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After investing R$1,6 billion in an “indestructible bunker”, Mark Zuckerberg downplays the construction, calling it a simple basement.
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook and the world's third-richest man, dismissed speculation that he was building a “doomsday bunker” on his $270 million estate on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
Rumors of underground facilities on billionaires' properties are not new. Reports suggest that names such as Peter Thiel, Elon Musk and Bill Gates also invest in similar structures to prepare for possible catastrophes.
However, Zuckerberg insists that the focus of his farm is cattle and macadamia nut production, with the goal of creating high-quality beef. customer service.
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In interview with Bloomberg on December 19, the 40-year-old tycoon said the underground space is just a “small shelter". "It's like a basement”, Zuckerberg told journalist Emily Chang.
The Koolau Ranch Controversy
In 2022, the American press reported that Mark Zuckerberg was developing Koolau Ranch, a 570-hectare complex that includes a 460-square-meter underground structure — roughly the size of a basketball court.
The property has more than 30 bedrooms and bathrooms, distributed in a main room and several auxiliary buildings. According to local residents, the project has generated speculation about its real objectives.
The ranch's two main mansions, which together occupy an area equivalent to a football field, will be connected by a tunnel leading to the underground shelter.
Small rope bridges also connect the other buildings, allowing access to the 11 disc-shaped tree houses scattered around the site.
One of the ranch's buildings will be equipped with a full gym, swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs and a tennis court.
The infrastructure also includes elevators, offices and an industrial kitchen. Reports indicate that the project aims to be self-sufficient, with a pumping system and a water tank measuring 16 meters in diameter and almost 6 meters high.
Details of the alleged shelter
According to unconfirmed reports, the underground shelter has a blast-resistant door made of metal reinforced with concrete. There are also living spaces, a machine room and an escape hatch accessible by a ladder.
The site also has around 20 security cameras installed in just one of the buildings on the property. The doors — including those in the library — are camouflaged to imitate the surrounding walls, ensuring discretion.
Planning documents indicate the structures will be equipped with keypad control mechanisms and soundproofed.
Acquisition history
Mark Zuckerberg's Kauai property expansion has come in three major stages. In 2014, he purchased 700 acres for more than $100 million.
Seven years later, he bought another 600 acres for $53 million, and in December 2021, he added 110 acres for $17 million. These purchases cemented his position as one of the largest landowners in the region.
However, not everything has been met with enthusiasm by local residents. In 2016, Allan Parachini, a Hawaiian journalist, criticized Zuckerberg for building a stone wall on his beachfront property.
The article described the move as an abuse of power, suggesting that the tycoon was treating residents as “victims of Facebook.” The statement caused controversy and intensified criticism of Zuckerberg’s influence in the region.
Local production and sustainability
Despite the controversy, Zuckerberg's ranch is also a productive farm. In addition to cattle and horses, the property has organic ginger and saffron plantations.
Nearby nurseries and farms also help to ensure the production of food for own consumption.
Koolau Ranch also stands out for its integration with nature. Small innovations, such as tree houses and rope bridges, reflect an effort to create a harmonious yet luxurious environment. Even so, speculation about the true purpose of the project continues to circulate.
Mark Zuckerberg's rejection of rumors
Zuckerberg has repeatedly denied that his property is intended for apocalyptic preparations. In his words, the underground bunker is “just a small space".
Despite this, the details of the project and the dimensions of the ranch challenge this narrative, fueling curiosity and controversy.
With a net worth of $215 billion, Mark Zuckerberg remains among the three richest men on the planet, alongside Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. His lifestyle and investment choices have often sparked debate about the disconnect between billionaires and the common people.
Yet while the rumors persist, the Hawaiian ranch remains one of the most talked-about properties in the world, distinguished by both its luxury and the controversy surrounding it.
It won't do any good. Sooner or later you'll die anyway.
I could have donated this money to institutions that care for needy children, nursing homes, cancer treatment hospitals, animal and environmental protection, etc.
He really is a ****.
Your comment is not at all coherent, social responsibility is only the government's and religious institutions', do it yourself since the idea is yours!