Billionaires, Celebrities, and their Private Islands

Billionaires, Celebrities, and their Private Islands

The ultra-rich already hold a privileged role in the world, but nothing quite speaks of exclusivity like owning your own private island, cloistered away from the rest of the world on a personal piece of Paradise. According to Born Rich, these owners have acquired such pieces of prime island real estate and, what’s more, have had them tailored to their own leisurely needs.

Grand Bogue Caye, Belize

Owner: Bill Gates

Net Worth: $56 Billion

Bill Gates is by now no stranger to extravagance, as seen by his purchase of this island – supposedly the largest in the republic of Belize. Ever the savvy entrepreneur, Gates may have purchased this particular plot for its reputation as being one to provide unparalleled opportunities for growth and investor return. That, and it is just an astounding piece of Paradise with amazing water sports, specialized saltwater fishing areas, gorgeous views of the water, abundant shady palm and coconut trees, and a lush forest toward one end of the island.

Abrahamovich Island, St. Barts

Owner: Roman Abramovich

Net Worth: $13.4 Billion

 

This Russian billionaire is known for his investments in a number of ventures through his investment firm Milhouse LLC, and for his willingness to pay record auction prices for art. Jeet Singh, co-founder of ATG, formerly owned this private island before Abramovich purchased it for an astounding $90 million, making it another record for the oligarch as one of the most expensive islands ever sold. The exotic 70-acre locale boasts extraordinary ocean views, tennis courts, and swimming pools.

Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

Owner: Sir Richard Branson

Net Worth: $4.2 Billion

 

You’re probably already familiar with the high-flying Brit and head of the Virgin Group – made up of over a few hundred companies – but it’s now time to get to know his prime piece of British Virgin Islands real estate. Surrounded by pristine waters, coral reefs, and boasting a flawless sandy beach, the island is easily reached by helicopter from a neighboring island and, for you and 24 guests, comes with a staff of 60 people for $53,000 a night.

 

Mago Island, Fiji

Owner: Mel Gibson

Net Worth: $600 Million

 

Film mogul Mel Gibson purchased his 5,400-acre private island from a Japanese company in 2005 for $15 million. Although there are not many details about the locale made public, it has been said that Gibson enjoys the island in its natural state, and doesn’t plan on changing it very much. The island, which is known to be one of the largest private islands in the Pacific, is super private in that it only houses a couple of people – some Fijian caretakers and whoever happens to be at Gibson’s private residence.

 

Île Gagnon, Quebec

Owner: Celine Dion

Net Worth: $400 Million

 

For decades now, the famous Canadian has been a music industry queen with scores of top-charting hits and celebrated live shows, making her one of the world’s highest paid performers. The songstress purchased an island in Quebec on the Iles River to house her sprawling mansion, which was subject to a number of strict security measures. The island is so privatized that the closest an outsider can get is a glimpse in passing by boat.

 

 

Blackadore Cay, Belize

Owner: Leonardo DiCaprio

Net Worth: $200+ Million

 

Leonardo DiCaprio is perhaps now as well known for his acting in blockbuster films as he is for producing them. His island is situated in the barrier reef between Belize and Ambergris Caye and boasts an idyllic 104 acres. Reportedly purchased by the star for $1.75 million, the island is undergoing a green makeover with plans to incorporate solar power energy and a possible eco-resort at the gorgeous getaway.

 

 

Little Halls Pond Cay, Bahamas

Owner: Johnny Depp

Net Worth: $200 Million

 

This Pirates of the Caribbean series has earned the acclaimed actor millions – and his own private piece of the Bahamas islands. During shooting of the popular Pirates movies, the actor was enamored by the lifestyle of the people living in the Bahamas and thus decided to stake his own claim there for his immediate family – wife Vanessa Paradis and two children. Eco-friendly and breathtakingly scenic, the private island will harness the use of solar power to reduce its carbon footprint and maintain its green atmosphere.

