Amidst the paranoia of the Cold War, many US citizens feared Russia would drop a nuclear bomb at any moment. This anxiety caused Americans to build bunkers in order to protect themselves from a potential nuclear fallout. However, fast forward to today and with worldwide conflict, war, and disease happening on a large scale. It’s no wonder why some would want to prepare for the worst.
Recently, some of the world’s wealthiest have spent hundreds of millions purchasing land to build bunkers. This has stirred up some conversations about the wealthy isolating themselves further from the broader community.
In 2014, Mark Zuckerberg purchased 1,400 acres of land on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, which is estimated to be worth $100 million. New development plans have come to light and have shown that this property includes a 5,000-square-foot underground shelter, along with its own energy and food supplies.
“When coupled with land purchase prices, [this construction] will cost in excess of $270 million,”
(from Guthrie Scrimgeour per WIRED).
Many people online expressed their disdain for these billionaires, they believed this was a waste of money. They were also concerned about why Zuckerberg would need such an expensive bunker.
New Zealand has become a prime destination for billionaires looking to seek refuge in case of a world-ending event. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Peter Thiel, Co-founder of PayPal, have reportedly organized an agreement to travel to Thiel’s bunker at the first sign of society’s collapse.
Billionaires are not the only ones investing their time and money on doomsday shelters. Swiss company Oppidum, who specializes in providing ultra-luxury underground bunkers to the elite, are one of the main companies capitalizing off the mega-rich’s obsession with these shelters.
“Design and constructed to withstand ballistic environmental and civil threats. This is security without sacrifice,”
(said from Oppidum Website).
Oppidum prices entry-level underground shelters at $10 million, but certain models could go as high as $100 million.
In 2008, a man by the name of Larry Hall purchased the Raven Ridge 11 Atlas missile silo, located near Concordia, Kansas.
Hall reconstructed this 197 feet deep missile silo into a 15-floor bunker complete with its own small farm, theater, library, gym, jail cell, armories, etc.
The Survival Condo has several different layouts, from 12 condo units that fit up to 75 people to a 3,600-square-foot penthouse that starts at $4.5 million. It’s pretty clear that this company markets towards the rich as well.
While it’s very worrying that a lot of these bunkers are seemingly only available to the rich. Who knows if they’ll actually have the chance to use them?
Written by Luis Ramirez, Co-Editor-In-Chief