But in 2021 Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky were rumoured to be selling their $20m Byron compound after moving to Sydney. During that same year, his brother Liam also left Byron to move to LA with his model girlfriend Gabriella Brooks.

While Byron Bay remains a celebrity enclave in 2026, there has been a notable shift as some high-profile residents seek even more seclusion. Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky remain the most famous "locals," having recently reaffirmed their love for the area's active, nature-focused lifestyle despite local concerns about shark activity. However, the "Hollywood 2.0" surge of 2021–2022 has cooled significantly. Some celebrities who moved there during the global lockdowns have returned to L.A. or London as film production schedules normalized. Furthermore, the skyrocketing cost of living and the "paparazzi" attention have led some stars to move further into the Northern Rivers hinterland (like Bangalow or Mullumbimby) or toward the Sunshine Coast to escape the increasingly crowded main township. Byron Bay has transformed from a quiet surf retreat into a high-end luxury brand, which inevitably pushes some of its "low-key" celebrity pioneers toward quieter pastures.