When you’re a billionaire, luxury isn’t a five-star hotel or first-class ticket — it’s having the whole destination in your possession. Islands have always stood as the epitome of exclusivity, providing utter anonymity, unbeatable nature, and a clean slate for the imagination. For some, it’s to get away from the public glare; to others, it’s a chance to create a legacy, a sustainable paradise, or a futuristic complex.

From the crystal clear waters of the South Pacific to the lush foliage of the islands of Hawaii, let’s have a look at some of the world’s most spectacular billionaire-owned private islands — and the interesting stories behind them.

1. Laucala Island – Dietrich Mateschitz (Fiji)

Set in Fiji’s tropical idyll, Laucala Island covers 3,500 verdant acres of rainforest, volcanic mountainside, coconut plantations, and white-sand beaches. It was bought in 2003 for a mere $10 million by the late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Today, it’s a luxury eco-resort operated by COMO Hotels & Resorts.

Laucala is not only about luxury — it’s about sustainability. The island produces its own food, raises its own livestock, and generates power through solar power. Visitors use a private airstrip to arrive and indulge in activities that include an 18-hole championship golf course, a world-class spa, horseback riding, diving trips, and five farm-to-table dining spots. With a starting price of $6,500 a night, Laucala is a retreat for celebrities and royalty as well as anyone wanting real seclusion in the tropics.

2. Lanai – Larry Ellison (Hawaii)

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison pushed private island ownership to new extremes when he acquired 98% of Lanai — the sixth largest island in Hawaii — in 2012 for $300 million. The purchase included 90,000 acres of land along with two Four Seasons resorts and a population of about 3,000 local residents.

Ellison’s vision for Lanai extends far past luxury hospitality. He’s also investing in a $340-million project to make Lanai a sustainable living prototype. It will include renewable energy systems, organic farms, water purification systems, and even a wellness-oriented community. Lanai isn’t a retreat for the billionaire Ellison; it’s an experiment in the future of living.

3. Brecqhou – The Barclay Brothers (Channel Islands)

Brecqhou, a 74-acre Channel Islands island that is close to Sark, was purchased in 1993 by British twin billionaires Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, the reclusive proprietors of the Daily Telegraph and several other companies. The twins renovated the island through intensive landscaping and the building of a castle that resembles a fairy-tale setting in a dramatic Gothic style.

Complete with its own vineyard, chapel, helicopter landing pad, and secure security, Brecqhou ranks among the most exclusive islands in Europe. The island also functioned as a tax domicile and a testament to the Barclays’ dedication to privacy, wealth retention, and high aims. Today, after their passing, the island still remains in the family’s hands.

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4. Sampson Cay – John Malone (Bahamas)

John Malone, chairman of Liberty Media and largest landowner in the U.S., also owns the 31-acre Sampson Cay in the Bahamas. The picturesque public resort that stood on this island was closed to the public in 2013. It has since been Malone’s private retreat.

Prior to the closure, tourists would lease villas on the island for a weekly price of approximately $8,000. Today, visitation is prohibited and the island exists as part of the extensive worldwide real-estates portfolio owned by Malone that consists of ranches, forests, and preserves.

5. Velaa Private Island – Jiří Šmejc (Maldives)

Hidden away in the Maldives, Velaa Private Island is the vision of Czech billionaire Jiří Šmejc. Constructed in 2014 for $200 million, the 19.4-acre paradise is a designer’s dream and a luxury experience.

The resort has 42 private villas (including some that slide directly into the ocean), a golf academy taught by Ryder Cup captain José María Olazábal, a Michelin-quality dining experience, and a spa featuring snow rooms and submarine-themed treatments. Every guest has a personal butler to see to their every need. With a starting price tag of $3,200 a night, Velaa isn’t luxury—or even luxury for that matter.

6. Skorpios – Ekaterina Rybolov (Greece)

Once the home of Jacqueline Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis, the island of Skorpios is steeped in myth and legend. It was purchased in 2013 for a reported $150 million by Ekaterina Rybolovleva, the daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev.

The 74-acre Greek island off the west coast is being redeveloped as an ultra-luxurious wellness retreat for up to 50 individuals. Luxury villas, a helicopter pad, and recreational spaces surrounded by nature are all in the works. What does a week cost? Approximately €1 million, which makes it one of the pricier private island rentals in the world.

7. Necker Island – Richard Branson (British Virgin Islands)

Necker Island is the gem in the crown of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. It was bought in 1979 for $120,000. The 74-acre island has since been converted into a luxury resort for private rental at about $155,000 a night.

The island has faced its own share of problems, having suffered through hurricane ravaging, but the island has been rebuilt and reinvested in by Branson. Necker isn’t only a resort; it also serves as a site for leadership summits, environmental conferences, and celebrity private retreats. Branson resides there part-time and as a base for conducting his business, philanthropy work, and environmental efforts.

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8. Moskito Island – Richard Branson (British Virgin Islands)

Branson went all in on island buying in 2007 when he acquired neighboring Moskito Island for $12.6 million. Moskito differs from Necker as a more community-type retreat featuring a series of estates owned by Branson and other high-end homeowners.

The Moskito Island’s Branson Estate has 11 bedrooms across three villas, an infinity swimming pool, several dining areas, and direct access to the beach. The whole estate rents for approximately $25,000 a night. The island itself was also constructed to be sustainable in nature through the use of renewable energy and a nature preserve.

9. Kauai – Mark Zuckerberg (Hawaii)

Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan have purchased more than 1,300 acres on Hawaii’s island of Kauai since 2014 for a sum exceeding $170 million. Their property encompasses a sugarcane plantation site along the coast as well as remote jungle. Their planned developments—or allegedly a $100 million project featuring underground bunkers and escape tunnels—have raised controversy about land access and cultural sensitivity. The criticism aside, their land grab represents a larger trend in the desire among the world’s tech billionaires for not only privacy but also self-sustaining fortress-like estates in far-off places. 

Conclusion

These islands are not mere playgrounds for the elite but personal kingdoms. They each weave their own specific tale: Mateschitz’s eco-luxury in Fiji and Branson’s hurricane-defying havens in the Caribbean to Ellison’s bid to create a futuristic paradise in Hawaii. They have escapism and control in common, vision and influence: a window through which to view the world’s richest people‘s thinking about lifestyle, life, and legacy. 

Whereas the average person hopes to spend a single vacation a year on the beach, these billionaires have claimed their own pockets of paradise—either for use, investment, or experimentation. Their islands not only convey excess but also a pursuit to shape and form the spaces that surround them in unprecedented combinations of nature, luxury, technology, and seclusion. So, what would you do if you owned a private island? Construct a sustainable retreat, a luxury resort, or just vanish off the face of the planet?

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