 

Leaf Cay, Bahamas

Owner: Nicholas Cage

Net Worth: $180 Million

 

This actor/director/producer has been associated now with more than 60 movies to date and has made himself a pretty penny doing so. His island is located in the Exuma range of the Bahamas, and it neighbors the island of Cage’s good friend and fellow film legend Johnny Depp. The island boasts 19 buildings to include hotels, a 1500-foot airstrip, protected marina, solar power backup energy supply, lush private beaches, and more – and the island is not even entirely done with development yet.

 

Musha Cay Island, Bahamas

Owner: David Copperfield

Net Worth: $150 Million

Known as one of the greatest magicians and illusionists, Copperfield has often times vanished to his island, located 85 miles from Nassau in the Bahamas. It is located in a zone that is known as the largest collection of private islands and vacation destinations for the world’s VIPs. Musha Cay in itself is a collection of four lush islands with a total size of 700 acres and, for $32,250 per night, one can enjoy all that the luxurious locale has to offer – accommodations in a choice of five themed luxury villas (complete with Copperfield’s famed private art collection), water sports with provided state-of-the-art equipment, basking in the sun on the private beaches, and a feast of exquisite Caribbean cuisine.

 

Bonds Cay, Bahamas

Owner: Shakira

Net Worth: $140 Million

Co-Owners: Roger Waters and Alejandro Sanz

 

This Colombia-cum-international music sensation purchased this scenic spot with Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters and fellow Latin music star Alejandro Sanz. The 700-acre island, located in a gorgeous vacation area of the Bahamas, has become one of the most popular party spots of the rich and famous, and the owners only intend on developing it further. The island is currently home to boutique hotels, private beaches, luxury condominiums, private galleries, an 18-hole golf course, and more.

 

 

Rooster Cay Island, Bahamas

Owner: Eddie Murphy

Net Worth: $75 Million

 

This entertainment Renaissance man is one of the highest paid in the biz and purchased his private island in 2007 for $15 million. Unlike some of the islands owned by fellow film figures, Murphy’s island is in a prime location within close proximity to the Bahamas hub of Nassau. Not many details are known, but the locale is said to be ideal for resort decelopment and recreation, much like its neighbor, Paradise Island, which is known as a premier tourist vacation destination.

 

Perfect Knowledge is a private company that offers a private fixer service to VIP’s, private family office, senior executives and ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWI). We provide a discreet service that manages private and personal affairs on behalf of our clients. Our focus is to ensure total privacy for the individual or organisation at all times. Our services are aimed at private banks, offshore trusts, celebrities, royal family management, private families and discerning individuals where money is no object and discretion is paramount.

www.perfect-knowledge.com

London’s most secretive service which caters for the multimillionaires, foreign royalty and the worlds leading companies. Welcome to the world of the Private Fixer

London’s most secretive service which caters for the multimillionaires, foreign royalty and the worlds leading companies. Welcome to the world of the Private Fixer

Of all the services available to the super-rich, that which is uttered by a Private Fixer of www.perfect-knowledge.com is perhaps the most intriguing. Even the job title carries an aura of mystery. I am reminded of the John Travolta character in the movie Pulp Fiction, or a Philip Marlowe-like figure skulking about in the shadows in classic film noir. But there is no cigar or bowler hat in sight as Ifzaal Khan, an articulate and charismatic thirty-something, settles in front of me in a luxury hotel in Chelsea.

“My clients are high net worth individuals,” explains Khan, from Perfect Knowledge Ltd “Mostly CEOs. MDs, titles and aristocracy. Yes, I look after a few celebrities too, but they tend to be too high profile, so normally I deal with people from the international high society. Most are English, but some are American, Arab, Russian, and a few are Asian. Many are not even listed in the Sunday Times Rich lists because they might have most of their money held in trusts or assets. They come to me because I’m not part of their staff, I’m on the outside, and they may not want their staff to know everything. They could just be visiting for three or four weeks, and there are often financial incentives in asking an outsider to do things.”

