Billionaires Building Bunkers: How Much Would It Cost To Invest In Doomsday Like the Rich?
Dimly lit bunker passageway with equipment strewn about. stock photo
With global tensions on the rise, from escalating armed conflicts to ongoing political unrest, a growing number of billionaires are turning to doomsday bunkers as a form of insurance against catastrophic events. These shelters are more than just underground hideaways; they represent a shift towards extreme security only accessible to the world’s wealthiest individuals who aim to protect themselves from potential threats, including nuclear bombing, climate-change events, power grid failure, and cyberattacks.
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What’s Driving the Bunker Boom?
The sudden surge in bunker construction can be traced to several factors. The COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, and increasingly frequent mass shootings have prompted the ultra-rich to seek safety in fortified shelters. As a result, bunker-building companies have seen a spike in demand for these high-tech, ultra-secure retreats.
Ron Hubbard, CEO of Atlas Survival Shelters, a Texas-based company specializing in custom bunkers, notes that the market has been booming due to “World War III fears.” The news that tech mogul Mark Zuckerberg is constructing a 5,000-square-foot bunker under his ranch on Kauai has further fueled interest, with other billionaires following suit across the globe.
Beyond Basic Security
Today’s doomsday bunkers are far from the simple underground steel units with a few months’ supply of nonperishables. These modern shelters are equipped with advanced security systems and high-end amenities, often blurring the line between safety and luxury. For example, Al Corbi, founder of SAFE (Strategically Armored & Fortified Environments), describes a project that includes an island fortress designed with a 30-foot-deep lake that can transform into a fiery moat. Other features include water cannons capable of repelling aerial attacks and tunnels equipped with flamethrowers and gassing systems.
While these features might sound like they belong in a blockbuster action movie, they represent the level of security and creativity in modern bunker construction. But according to Corbi, “The real threat is the power grid” he explains. “A lot of these guys are buying up King Air or older planes that don’t have the electronic avionics, and keeping one or two older cars built before 1986 in their collection, so they’ll still function in an EMP [electromagnetic pulse].”
How Much Does Doomsday Preparation Cost?
According to Corbi, site preparation alone costs millions of dollars, often “a fraction of the overall project cost.” Every site varies in cost depending on its unique attributes. Arizona-based Creative Home Engineering, specializing in secret passages, charges $50,000 per door. Steve Humble, president of Creative Home Engineering, recently reported they helped a client create nine doors in their bunker in addition to a shooting range and a fireplace “like the one that rotates in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade…”
The Future of Doomsday Bunkers
As global uncertainties persist, the demand for doomsday bunkers continues. While these shelters provide a sense of security, they also raise questions about economic inequality and the broader implications of a world where the ultra-wealthy have access to extreme safety measures. Nonetheless, for billionaires seeking to protect themselves and their families, doomsday bunkers represent the ultimate safeguard against an unpredictable future.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Billionaires Building Bunkers: How Much Would It Cost To Invest In Doomsday Like the Rich?