Most people think buying a private island is just a massive ego trip. An opportunity to play King of the Castle while the drudges below work through traffic and taxes. But if you look at what’s really going on in early 2026, the game is different. It’s no longer all about having a nice beach. It’s about data, survival, and total control.
I’ve watched the ultra-wealthy move their chips around for over a decade. We used to see them buy superyachts. Now? They want the dirt. Specifically, dirt surrounded by deep water. The trend traded over the last few months from “luxury getaway” to “sovereign-style living.” And these tycoons aren’t merely buying vacation homes; they’re building laboratories and fortified sanctuaries.
The money involved is staggering, sure, but the intention is what’s really interesting. Whether it’s Larry Ellison trying to hack the future of food in Hawaii or Mark Zuckerberg building a literal bunker in Florida, the private island owned by business tycoons is the new ultimate asset.
The 2026 Billionaire Island Index: A Snapshot of Power
| Tycoon / Entity | Primary Island | Estimated Value | 2026 Status & Innovation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Ellison (Oracle) | Lānaʻi, Hawaii | $300M+ (Purchase) | Managing 98% of the island via “Data-Driven” AI farming. |
| Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) | Indian Creek, Miami | $150M – $200M | Building a “Billionaire Bunker” estate; avoiding CA tax. |
| Richard Branson (Virgin) | Necker Island, BVI | Global Icon | Now 100% off-grid using wind and solar energy. |
| Blackstone Group | Hamilton Island, Aus | $1.2 Billion | Major 2026 acquisition; shifting to “Ultra-Luxe” leisure. |
| Mike Cannon-Brookes | Dunk Island, Aus | $24M (Purchase) | Reopened “The Spit” in Feb 2026; net-zero restoration. |
| Jiří Šmejc (Home Credit) | Velaa, Maldives | $230M+ | Home to a “Snow Room” and high-tech wellness labs. |
| Bernard Arnault (LVMH) | Indigo Island, Bahamas | $35M+ | Strictly “Invitation Only”; zero-profile luxury. |
| Larry Page (Google) | Eustatia Island, BVI | Private | Secretive hub for testing proprietary clean energy tech. |
| Estate of Mateschitz | Laucala Island, Fiji | 3,500 Acres | Features its own private submarine and organic ranch. |
| Ekaterina Rybolovleva | Skorpios, Greece | €165M (Spend) | Transforming Onassis’ legacy into a VIP “Art Island.” |
1. Larry Ellison’s High-Tech Kingdom: Lānaʻi, Hawaii
When Larry Ellison purchased a house in Hawaii last year, it wasn’t just any house. In 2012, he acquired 98% of an entire island for about $300 million. Lānaʻi is roughly 90,000 acres, and Ellison has been trying to transform it for years into a “data-driven” paradise.
Ellison’s vision in 2026 is significant because he’s using the island as a laboratory for his “AI Economy. He’s quite literally stewarding the island’s resources — organic farms, wellness resorts, you name it — using Oracle’s latest AI Data Platforms. It’s a curious, slightly chilling example of what happens when a tech titan also gets to be the mayor, the landlord, and the utility company all at once.
2. Richard Branson’s Renewable Revolution: Necker Island, BVI
You can’t talk about islands without mentioning Necker. Richard Branson bought this place for a pittance back in the 70s. Fast forward to 2026, and it’s basically the gold standard for eco-resorts.
The big news lately? Necker is now almost entirely off-grid. They’ve got three giant wind turbines and a massive solar farm with over 1,230 panels. It’s become a bit of a “how-to” guide for other billionaires. If you’re going to own a Private Island Owned by Business Tycoons, you’d better make sure you aren’t shipping in barrels of diesel every week. It’s bad for the brand, and frankly, it’s just bad business.
3. Mark Zuckerberg’s “Billionaire Bunker”: Indian Creek & Kauai
Mark Zuckerberg is currently the talk of the luxury real estate world. Not only is he expanding his massive “Koʻolau Ranch” on Kauai—which reportedly features a 5,000-square-foot underground bunker—but in early 2026, he joined the “wealth migration” to Florida.
Reports from February 2026 suggest he’s picking up a $150 million estate on Indian Creek Island, Miami. Known as the “Billionaire Bunker”, this gated island has its own police force and 24/7 marine patrols. When you’re the face of the Metaverse, sometimes you just want a physical wall that people can’t click through.
4. Blackstone’s Billion-Dollar Move: Hamilton Island, Australia
In one of the biggest deals of 2026, the US private equity giant Blackstone agreed to buy Hamilton Island from the Oatley family for a reported $1.2 billion.
