Like most men, filmmaker Tyler Perry wanted to commemorate his 40th birthday. Unlike most men, he decided to buy a private island.

The star of the hugely popular "Madea" plays and movies is buying a piece of the Bahamas, according to People magazine. He'll be joining fellow uber-rich Hollywood island owners Mel Gibson and David Copperfield when he purchases the island this September (his birthday is September 13).

"I'm a loner by nature, so when I'm out there on these islands, I just feel like the only person in the world," said Tyler. People also reports that the million dollar man spent a week on Great Exuma Island, Bahamas recently. When he returned he said "renting an island is the best place for me to work uninterrupted."

The mogul can certainly afford it. Tyler's most recent flick, Madea Goes To Jail is still the No. 1 movie in America and has raked in nearly $60 million in just two weeks, reports Livesteez. The website also reports that Tyler has been making quite a few big ticket real estate purchases, including a multi-million dollar TV and film studio complex in Atlanta.

Now the only question is what will the funnyman name his island? "It won't be Tyler Perry's Island!" he told People.  "I'm so sick of seeing Tyler Perry all over everywhere!" He said that he'll have to wait until he actually arrives on the island. "It'll speak to me," Tyler said. "I'll know what to call it once I'm there."

He's already established one important rule for his unnamed paradise: "There will be no paparazzi on my island!" Tyler declared.

-- Whitney Teal

Here's more: 

Madea locks up top spot at the box office