Worth: Undisclosed AmountTelecommunications billionaire John Malone actually owns more land than any other single person in the entire world. Malone owns more than 2.2 million acres of land in the United States alone, and a 31-acre island in the Exumas’ Sampson Cay. The tech mogul opened an exclusive resort on the property, including five vacation villas, a marina, and a full-service restaurant. In 2013, however, Malone announced he’d be closing the resort to the public and using it privately for his friends and family from then on out.
Locals were pretty upset about Malone’s decision, as the resort had become a haven for fishing guides and tour guides, as well as the two dozen employees who worked there on a regular basis. Going private meant that all of those employees lost their jobs and saw a major reduction in workflow (for the guides.) But, in the end, it is a privately-owned island, and if Malone wants to enjoy it with his loved ones, he should be able to do so without contending with vacationing guests.
Michael Schumacher - Dubai
Worth: $7 MillionUnlike the other names on this list (or, most of them anyway) racecar driver Michael Schumacher was gifted his island. The $7 million piece of manmade property off the coast of Dubai was a present from the country’s crown prince, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The prince, who’s apparently a fan of Formula 1racing, gifted the driver the island after his completion of the Grand Prix at Interlagos.
Schumacher’s island is one of the several hundred that come together to form “The World” islands in Dubai. His is near the southern tip of “Antarctica,” in the map-shaped section of property. Now, in the real world, being in Antarctica probably isn’t much fun throughout the majority of the year. After all, it is the North Pole. But hey, who’s going to complain when they receive such a generous gift, especially when that gift is from royalty. It must be pretty incredible to have people in your life who give you islands to show their support!
Paul Allen - Allan Island, Washington
Worth: $13.5 MillionWhen you’re the co-founder of multibillion-dollar corporation like Microsoft, it only makes sense that you’d splurge on something no one who works for the company can afford – like your own island. Paul Allen purchased Allan Island, a 292-acre private island off of the coast of Washington in 1992. He spent $13.5 billion on the piece of property.
The large estate includes its own 2,400-foot airstrip, along with a modest caretaker’s cabin. You’d sort of expect there to be more on an island built by a billionaire, especially when you consider the fact there’s no electricity, which would cost approximately $3 million to get wired in. Perhaps he was attracted to the name, but he lost interest, because Paul Allen wound up putting the island back on the market in 2005. He had some trouble offloading it, probably because most people can’t afford islands. Or maybe it was because he listed it at a whopping $25 million. He wound up selling it for a cool $8 million in 2013.
Rudolf Nureyev - Il Gallo Lungo, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Worth: $2.4 MillionThe late ballet phenomenon purchased Li Galli Island on the Amalfi coast of Italy in 1980. It is commonly referred to as “the dance island,” due to its history of ownership. The island, which is shaped like a jumping dolphin, includes a large mansion which Nureyev himself used to live in, but was actually built by the former owner of the island – another Russian dancer named Léonide Messine.
Nureyev passed away from AIDS in 1992, long before he saw his dream of opening a ballet school on the island come to fruition. Today, the three-bedroom mansion is rented out by the week for around 150,000 euros. The stay includes swimming in the incredible saltwater infinity pool built into the cliff-side. Boaters in the area typically hang around and look longingly at the shores, dreaming about spending the night in the exclusive villa, and, do you blame them?
Dietrich Mateschitz - Laucala Island, Fiji
Worth: $10 MillionRed Bull billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz's island is one of the world’s most luxurious vacation spots for the rich and famous. Laucala Island is home to an incredible resort, which includes 25 private villas built into a cliff-side and overlooking the beautiful, blue water, along with a full-service bar, stocked with all of the best spirits and plenty of Red Bull. One of the cliff-side villas actually makes it possible for its guests to jump directly from the balcony into the ocean below. The billionaire has his own private home on the property as well. 400 staff members stick around to maintain the tropical paradise for up to 80 guests at any given time.
The glass sided swimming pool is a hot spot for celebrity Instagram photos, and the resort has attracted such high-profile guests as Oprah Winfrey and Elle Macpherson. And the island doesn’t lack fun and exciting activities for its guests, either. You can call up a private, beach-side yoga lesson, or ride a horse through the white sands. Ready for a round of golf? Hit up the 18-hole course before dinner, compliments of your highly skilled private chef.