Worth: $75 MillionCraig McCaw bought James Island, off the coast of Vancouver, for $20 million in 1994. The previous owners, a development company, had a marina and 18-hole golf course in the works. After the purchase, he saw the golf course through, designed by Jack Nicklaus, along with a luxurious spa. The island also includes a 5,000 square foot main home, along with several guest cottages, a manager’s residence and a private air strip.
McCaw recently struck a deal with the Discovery Land Corporation, and they are working to develop the residential portion of the island that the original owners were going to complete. The plans are to build around 100 exclusive homes, along with some other amenities for the community members. The new area is being called a “playground for the wealthy and well-connected.”
Dean Kamen - North Dumpling Island, Connecticut
Worth: $2.5 MillionDean Kamen built his fortune around the invention of the Segway and founding the non-profit organization FIRST. The engineer bought this two-acre island off of the coast of Connecticut in 1986. He wanted to build a wind turbine on the property, though he was denied by the government. It became a running joke at that point that he was going to secede from the U.S.
Kamen finally got his wish after the island’s electricity was converted to wind and solar combo, and a 10-kW turbine was installed. Obviously, the island always legally remained a part of the country. The inventor jokingly calls it the “Kingdom of North Dumpling,” on occasion. He even made up a constitution, a flag, and a currency – which happens to be the dumpling, of course. Not too many people can afford to buy their own island and declare themselves a Lord, but hey, if you’ve got it, flaunt it!
Shah Rukh Khan – Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Worth: $2.8 MillionBollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan may not own all of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, but he does own a $2.8 million luxury home on it. The island is famous for its peculiar shape and is one of many man-made pieces of property in the area. This area of Dubai is known for its spectacular and high-priced tourist attractions, including some of the world’s best hotels and restaurants.
Shah Rukh shares his 6-bedroom villa with his wife, Gauri, and their three children. The family stays in the home over vacations and when “children are back from boarding schools,” according to Gauri’s recent interview with Gulf News. The family spent their 2016 New Year’s Eve watching the fireworks over the water from their lavish villa.
Mel Gibson - Mago Island, Fiji
Worth: $15 MillionThe Braveheart star’s island has by far got to be one of the most luxurious and expensive on the list thus far. In 2004, Gibson spent $15 million on the 5,400 square foot (8.5 square miles) Mago Island. The volcanic island was the subject of an episode of 30 Rock, in which Gibson appears as himself. It is mostly undeveloped with the exception of a modest caretaker’s property and is inhabited by a few locals who keep the island in good shape while the actor is away.
Gibson purchased the island after the box office success of his major film, The Passion of the Christ. He bought it from the Tokyu Corporation, and much to the dismay of those who were aware of the property’s past as a cotton plantation. Descendants of natives in the area weren’t very happy to learn about the buy. But Gibson is taking good care of the land and has no plans to do anything over-the-top with it.
The Barclay Brothers - Brecqhou, France
Worth: $4.3 MillionThe Barclay brothers are literally multi-billionaires, and they can afford anything that money can buy. The Irish identical twins bought Brecqhou, off the coast of Normandy, France, in 1993. On the island, there’s a Gothic-style castle, two pools, and a private helicopter pad. Frederick and Dave made their fortune in the real estate and publishing industries, and they enjoy their luxurious toys – including expensive cars and jets, two things which aren’t allowed on the island of Sark, which Brecqhou is a part of.
Dave and Frederick have gone toe-to-toe with the local government on a number of occasions. One such time was when they challenged Sark’s inheritance law, which stated that their island must go to their eldest son if they were to pass. But the brothers wanted to make sure that all of their children got an equal piece of the pie. Now, women in Sark are entitled to an equal share of their parents’ assets as the eldest male child, thanks to the Barclays. They have also worked to get it declared an independent nation, which has not come into fruition thus far.