Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has recently addressed the swirling rumors about a supposed 'Doomsday bunker' being constructed beneath his $270 million Hawaiian estate.
The tech mogul, aged 40, has been the subject of speculation regarding the construction of a 5,000-square-foot bunker beneath his 1,400-acre property on Kauai, one of the northernmost islands in the Pacific archipelago.
According to the Daily Mail, when questioned by Bloomberg's Emily Chang about the existence of a bunker beneath his sprawling estate, Zuckerberg responded, "No, I think that's just like a little shelter. It's like a basement." He further clarified, "We have the basic house that we built, and we built an office out there because I work out there. There's a bunch of storage space, whatever you want to call it, a hurricane shelter or whatever." Zuckerberg dismissed the exaggerated rumors, stating, "I think it got blown out of proportion as if the whole ranch was some kind of Doomsday bunker, which is just not true."
Documents obtained by Wired reveal that Zuckerberg's Hawaiian compound, which is expansive enough to accommodate 1,060 American football fields, is designed to be entirely self-sufficient, complete with its own food, energy, and water supplies. The plans indicate that the underground shelter spans 5,000 square feet, featuring a living space, a mechanical room, and an escape hatch accessible via a ladder. The bunker is also reported to have a blastproof door composed of concrete and metal. Wired also reported that many contractors involved in the project were required to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Zuckerberg's acquisition of vast portions of the island has sparked outrage among locals. In 2016, Allan Parachini, a local journalist, penned a scathing critique of Zuckerberg for "erecting a rock wall in front of his 700-acre oceanfront property." Parachini called on residents to "tell Zuckerberg that abusing his stewardship of public beaches as if we are just another batch of Facebook victims is unacceptable."
Zuckerberg is not alone in his preparations for potential disasters. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Shaquille O'Neal, Tom Cruise, and even Bill Gates are reported to have constructed bunkers or temporary safe rooms. Ron Hubbard, CEO of Texas-based Atlas Survival Shelters, told The Hollywood Reporter that his company experienced a "buying frenzy" following the news of Zuckerberg's bunker. "It got really busy, and it seems like the phone hasn't stopped ringing; World War III seems like it's coming," he said.
Robert Vicino, founder of Del Mar, California-based Vivos, which manufactures underground survival shelters, commented, "Now that Zuckerberg has let the cat out of the bag, that's got other people who share his status or are near his status starting to think, 'Oh God, if he's doing that, maybe he knows something that I don't, maybe I should seek this out myself.'" Vicino added, "The pandemic was a huge driver of interest in sales; then all the global concerns and issues at home are another boost. We're here to provide peace-of-mind solutions."
While the rumors about Zuckerberg's 'Doomsday bunker' may have been exaggerated, the tech mogul's preparations underscore a growing trend among the wealthy to secure their safety in the face of potential global crises.
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