Over the past few years, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been steadily acquiring a vast expanse of land on a serene and isolated Hawaiian island.
The billionaire in the tech industry is currently overseeing the construction of a lavish estate, rumored to be priced at a staggering $260 million, which includes plans for a secretive underground bunker twice the size of an average Australian home.
The news surrounding the project has stirred apprehension in certain online circles, prompting a surge of inquiries to companies specializing in subterranean shelters.
Despite being the executive chairman and CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Zuckerberg has refrained from addressing the revelations about the bunker. Furthermore, anyone involved in the project is bound by a stringent nondisclosure agreement.
But it appears he has Ƅeen quietly planning his fortified retreat for at least a decade.
In 2016, during Christmas, Zuckerberg took to his social media platform to share joyous snapshots of his family enjoying the beauty of the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
Home to approximately 73,000 residents, this pristine paradise, often referred to as ‘The Garden Isle,’ has served as the backdrop for major Hollywood productions such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Jurassic Park.
The majority of its inhabitants are descendants of Native Hawaiians, alongside Chinese, Puerto Rican, and Filipino migrants who arrived to labor on sugar plantations in the late 19th Century.
Since then, Zuckerberg has acquired a whopping 5.5 million square meters of land, encircling it with a 2-meter-high wall. Guards are stationed along the perimeter, while a security force conducts patrols on quad bikes.
To grasp the enormity of the estate, it spans 1,359 acres or 550 hectares – roughly 80 percent of the size of Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD).
“In a nearby wooded area, plans are underway for a network of 11 disk-shaped treehouses connected by intricate rope bridges, providing visitors with a unique experience of traversing among the treetops from one building to another.
Adjacent to the main mansions, a separate building will house a full-scale gym, pools, sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, and tennis court. Additionally, the property features various guesthouses and operational buildings scattered throughout.”
However, the most intriguing aspect remains concealed from view.
“The blueprints reveal that the two central mansions will be linked by a tunnel leading to a 5,000 square foot underground shelter, complete with living quarters, a mechanical room, and an escape hatch accessible via a ladder. Remarkably, the expansive size of the bunker, equipped with a blast-proof door, is twice that of the average Australian home.”
The estate will operate entirely off the grid, generating its own food and water, achieving complete self-sustainability.
Once completed, Zuckerberg’s Hawaiian retreat will stand among the most expensive private properties globally.
Details regarding the bunker remain scarce.
According to reports, all visitors to the property are required to sign rigorous nondisclosure agreements, with workers bound by strict confidentiality. Several media outlets have reported instances of laborers being dismissed for sharing selfies from the estate on social media platforms, actions promptly flagged by Zuckerberg’s representatives.
The island is also cherished by tourists from around the globe, and more recently, by the affluent and renowned.
“A few years ago, Priscilla and I visited Kauai and were captivated by the community and the misty green mountains,” Zuckerberg wrote in 2016.
“We kept returning with family and friends, eventually deciding to establish roots and become part of the community ourselves.
“We acquired land and are committed to preserving its natural beauty. It’s teeming with wildlife such as pigs, turtles, rare birds, and seals, while local farmers utilize it for cultivating fruits and spices. I enjoy taking Max to explore and observe all the animals.”
