PHOTO: Mark Zuckerberg. CNBC
Reportedly, Mark Zuckerberg, the seventh-richest individual globally and founder of Facebook, is constructing an ultra-luxurious retreat in Hawaii that surpasses other billionaire bunkers. According to the tech magazine Wired, Zuckerberg’s discreet compound is situated on a 570-hectare estate known as Koolau Ranch on the island of Kauai, where Jurassic Park was filmed.
A spokesperson for Zuckerberg disclosed to the magazine that he, along with his wife Priscilla Chan and their three children—Maxima (7), August (5), and Aurelia (10 months)—considers the $270 million (NZ$440 million) ranch their residence. The 39-year-old tech mogul has already hosted corporate events at this expansive property.
Insights from anonymous locals, bound by non-disclosure agreements, and publicly accessible documents provide a fascinating glimpse into the project. The property reportedly features a treehouse village, two mansions connected by a tunnel, and a substantial underground bunker. Over 20 cameras are strategically positioned around the estate, with surveillance points manned by locals overseeing the nearby public beach.
The completed property is expected to comprise 30 bedrooms and bathrooms, though it remains unclear if this includes the underground construction. The doors to the underground bunker are described as “blastproof,” incorporating “blind doors” seamlessly blending with the walls and an escape hatch. The estate boasts its own water and agriculture provisions.
Given these details, The New York Post has coined the term “Zuckerbunker” for the project, while Business Insider speculates whether Zuckerberg, with an estimated personal wealth of around $115.3 billion, might be considered a “doomsday prepper.”
Wired characterizes the property as a “techno-Xanadu,” referencing the opulent escapism depicted in the 1941 film Citizen Kane. Despite numerous locals employed at the property, not everyone in the community is pleased with Zuckerberg’s choice of Kauai as his family’s home. A local op-ed criticizes Zuckerberg for creating tension by restricting access to the beach with a stone wall.
Zuckerberg’s case mirrors that of other tech billionaires, including Peter Thiel, who faced opposition in August 2023 for his plans to build a semi-underground mansion in Wānaka, New Zealand, after resource consent for the project was rejected in 2022 due to opposition from environmental groups and the local council.
SOURCE: STUFF