Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, had a huge idea when he paid $2.5 million for a part of North Dumpling Island in the 1980s. He most likely anticipated that gas and electricity would become prohibitively expensive and unsustainable in the coming years, thus he wanted the facility to run on renewable energy.
Kamen, who continues to lead For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), successfully made the island self-sufficient in energy and decided to share it with the rest of the globe. He managed to turn his island into a miniature country and dubbed himself King Dumpling.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé – $4 million in the Bahamas
With a combined net worth of $1.8 billion, power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé can buy the most lavish goods the world has to offer. When the Lemonade hitmaker turned 29 in 2010, he surprised his wife with an entire private island in the Bahamas, a celebrity hotspot.
Jay-Z reportedly had to pay $4 million for the isle, which barely scraped the surface of his money. Because the pair is notoriously private, little is known about the house. Beyoncé and her family were recently spotted boating on the Fourth of July 2021.
Mel Gibson – Mago Island, $15 Million
Mel Gibson purchased Mago Island in Fiji for roughly $15 million after publishing The Passion of the Christ, according to sources. The singer bought the 5,400-acre estate from the Japanese corporation Tokyu Corp. in a contentious agreement that left villagers opposing the acquisition in 2005.
Some Fijians claimed that their ancestors were forced to evacuate the land in the nineteenth century and that they wanted to restore their property, so they raised cash to contest the sale. Gibson is still active today and will soon be seen in Last Looks and Panama.
Brooke Shields – Emerald Island, $699K
Brooke Shields, who rose to prominence after appearing in the 1980 classic film The Blue Lagoon, grew up on an island. She lived on Emerald Island in Chazy Lake and owned the entire island, which was only accessible by causeway. The award-winning thespian stayed in a four-bedroom home constructed by Stanford White while in the sanctuary.
The house has a cathedral-like ceiling and beautiful woodwork on top of a solarium. Shields first listed the entire island for $775K in 2000, but cut the price to $699K the following year.
Julia Roberts – The Bahamas, Price Undisclosed
Julia Roberts, the Notting Hill actress, has received numerous awards, yet she is exceedingly quiet about her personal life. The actress, 53, recently celebrated her 19th wedding anniversary with Daniel Moder and shared a rare selfie with him. The location of the oceanfront photo, though, is unknown.
Is it on her alleged Bahamas island? Roberts previously made headlines for allegedly purchasing her very own paradise in the country, though no details, including the price, were published. She can afford it anyway, thanks to her $250 million net wealth.
Shakira – The Bahamas, $16 Million
As previously stated, Roger Waters and Shakira pooled their resources to purchase Bonds Cay in the Bahamas. They originally intended to turn this location in the Berry Islands into a premium vacation spot for industry heavyweights. It was meant to have luxurious amenities including villas and guesthouses, but the concept fell through.
Shakira’s ex-boyfriend Antonio de la Rua launched a lawsuit against the Whenever, Wherever hitmaker shortly after the island was purchased, however no details were published. The case was dropped in 2013, and the island in question was put up for sale.
Diana Ross – Tahitian Island, Price Undisclosed
Diana Ross is one of the most well-known performers of the 1960s, best known for her classics such as I’m Coming Out, Do You Know Where You’re Going, and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. She was also a part of the Supremes group. She married Arne Naess Jr., a Norwegian businessman, in the 1980s.
They bought this Tahitian island together but opted to sell it when they decided to call it quits. Despite the fact that Ross never found love, she continues to compose music to this day. The 77-year-old released news about her debut album in 15 years in June 2021.
North West & Kim Kardashian – Turtle Island, $4 Million
Kim Kardashian, the beauty mogul, just ended her relationship with musician Kanye West, but she is still a billionaire. She may spoil her children if she wants with so much money at her disposal. In 2014, reports circulated that she was considering purchasing Turtle Island near Queensland for her eldest daughter, North.
It’s worth mentioning that North was just two years old at the time, and Kardashian had grand plans to create her a theme park. Unfortunately, the agreement fell through, and the island was placed up for sale in 2016 for $4 million.
Eddie Murphy – Rooster Cay, $15 Million
Eddie Murphy, the comedian, is no stranger to owning private islands. When he chose to buy another 15 acres in The Bahamas in 2007, he already owned one. The Haunted Mansion star paid $15 million for the Rooster Cay. According to rumors, he is still working on developing the sweet location a few minutes out from the commercial hub.
Is this the paradise he’ll visit after he retires? There were reports that Murphy would be retiring from acting after participating in at least 40 films. With a fortune of $200 million, he can live well on this island.
David Bowie – Mustique, $20 Million
David Bowie, a musician, is still considered as one of the most important performers of his period. Even after his death in 2016 from liver cancer, songs like Rebel Rebel and Space Oddity carried on his legacy. When he was healthy, he paid an undisclosed sum for an island near Mustique.
He commissioned architect Arne Hasselqvist to design an unusual, ‘folly of follies’ residence at this land, which Bowie apparently found peaceful. The huge koi pond that surrounds the Bali-themed residence is one of the lot’s most distinctive features. According to reports, the hitmaker sold this paradise to a poet, who subsequently sold it for $20 million.
Marlon Brando – Tetiaroa, $2 Million
Marlon Brando, the Godfather star, died in a Los Angeles hospital in 2004, but it was not the way he would have wanted. He told a staff member on his Tetiaroa island that he intended to die there. The location was discovered by the Academy Award winner while filming Mutiny on the Bounty in the 1960s.
