped. You could tell. The vibe changed. But even then, he kept his San Juan condo—a sleek, ultra-modern unit in one of the city's most exclusive buildings—as his home base.
Why the "Where" Matters to Fans
People aren't just being nosy. The reason everyone asks does Bad Bunny live in Puerto Rico is because his music is a love letter to the island. When Un Verano Sin Ti dropped, it wasn't just an album; it was a tourism brochure. If he moved to LA and never looked back, the "pueblo" would feel betrayed.
He knows this.
That’s why he filmed the "El Apagón" documentary. He focused on the gentrification of the island and the displacement of locals. It’s a weird paradox. He’s a multi-millionaire living in a gated community, yet he’s the loudest voice against the people buying up the island. It’s a tension he lives with every day.
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- He spends roughly 40-50% of his downtime in PR.
- The rest is split between Los Angeles for film/business.
- New York is a frequent stop, but rarely a "home."
Honestly, if you want to find him in Puerto Rico, you aren't looking in the tourist traps. He’s known to frequent spots in the metropolitan area, but his security detail has become so intense lately that the "spontaneous" appearances are getting rarer. He’s mentioned in interviews that he misses the days when he could just go to the bakery without a riot breaking out.
The Condado Penthouse vs. The Vega Baja Roots
Benito grew up in Vega Baja. That’s "the country" to some San Juan snobs. He still goes back. His family is there. But he doesn't live there in the traditional sense. You can’t put a 10-man security team in a middle-class neighborhood without causing a scene.
Instead, he’s rumored to own property in the Dorado Beach area—a playground for the ultra-wealthy—and high-end real estate in Condado. These spots offer the privacy he needs. It's funny; he sings about the streets, but he lives behind literal gates. That’s not a critique, it’s just the price of being the biggest star in the world.
The Reality of a Global Nomad
If we’re being real, "living" somewhere is a loose term for someone like Benito. Between Coachella headlining slots, WWE appearances, and filming movies like Cassandro or El Muerto (before that went sideways), he’s a nomad.
His clothes are in LA. His heart is in PR. His money is everywhere.
The most recent data points toward him spending more time in the Caribbean again after his high-profile breakup with Jenner. There’s a noticeable shift in his social media—more horses, more beach, more local slang. He seems to go back to Puerto Rico to "recharge." When he gets too deep into the Hollywood machine, his music starts to lose that gritty, island edge, and he usually retreats to San Juan to find it again.
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What about the rumors of him moving to Miami?
Every celebrity eventually moves to Miami, right? It’s the law. But Bad Bunny has been surprisingly resistant to the 305. Sure, he’s there for the Latin Billboards or to hang out at his restaurant, Gekkō. Yeah, he owns a Japanese-inspired steakhouse in Brickell. But owning a business in Miami isn't the same as living there. He seems to find Miami a bit too "plastic" for his long-term taste. He’d rather be in the mountains of Puerto Rico or the hills of California.
The Verdict on Bad Bunny’s Current Residence
So, does Bad Bunny live in Puerto Rico?
Yes, but with an asterisk. He is a legal resident of the island. He pays taxes there (mostly). He owns significant property there. He spends his most meaningful holidays there.
However, he is also a resident of the world. If you’re looking for him, check the San Juan flight manifest before you check the Hollywood 101. He is a man caught between two worlds: the island that made him and the global stage that won't let him go.
Steps to Follow the Benito Lifestyle (Responsibly)
If you're heading to Puerto Rico hoping to catch a vibe of where the Conejo Malo spends his time, don't be a stalker. Instead, engage with the culture he actually supports.
- Visit Santurce: This is the artsy heartbeat of San Juan. Check out the murals and the local bars like La Placita de Santurce. This is the energy that fuels his music.
- Support the BSN: Go to a Cangrejeros de Santurce game. Even if Benito isn't in his courtside seat, you're supporting the local sports culture he’s poured millions into.
- Explore the North Coast: Drive out toward Vega Baja and Manatí. You’ll see the landscapes that appear in his music videos. It’s way better than staring at a gate in a gated community.
- Listen to the local radio: Stations like La Nueva 94 or Reggaeton 94 are where his hits live. Staying tuned in to the local scene is the best way to understand why he stays connected to home.
The bottom line is that Benito’s relationship with Puerto Rico isn't just about a house. It’s about identity. He might sleep in a king-sized bed in California some nights, but he wakes up a Puerto Rican every single day. That’s not going to change, no matter how many mansions he buys.
Actionable Insight: If you're tracking celebrity residencies for tax or business purposes, keep a close eye on Act 60 filings in Puerto Rico. For fans, the best way to see where Benito is "living" is to watch his creative output—when he’s in PR, the music gets more experimental and rooted; when he’s in LA, it tends to lean toward the commercial and polished.
Source Reference Note: Details regarding property purchases in Los Angeles were widely reported by Architectural Digest and Dirt (now part of Robb Report) in 2023-2024. Information regarding his ownership of the Cangrejeros de Santurce is a matter of public record within the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) league of Puerto Rico.