Khan explains that his job is part of a long tradition of private secretaries, PAs and courtiers, but it is not a concierge service. So what does a Private Fixer actually do? “It depends on what a client wants, really,” says Khan. “For example, I might help somebody source and buy a properties off market. One person asked me to find him an off-market property for £20 million, and I knew somebody who wanted to sell, so I liaised between the two. Another asked me to find a £4 million house in Chelsea for his daughter. Somebody has also asked me to set up a property company, so I’m currently in the process of doing that, Commercial property is where the money is, so I’ve been trying to get more involved in that and it’s really taken off in the last few months.”

 

The job isn’t only to do with property though; it also involves providing a personal courier service. Khan relays this wonderful anecdote: “A client left his rare 1930s £200,000 Rolex in the penthouse of a five star hotel in London, It had been in his wife’s family for generations and she had given it to him, so it had sentimental value. He asked me to pick it up and take it to Luton Airport. When I got there, I was directed to Harrods Aviation, which is a private aviation service for businesses. As! arrived, I was told to board a plane and was flown to Geneva, where a chauffer-drivcn car ‘vas wailing to take me to the client’s house. 

There I had dinner with him and handed over the watch personally.” So, not just a typical day in the office then.Other jobs have involved picking up several expensive pieces of jewellery and watches to be repaired at Harrods; establishing a finance company; setting up a warehouse from scratch for a client who wanted to store high value goods; negotiating with yacht brokers, and chaperoning an extremely rich hut ill client to see her sister. “One gentleman has asked me to sell three Picassos. which he doesn’t want to do through the auction houses. I don’t know anything about art,” smiles Khan, “but I’m a fast learner.”

Khan offers these services through his Chelsea-based company, www.perfect-knowledge.com which he set up over a year and a half ago. Asked how long he has been a fixer for, he says mischievously, “Since I was 16 and growing up in Oxford. I was always fixing things for people — whether fellow students or visiting aunties.” Before setting up his company, he researched the job for two years and built up an enormous contacts book. Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve is imperative, he says, as preparation met with opportunity is the key to success.

Khan works with six colleagues, who between them are based in London. Oxford, Geneva and Dubai. They are all childhood friends whom he trusts implicitly. “I would never reveal my clients’ names, not even to family or friends, and as each person is given a unique code even my colleagues don’t find out who they are. Privacy, confidentiality and discretion are key to this job. Many of my clients came to me via word of mouth recommendations, a few I approached myself when circumstances were right. It takes a long time to build up trust. We don’t want people selling stories to the papers.”

Other qualities needed for a job like this are diplomacy, the ability to get on with a wide range of people and, as Khan puts it, “Knowing when to listen and when to talk, These are highly successful individuals who know the industry they’re working in inside out. They don’t want unsolicited advice.” Indeed so important is the client-fixer relationship that Khan. who combines a deep knowledge of the super-rich lifestyle with street savvy and common sense, says he’s turned down projects from those who he believes would be demanding and make his job difficult in the long run.

So whether accompanying multi-millionaires to top venues like Cipriani’s, Scott’s, Mark’s Club, or Harry’s Bar — or indeed ‘summer season’ events like Ascot or Wimbledon – there is plenty of variety. “I juggle many things, sometimes working up to 20 hours a day, and I admit the job encroaches on my private life,” says Khan, who previously worked at the Home Office for seven years, “but I could never work nine to five again. This is a unique job in a small. niche market. It brings me lots of opportunities.and I’m always learning something new. No two days are ever the same.”

Perfect Knowledge is a private company that offers a private fixer service to VIP’s, senior executives and ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWI). We provide a discreet service that manages private and personal affairs on behalf of our clients. Our focus is to ensure total privacy for the individual or organisation at all times. Our services are aimed at private family offices, private banks, offshore trusts, celebrities, royal family management, private families and discerning individuals where money is no object and discretion is paramount.

Our services include Private Fixer,  Private Office, Private Clients, Royal Family Management, Private Buyer, Private Negotiator, Confidential Services, Private Advisor, International Fixer, Private Instructions, Private Secretary,

www.perfect-knowledge.com