This isn’t just a holiday resort; it’s a massive piece of the Great Barrier Reef. With its own commercial airport and marina, Blackstone is betting big on the “premiumisation” of private island travel. It’s a clear sign that the big corporate money is now competing with individual billionaires for these rare assets.
5. Jiří Šmejc’s Masterpiece: Velaa Private Island, Maldives
The Czech billionaire didn’t just want a resort; he wanted the best resort. He spent over $230 million building Velaa.
What makes it unique in 2026 is the sheer level of bespoke luxury. We’re talking about a “snow room” in the tropics and a multi-storey wine cellar that would make a French sommelier weep. He’s managed to blend the “private home” vibe with a business model that pays for itself. It’s a clever bit of financial engineering disguised as a postcard.
6. Mike Cannon-Brookes’ Eco-Redemption: Dunk Island, Australia
This is a great story. The Atlassian co-founder and his wife, Annie, adopted Dunk Island after cyclones trashed it. And as of early 2026, the first stage has at last been reopened to the public.
They are transforming a trashed resort into a carbon-neutral showpiece for the Great Barrier Reef. It’s perhaps the most “soulful” project on this list because it’s about renewal rather than just consumption. It’s an enormous risk, but one of the few island projects that actually feels like it is giving something back to the locals.
7. Larry Page’s Solar Secret: Eustatia Island, BVI
Google’s Larry Page is notoriously private. He owns Eustatia, located right next to Branson’s Necker. It’s a completely off-grid, solar-powered retreat.
Page uses it to test out various clean-tech solutions. You’ll rarely see a photo of him there, but the island’s tech specs—massive battery storage and advanced water filtration—are the real stars of the show.
8. Bernard Arnault’s Hidden Gem: Indigo Island, Bahamas
The richest man in the world, Bernard Arnault, doesn’t do “flashy” in the way you might expect. His Indigo Island in the Bahamas is notoriously private.
There are hardly any photos of the place. That’s the point. When you control LVMH and half the luxury brands on earth, you don’t need a billboard. You need a place where the paparazzi can’t get a boat close enough to see what kind of wine you’re drinking. It’s “quiet luxury” taken to its geographical limit.
9. The Red Bull Legacy: Laucala Island, Fiji
The late Dietrich Mateschitz turned this 3,500-acre island into a self-sustaining nation. It has its own private airstrip, organic farms, and even a submarine for guests.
In 2026, it remains one of the few places on earth where you can be truly “untethered” from reality while still having a Michelin-starred meal. It’s a peak example of billionaire branding that continues to thrive even after its founder’s passing.
10. Skorpios: The “Art Island” Transformation, Greece
Once owned by Aristotle Onassis, this island is being transformed by the Rybolovlev family into a “VIP Exclusive Club.” They are spending more than €165 million to build a luxury resort that also serves as an art gallery.
By early 2026, construction is in its final stages. The project, conceived by the Norwegian practice Snøhetta, comprises a main hospitality building and multi-sports centre. It’s a beautiful bridge between 1960s glamour and the high-tech demands of today’s elite.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, the rise of the private island estate tells us a lot about where the world is headed. The “Great Disconnect” is real. While we’re fighting about the latest social media scandal, the people in charge are buying up the horizon.
It’s easy to be cynical about it. But when you gaze upon Dunk Island or Necker, you get a glimmer of hope—that perhaps all this private wealth might be used to preserve some of the few remaining pristine corners of the earth we have left.
Anyway, I’m off to check my bank balance. Pretty sure I’m still a few hundred million short of a Greek island, but a guy can dream. Right?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these tycoons deal with rising sea levels?
In 2026, they’re out-engineering nature. We see “living sea walls,” hydraulic buildings, and massive land-reclamation projects. They aren’t just watching the water rise; they’re building higher.
Can I actually visit any of these islands?
Usually, no. Places like Sampson Cay (John Malone) are strictly private. However, islands like Necker or Laucala can be rented—if you have about £80,000 to spare for a single night.
Why are so many business tycoons moving to islands in Florida?
It’s a mix of tax laws and security. With the “Billionaire Tax Act” in California, many tech moguls like Larry Page and Mark Zuckerberg are setting up residency in gated island communities like Indian Creek or Allison Island in Miami.
What happens to these islands during a cyclone or hurricane?
The vast majority of such properties are constructed according to “bunker” standards. They’re built with concrete structures, backup power systems, and underground storage that can withstand Cat-5 storms. For billionaires, a hurricane is a logistical problem, not a tragedy.
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