15 Places The Rich Would Flee to Escape WW3
Goodbye. New York, London, L.A., Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Sydney. If the world falls into chaos, those sought-after cities are the last place you'd want to be during World War Two. Even Buckingham Palace was bombed nine times, so no place is really safe. Not even if you're royalty.
Which is why the rich would board their private jets and fly straight out of the big city. But where would they go? They need a place that's safe, private, and beautiful with great weather and lots of activities. Because while they might be in danger, they definitely don't want to be bored. When you've got enough money, there are no limits. So let's see just how far this can take you. Even if the world falls into more chaos than it already has.
Welcome to a luxe. Well, the first place the rich are heading is to their super yachts. If you're looking for privacy, beautiful scenery, and fun things to do, then a super yacht is the way to go. You can get everything you would find on land and then some: luxurious cabins, multiple decks, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, helipads, fine dining restaurants, underwater lounges, and more. Being on a super yacht in the middle of the Caribbean or Croatia or Turkey makes you feel like you're living on vacation.
Yachts are self-sufficient, so you can spend extended times at sea or stay in remote areas when you're cut off from the world and completely private. They're also mobile and can navigate the seas pretty quickly, so no wonder they can avoid danger. They're the ultimate luxury and comfort.
Next up, their private islands. During the pandemic, private jet bookings went up by 23%. But if all countries had travel restrictions, where were they going? Well, to each other's private islands, it seems. Pamela Anderson, David Copperfield, Richard Branson, Michael Bloomberg, Mel Gibson, Shakira, Leonardo DiCaprio—they all own private islands. And that's just the short list. Like yachts, private islands are self-sufficient.
They offer a lot of privacy and seclusion, and they're away from the craziness of big cities while they're private and remote. They still have access to transport art. And of course, it's a stunning place to be. We're talking beachfront access, private swimming pools, and each room a spa and wellness facility. Mountains for walking and hiking, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, waterfront dining and bars, and exclusive access to some pretty neat wildlife. Some of the more popular places for these islands are the Bahamas, islands off the coast of Zanzibar, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.
Next up, if they don't have their own private island or super yacht, well, they're headed to the countryside, packing their bags, and going to their second home. Now, this one might not be as remote as the first two, but the bigger properties and more private locations give the rich more room to play with safety and security features. We're talking luxury underground bunkers, 360-degree views of the home, renewable energy sources, freshwater sources, and sustainable agriculture. So they're never going to run out of supplies.
Some popular countryside areas would be the Swiss Alps. In this case, Switzerland's political neutrality, arty and well-prepared civil defense measures are ideal. There's also the Norwegian fjords, which are remote and offer stunning natural beauty. There's the Rocky Mountains in Montana, the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia, and across the pond in the UK. There's the Scottish Highlands and St. George's Hill. Then there's the Turks and Caicos. Swapping mountains for oceans is no problem when you're heading to the Turks.
Turks and Caicos is a British overseas archipelago in the Caribbean. And it's not just a sought-after destination for the summer holidays. It would be an ideal place to bunker down too. Firstly, there are enough luxurious villas for all the super-rich to get one. Most of the villas are on the beachfront and fully equipped with supplies and staff for what you get. The $3,000 to $9,000 a night price tag is pretty reasonable. It's got a stable political environment, access to natural resources, and some of the islands in the archipelago are even more remote.
The south of France, number five on our list, is the south of France and the French Riviera. Now, this one might seem a little bit strange. France is a strong political power and they're best friends with the US, Germany, Italy, and the UK. You know, countries are usually at the forefront of conflict, but this also makes France safe and protected. And the appeal of the south of France is undeniable even during conflict times. The French Riviera is situated along the Mediterranean coast, which is far from traditional areas of conflict.
The winter climate is mild and the summer climate is warm, and there are French castles. There's loads of them in the south of France, and they are entire estates, so they're completely private and cut out from everyone else. There's also a lot of history and culture in these castles, so you'll feel like you're stepping back in time when you enter them.
Dubai. We're flying all the way to Dubai for a number six now. While it's still a major international city and business hub, it also has a history of political neutrality, so it's much safer than other international cities. Dubai also has the business and economic opportunities the rich could want. The economy is thriving, and it's famous for its luxury lifestyle. There are high-end hotels, resorts and residences, world-class health care facilities, cultural diversity.
And if "shop 'til you drop" was a destination, well, this would be Dubai.
The Azores, ultra-gorgeous scenery, perfect weather. And even though it's popular with tourists, it's never packed full of people. The Azores are a group of islands with the largest being Sao Miguel Island. The area is known for its natural beauty, like volcanic craters, lush green hills, pristine lakes, and once-in-a-lifetime sunsets. There's an edginess and a roughness to the island that makes it feel more like an adventure.
It's private and secluded with a great climate all year round, and there's access to fresh water sources and fertile soil so you can grow your own resources. Luxury villas are in ample supply, so you can even get more privacy on the quiet island.
