Why do rich people buy private islands?

It's very much a purchase of passion. It goes beyond cachet: it allows owners to make their own mark, to do something that no one else has done.” Here's a sampling of some billionaire-owned private islands, from pristine secluded havens—ideal for modern day Robinson Crusoes—to tropical eco-friendly luxury resorts.



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The idea is nothing new: From Peter Thiel, who planned to build a floating city off French Polynesia, to Larry Ellison, who owns 98% of the Hawaiian island Lanai, several members of the uber-wealthy class have poured millions into attempting to build their own fiefdoms.

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Sampson Cay, The Bahamas John Malone overtook Ted Turner as the biggest private land owner in the U.S. when he amassed 2.2 million acres in 2011. He now currently owns Sampson Cay, in the Exuma chain of islands in the Bahamas.

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From Richard Branson's celebrity haunt on Necker Island to Mark Zuckerberg's sprawling Hawaiian hideaway, these pristine private islands are where the mega-rich spend their holidays. Grab your sunglasses and let's take a tour of the ultimate retreats of the world's wealthiest people.

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Private islands come in all shapes and sizes and can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $200 million, depending on what you're looking for. However, buying an island and building on it is a major investment of both time and money, so it's important to find the right one that's worth waiting for.

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You can find private islands for sale via Private Islands Inc. or Vladi Private Islands, or by contacting a realtor who specializes in big-ticket sales. Additionally, some high-end real estate companies, like Sotheby's International Realty or Christie's International Real Estate, list private islands for sale.

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Private islands come in all shapes and sizes and can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $200 million, depending on what you're looking for. However, buying an island and building on it is a major investment of both time and money, so it's important to find the right one that's worth waiting for.

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Pamela Anderson – Island off Dubai coast Other famous actors who have their own private islands include Tyler Perry, who bought the White Bay Cay in The Bahamas to fly his private plane. Even Steven Spielberg has two islands in Madeira Archipelago, off the coast of Portugal.

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DiCaprio, who is currently filming an adventure drama, The Revenant, fell in love with Belize on a scuba diving trip in 2005, and purchased Blackadore Caye for $1.75 million with Jeff Gram, the owner of Cayo Espanto Island Resort, another luxury vacation spot in Belize.

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