The recent announcement from the Pentagon regarding its “Doomsday Plan” has drawn significant attention globally, prompting various governments to advise their citizens on the importance of stockpiling essential supplies. This renewed focus on potential catastrophic scenarios has shifted public discourse back to the concept of an impending “end of the world.” Interestingly, many of America’s wealthy elite have been preparing for such possibilities for years, equipping themselves with underground bunkers, gas masks, and independent energy sources to navigate the perceived threats of an apocalyptic event.
The Pentagon’s initiative, known as the FORTRESS program, is intended to ensure that major military bases across the United States can continue operations for at least 90 days without external supplies of water, fuel, communication, or electricity. While the Pentagon has not publicly specified the adversaries it is preparing against, a 2024 warning issued by U.S. cybersecurity, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies indicated that hackers linked to the Chinese government had already infiltrated U.S. energy, water, and communication networks. These cyber incursions raised concerns about potential disruptions during future conflicts.
In addition to the United States, governments in countries such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and France have also started encouraging their residents to stockpile essential supplies to prepare for adverse weather events, cyberattacks, or military conflicts.
For the ultra-wealthy, such preparations are not a new phenomenon. Long before recent policy shifts, affluent individuals had been advised by consultants and real estate agents to take steps towards ensuring their safety. Reports indicate that many of these individuals have already invested in backup power generators, alternative shelter, and a diverse inventory of supplies.
A prime example is Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, who has been developing an estate on Kauai, Hawaii, covering approximately 1,400 acres, with an estimated cost of around $270 million. According to planning documents reviewed by Wired magazine, this estate features an underground bunker exceeding 5,000 square feet, complete with its own power and food supply.
However, Zuckerberg has denied that this bunker is designed for doomsday scenarios. He stated to Bloomberg, “No, I think it’s just a small shelter, similar to a basement.”
In contrast, some of his tech peers have been more candid about their preparations for apocalyptic scenarios. In a feature published by The New Yorker in October 2016, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, commented on how five years earlier, a laboratory had engineered the H5N1 avian flu virus to possess high contagion potential. Since then, he noted, the probability of a man-made deadly virus being released in the next two decades is no longer zero. Altman also emphasized other commonly cited doomsday scenarios, including artificial intelligence turning against humanity and nuclear wars sparked by nations competing for scarce resources.
Acknowledging the uneasy nature of such thoughts, Altman admitted that he had nonetheless taken measures to prepare for this “doomsday” scenario, which includes stockpiling emergency supplies and developing shelter plans that encompass firearms, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, drinking water, gas masks used by the Israeli Defense Forces, and a significant expanse of land in Big Sur for evacuation.
In 2017, Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, told The New Yorker that he believed more than half of Silicon Valley’s billionaires had invested in what is colloquially known as “apocalypse insurance.” This typically involves acquiring a refuge either domestically or internationally.
Hoffman remarked, “Human motivations are complex. I think people might say, ‘Now I have a safety measure against things that frighten me.'”
Despite their discreet approaches to doomsday preparations, advisors who provide risk consultancy and real estate agents have observed an increased emphasis on disaster readiness among wealthy clients in recent years.
Brian Daniel, founder of the Celebrity Personal Assistant Network, which specializes in connecting affluent households with personal assistants and domestic staff, reported to Fortune magazine that clients are increasingly focused on safety. He noted a significant uptick in this trend over the past five years.
“At the very least, my clients are installing backup power systems and stockpiling enough supplies to last for several months,” Daniel said. He added that some clients own multiple properties domestically and abroad to mitigate risks, often opting for locations far away from major cities. Some even “invest in luxury underground bunkers worth millions of dollars.” He further noted that clients with net worths of $100 million or more often hire full-time security personnel.
“What they desire is peace of mind, and they are willing to spend whatever it takes to achieve that sense of security,” Daniel stated.
Philip Farina, the chief advisor at Risky Business, a consultancy that specializes in disaster and emergency response for businesses and high-net-worth families, mentioned that recent government campaigns around emergency preparedness have increased client inquiries. He observed a trend during the pandemic when some clients opted to leave regions with strict pandemic restrictions for remote second homes or “safe havens.”
“Many clients are looking for a comprehensive solution: not just property, but facilities that are self-sufficient, along with ample food and water supplies, emergency kits, weapons training, and communication plans that cover all family members,” he said.