Next up is Bermuda. Now, like Turks and Caicos, Bermuda is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, which offers it some extra protection. And it's in the North Atlantic Ocean, which is usually safe from global conflict. But the rich don't want just safety, security, and privacy. They also want beauty. Bermuda, with its turquoise waters, pink sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs, scenic cliffs, and dramatic coastline, offers all of this in abundance.
You've got mountains, ocean, and rich culture with all the activities you can think of, like golfing, sailing, hiking, and cycling. There are few places more attractive than Bermuda when it comes to hiding out during global unrest. And at number nine is Barbados. Now, there's something magical about the Caribbean, and it's hard to resist at any point. Even more so when you don't know what the world will be like in the next few years or months.
So you've got to make the most of your life in Barbados is where the rich will do that. In fact, a Liar villa is one of the most expensive and sought-after villas in the world. And it's in Barbados. Now we know Barbados to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But did you know it also has some of the best health care facilities in the world? Some wealthy people even head to Barbados for medical tourism and high-quality health care services.
It's got a mix of West African and British influences, so there is great food, interesting culture and language, as well as historical sites and museums.
New Zealand. We haven't had many countries on this list because, as great as they are during peaceful times, they can be a little bit too risky during conflict-ridden times. But there is one country that separates itself from this, and it's our number ten: New Zealand. It's on top of the list for Silicon Valley billionaires. In fact, co-founder of PayPal, Peter Thiel, bought 477 acres of the country's south island.
New Zealand is everything the rich could want in a safe haven: beautiful, safe, great health care, good food, and just an all-around fun and welcoming place.
Necker Island's British Virgin Islands. If you don't have your own private island, fear not, my friend. You could rent one from Sir Richard Branson. He owns Necker Island, which is a part of the British Virgin Islands. During high season, rental prices start around $100,000 to $150,000 a night. And it's got a minimum rental period of seven days. If there's a war breaking out, you could end up spending several months there at that price range. You know that everything has been taken care of for you. They've got a state-of-the-art security system, staff on retainer, and, of course, a spa and wellness center.
They're bunkers and hideaways. For some rich people, safety is their top priority, even more so than a great life. So they're willing to make some sacrifices in the name of safety. They'll give up that turquoise water and lush mountainside in the name of security, but there are still some luxuries they will not compromise on.
Enter Safe Haven Farms. The maximum security compound was designed by J.C. Cole. He's got two farms in development, one outside Princeton and the other somewhere in the Poconos. Safe Haven Farms is set to be a network of secret, totally self-sufficient residential farm communities for millionaires guarded by Navy SEALs.
There's also Rising Company, which makes luxury style bunkers that retail for about $9.6 million. The Aristocrat bunker comes with a private bowling alley, a swimming pool, and bullet-resistant doors. Another ultra-high-end hideaway is the upper dam in the Czech Republic. It's thought to be the world's largest billionaire bunker and includes natural sunlight, a wine cellar, and a massive secret safe for all of your belongings.
St. Moritz, Switzerland. Switzerland is known to be a neutral territory, so if things are going awry, it's a pretty good place to hide out in. There are loads of small ski towns that look straight out of a fairytale, but one beloved by millionaires and billionaires has to be St. Moritz. World-class skiing, five-star luxury hotels, and Michelin star restaurants are dotted throughout this town for the millionaire who loves a warm, cozy winter atmosphere to ride out the rough days. St. Moritz is the place to be.
Now we're almost at the end of our list. So at number 14, we might surprise you here because it's Iceland. Now, Iceland is pretty expensive because all the food has to be imported, which could be an issue down the line, but it'll be okay for a couple of months. The best part about hunkering down in Iceland is it relies heavily on renewable energy resources. They've got geothermal and hydroelectric power. Iceland is located along the mid-Atlantic Ridge, right where tectonic plates are diverging.
So there's a lot of geothermal activity. They can literally pull power from the ground where other places might be susceptible to power cuts. Iceland's power will stay on no matter what. And, of course, it's also beautiful, isolated, and has great quality health care.
Our 15th and final place the rich might escape if World War Three ever happened to be would be Britain. Now, truth be told, most billionaires would prefer to go to space or to live on Mars, but that's not feasible for long-term stays, at least not yet. There's no infrastructure. The environment is too harsh, and the resources are too limited. Their next best option would be Bhutan because, look, it is as remote as they come.
The landlocked country is in the eastern Himalayas and bordered by India and Tibet. Now the mountainous terrain and the limited road access do make it a challenging place to reach. It's full of natural beauty and rich history, and it's got a reputation as a peaceful place with no military presence. No military is going to see Bhutan as a threat. So as long as you can fly there in your helicopter and private plane, hey, you'll probably be just fine.
That's that elixir. Those are our 15 places the rich would escape if World War Three ever happened. Now, the question is, where would you go, my friend? Let us know in the comments.