Mark Zuckerberg's secret Kauai empire: 2,300 acres, tunnels, treehouses — and a doomsday bunker

Time of India

3 days ago

Mark Zuckerberg Hawaii estate
:
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
had arrived in Hawaii with a vision and a checkbook in 2014; what began as a $100 million land deal for 700 acres on Kauai's scenic north shore has since grown into a sprawling private empire of more than 2,300 acres, as per a report. A decade later, the Meta CEO's secluded estate, known as
Koʻolau Ranch
, stretches from mountaintop to ocean and rivals the island's annual public infrastructure budget in value, as per a LuxuryLaunches report.
Inside Koʻolau Ranch: Tunnels, Treehouses, and a Doomsday Bunker
Drone images, permits, and local reporting reveal a compound so high-tech and heavily fortified, according to the report. Hidden beneath the lush forest canopy are two giant mansions connected by underground tunnels, multiple guesthouses, a gym, and even futuristic treehouses suspended in the jungle, according to LuxuryLaunches report. At its heart lies a 5,000-square-foot underground bunker, complete with blast-resistant doors, a secret escape hatch, and panic rooms, as per the report. Security cameras, motion sensors, and keypad-locked gates encircle the estate, and all workers are bound by strict non-disclosure agreements, reported LuxuryLaunches.
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While Zuckerberg's representatives promote the ranch as a model for sustainability, highlighting orchards of macadamia nuts, turmeric, and ginger, along with donations to local nonprofits, but many Native Hawaiians see the project as a symbol of something far more painful: displacement, as per the report.
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Public Backlash Over Native Hawaiian Land Disputes
In 2016, the backlash began. Zuckerberg filed a series of lawsuits to identify the descendants of 14 tiny Kuleana land parcels within his estate, the land granted to Native Hawaiian commoners in the 1800s, as per LuxuryLaunches report. These parcels, though often less than an acre, are rich with cultural and ancestral significance. The lawsuits, filed through a legal process called 'quiet title,' were seen by many as a form of legal bullying, according to LuxuryLaunches report. Families claimed they had no idea they were landowners until a summons arrived, and few had the resources to fight back, as per the LuxuryLaunches report.
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Mark Zuckerberg Drops Lawsuits After Public Pressure
Activists called the process 'legal stealing," as per LuxuryLaunches. A petition to stop Zuckerberg's acquisitions gained the spotlight, and under growing public pressure, Zuckerberg dropped the lawsuits in 2017 and said he wanted to make things right, according to the report. But for many residents, the damage was already done.
Hawaii Passes New Law in Response to Land Grabs
The controversy led to change. Hawaii lawmakers passed a bill requiring landowners like Zuckerberg to first attempt mediation before heading to court, as per LuxuryLaunches. The law also places the cost of mediation on the plaintiff, according to the report.
A $65 Million Addition Quietly Finalized
However, critics argued that legislation alone cannot stop the tide of wealth reshaping the island's cultural and physical landscape, as reported by LuxuryLaunches.
The most recent addition to Zuckerberg's landholdings, a 1,000-acre parcel valued at around $65 million, was finalized quietly, according to the report. His team also filed permits to build three more multi-million-dollar buildings on the estate, with large dormitory-like structures with 16 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, complete with a 1,300-square-foot open-air lanai, as reported by LuxuryLaunches. The estimated construction cost exceeds $30 million, almost equal to the island of Kauai's yearly public infrastructure budget, as per the report.
FAQs
How much land does Zuckerberg now own in Kauai?
Over 2,300 acres, that's about three times the size of New York's Central Park.
How much did Zuckerberg pay for all this land?
His most recent purchase alone was valued at $65 million. Altogether, the estate is worth hundreds of millions.