It’s a sign that at least some of the ultra-rich are anxious about global events and are making contingency plans for the Big One — whatever form that may take.

The feeling is very much in the air. Architectural Digest named “luxury bunkers” one of the real estate trends of 2023, and a finely appointed redoubt figured prominently in the recent Netflix thriller Leave the World Behind.

Bradley Garrett said the most elaborate bunker he found while researching his book (Bunker: Building for the End Times) is the Survival Condo, located in a former missile silo in Kansas. Built around 2010 by a property developer who used to work for the U.S. Department of Defence, this “nuclear-hardened” structure features walls up to 2¾ metres thick and can house between 36 and 75 people.

In addition to providing each unit with a five-year supply of “freeze-dried and dehydrated survival food,” the complex contains an indoor pool, a classroom, a library and two floors of hydroponic gardens to “provide fresh produce.” It also has filtered air and water supplies. Units go for between $1.5 million and $3 million.

  • partial_accumen
    10•8 months ago

    They peppered him with questions not only about shelters, but also the wisdom of acquiring mercenary armies and where on Earth they were likely to be most safe.

    What are they going to pay the mercenary armies with? Money? Why would a mercenary accept money when civilization has collapsed? The things they’d want most are the things the rich want them to protect. At that point, what value does the rich person offer the mercenary? Why wouldn’t the mercenaries just shoot the rich person and live in the bunker now absent a resident?

    • @frunch@lemmy.world
      2•8 months ago

      That’s exactly how i see these scenarios. The rich are just keeping nice properties and resources for the local warlords to usurp when the shit really hits the fan.

      Furthermore, how capable are these people to begin with? Are they ready to personally run and oversee a survivalist camp for the rest of their lives? Can they do it themselves? I’m sure there’s a couple that would do just fine but i imagine most would quickly exchange hands without the police to protect their properties and assets (hell, they could wind up being the ones taking them)