Brando fell in love with the location and spent $270,000 purchase the atoll, promising the Canadian owners that he would protect the island. The actor, on the other hand, built the Hotel Tetiaroa Village. His estate was sold to an architect for $2 million after he died.
Oscar de la Renta – Punta Cana, Price Undisclosed
How did a designer who clothed the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, and celebrities Taylor Swift and Jessica Biel use his rare downtime? Oscar de la Renta visited his lavish 15-villa estate in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The fashion designer visited Tortuga Bay before his death in 2014.
As someone who didn’t go out much despite his A-list fame, it made sense for de la Renta to decorate his home in this nation. The verdant garden and a Palladian villa are the features of his Thai home in the Caribbean region.
Richard Branson – Necker Island, $180K
In less than ten years after founding Virgin Group in 1970, industrialist Richard Branson was able to purchase magnificent estates such as Necker Island for $180,000. Of course, this is a pittance in comparison to his $5.6 billion net worth, but the gorgeous spot had to be shuttered and renovated for two years after Hurricane Irma destroyed it.
Visitors looking for ultra-luxurious accommodations are encouraged to stay at Branson’s home in the British Virgin Islands, which will reopen in February 2021. It features private pools in addition to Bali-style villas. According to reports, the entire facility is powered by 90% renewable energy generated by solar panels and wind turbines.
Roger Waters – The Bahamas, $16 Million
Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters and Colombian artist Shakira paid $16 million for this Bahamas island in 2011. Bonds Cay is a 550-acre island that includes lagoons, bays, beaches, and even waterfalls. Surprisingly, the team intended to build a joyful refuge for their fellow musicians.
The couple reportedly planned to provide a lavish experience for travelers, particularly wealthy ones, by developing the island into a world-class tourism destination. According to accounts, the couple never begun the change. The property has been listed, according to a July 2020 article.
Larry Ellison – Lanai, $300 Million
It appears that billionaire Larry Ellison’s $300 million investment on Lanai in Hawaii was worthwhile, as he relocated there in 2020 to make the best of a bad situation. Following the major acquisition in 2012, he now controls almost 98 percent of the island.
Despite being one of Hawaii’s tiniest islands, Lanai has some of the most beautiful beaches in the state. It wasn’t as developed or urbanized as the others, but Ellison intended to change that, so he built luxury hotels to attract wealthy guests.
John Lennon – Dorinish Island, $330K
If Mark David Chapman had saved The Beatles’ John Lennon’s life on that terrible day in 1980, the peace campaigner would have been staying at a Dorinish Island retreat he wanted to set up. The musician bought the land in 1967 and received a building permit for a house for himself and Yoko Ono.
His widow, Ono, agreed that they intended to build a cabin there where they could relax. However, it was sold in 1984 to a farmer who continues to graze sheep on the island. A portion of the funds were donated to an Irish orphanage.
Karolina Kurkova – Fisher Island, Price Undisclosed
Karolina Kurkova rose to prominence as one of the most sought-after Victoria’s Secret Angels. When she and Archie Drury decided to raise a family, they were looking for a place that was both exclusive and enjoyable. So they purchased a home on remote Fisher Island, which encompasses 200 acres and is accessible by ferry boat from the city.
Fisher Island may be a little village, but Kurkova sees it as a place to relax and decompress. Furthermore, because she had recently given birth to her third child, Luna Grace, this may be the ideal time in this town to focus on the joy of motherhood.
Ted Turner – St. Phillips Island, $4.9 Million
Ted Turner is well recognized as the founder of CNN, but he is also well-known among conservationists. This is due to the fact that he has long advocated for the cause and has utilized his power and influence to advance it. For example, he purchased St. Phillips Island in 1979 but ensured that the development had minimal impact on environment.
Turner sold the 4,000-acre island to the state of South Carolina for $4.9 million in 2017, and the governor has been eyeing this potential to enhance tourism ever since. Interested admirers can even rent the media owner’s home..
Shah Rukh Khan – Palm Jumeirah, $2.8 Million
Shah Rukh Khan, one of the most famous faces in Indian cinema, has a decent worth of $700 million. He is not afraid to splurge, such as his $2.8 million villa at Palm Jumeirah, which is believed to be the world’s largest artificial archipelago.
Khan, who has acted in films including as Pathan and Om Shanti Om, named his lavish six-bedroom home in K Frond Jannat. It is, predictably, very protected from passersby, but we do know that it contains expensive amenities such as a pathway to the beach where one can fish.
Paul Allen – Allan Island, $8 Million
With billions at his disposal, Paul Allen’s concept of creating a luxury holiday home on Allan Island, which he purchased in 1992, is not altogether implausible. Given his hectic schedule, the Microsoft executive would want to unwind from time to time, and a private atoll sounds like an excellent option. He changed his mind after finding a lovely property on adjacent Lopez Island.
Allen initially listed the undeveloped island for $25 million in 2005 before selling it for $8 million in 2013. Meanwhile, the unknown buyer planned to build ten to a dozen houses, however it’s unclear whether the idea was carried out.
Michael Schumacher – Dubai, $7 Million
Michael Schumacher, the former Formula One driver, was once regarded as the finest in his industry. His career, however, was cut short after sustaining a severe brain injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013, though latest updates suggest he is doing well. He was so good in his prime that even the prince of Dubai was amazed.
As a result, the sheik bestowed upon him an island that is part of a group of manmade isles known as The World. The 300 lots in the region were designed by Al Nakheel Properties to look like countries around the world.
