Montenegro has recently hosted some of the world’s most influential names – from top athletes to global business leaders. Among them, the legendary NBA champion Magic Johnson stood out, visiting the coastal town of Tivat with his wife, Cookie Johnson, and staying at the exclusive Hotel La Roche.
The Johnson couple was joined by close friends:
Frank Cooper III, Chief Marketing Officer at global company Visa, recently recognized by Forbes as one of the most influential CMOs in the world for 2025;
Dave Winfield, Baseball Hall of Famer and the only athlete in history to be drafted by all four major American professional leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, ABA), along with his wife Tonya;
Vanessa Bell Calloway, actress, producer, and director known for iconic Hollywood roles, accompanied by her husband, Tony Calloway.
The hosts of this exceptional gathering were Croatian couple Jasmina and Dalibor Bagarić, who in recent years have made Montenegro their second home. The magical evening unfolded at the La Roche Hotel, owned by Martina and Ivan Peković.
The celebrity guests enjoyed a perfect blend of privacy, luxury, and the warm Mediterranean atmosphere. Jasmina and Dalibor Bagarić played a key role – not only have they chosen Montenegro as a second home, but they’ve also brought part of their business here.
Dalibor Bagarić, a former NBA player and Croatian national team member, and Jasmina Bagarić, owner of the popular Croatian patisserie chain Magnolia, have opened the exclusive concept store “Twenty Two” in Porto Montenegro – a place attracting global tourists.
“Twenty Two was born from our love for beauty and our desire to create a place people would fall in love with. Today, seeing satisfied customers who keep coming back tells us we’ve created something truly special. It all started with the two of us and the belief that beauty can be a way of life – without costing millions,” Jasmina Bagarić told Forbes Montenegro. She runs the Montenegrin venture in partnership with Martina Peković.
“We love Montenegro... It’s hard to explain – it just suits us. Life is easier here, my heart is at peace, and the days feel slower and more beautiful. The people are warm, the nature is stunning, and the energy is exactly what I need. I feel at home – so does my family. From day one, we were embraced as if we always belonged here. Both Croatia and Montenegro are our sanctuaries,” says Jasmina.
The arrival of one of the greatest athletes of all time, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, alongside global business leaders, sends a powerful message: Montenegro has become not only a destination for relaxation but also a hub for serious conversations about business, culture, networking, and investment.
At a time when Forbes celebrates Cooper as a transformational force in marketing, and Magic Johnson continues to shape his legacy off the court – Montenegro served as their stage of peace, beauty, and inspiration.
The Croatian Bagarić couple has been promoting Montenegro and its tourism for years with great success.
Magic Johnson’s return to Montenegro for the second consecutive year is thanks to them – and this year, he brought his famous friends along.
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