This famous billionaire is having a huge bunker built under his property in Hawaii. Self-sufficient, ultra-secure and, above all, extremely luxurious, the estate seems designed as a refuge in the event of an apocalypse.
In recent years, a discreet but growing phenomenon has intrigued: more and more billionaires are investing in private bunkers, luxurious installations designed to withstand the worst scenarios. Climate crises, pandemics, political instability or economic collapse, the reasons vary, but the goal remains the same: to be ready for anything. These constructions, far from the rudimentary shelters of the Cold War, compete in sophistication, combining cutting-edge technology and extravagant comfort.
For example, in Florida, Indian Creek Island is nicknamed “the billionaires’ bunker” and has seen residents such as Ivanka Trump and American football mega star Tom Brady. One of the founders of PayPal and his friend Sam Altman, the co-founder of OpenAI, had also purchased a property in New Zealand, designated by followers of the collapse theory as the safest place in the event of cataclysm.
It is in this context that Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta, regularly draws attention to his immense property in Kauai, Hawaii. According to an investigative article published in Wired in 2023, the billionaire would build an underground structure of around 450 square meters there. Located in the heart of Koolau Ranch, a 566-hectare estate that he has gradually acquired since 2014, this shelter is shrouded in mystery and is the subject of much speculation.
The only thing we are certain of is the disproportion of the project. Indeed, according to legal documents and an anonymous source, the complex would include two mansions the size of a football field including offices, elevators, conference rooms and an industrial-sized kitchen, but also a dozen of annex buildings, as well as luxury facilities: swimming pools, saunas, tennis courts, gyms, and around thirty high-end bedrooms and bathrooms.
The bunker, the centerpiece of the whole, would only be accessible via the two manors. Although it is described by Zuckerberg as a simple “small shelter” in the event of a hurricane, details such as the presence of an armored explosion-resistant door reinforce the idea of preparation for catastrophic scenarios.
Even more impressive: the domain would be self-sufficient. A huge reservoir and a system of pumps would guarantee the water supply, while a large part of the site would be devoted to agriculture and livestock. This $100 million bunker has pushed the total price estimate for the complex to $270 million, according to Wired.
Faced with media coverage of the project, Mark Zuckerberg described it as “disproportionate” rumors on this subject and refuted the fact that it was a bunker built “in case of apocalypse” from a Bloomberg journalist. He explained that the complex would be partly intended for breeding in order to “to create the highest quality beef in the world”.
This project, although it arouses curiosity, is also a source of controversy. The work takes place under high security, with workers subject to strict confidentiality clauses. High walls surround the property, with guards patrolling and carefully controlling entrances. A level of security normally only found on highly sensitive military sites… Local residents also criticize the environmental impact and the increasing privatization of land on this island already marked by land tensions.
At a time when inequalities are increasing, these bunkers symbolize for some the disconnection of the ultra-rich, capable of insulating themselves from any global chaos. Because, to survive, yes, but in luxury! One thing is certain: whether the end of the world comes or not, some will not experience it in the same way as the rest of the population.