The playgrounds of the rich and famous, private islands offer a respite from the paparazzi and a degree of freedom not found behind high walls or a bevy of bodyguards. Owning your very own slice of paradise is all the more exclusive and appealing because of the limited number of islands up for grabs.
Considering that some of these islands, without anything on them, are selling for anything upwards of $20-million, you have to be seriously raking in the cash to be able to afford one. Once you?ve acquired your island, you still need to deal with pesky little issues like fresh water, power generation and getting your mansion built (not such an easy task when all the materials and manpower have to be shipped in).
The alternative? You could rent an island from one of your richer buddies. That way, you get all the benefits of island privacy without the hassles.
Branson?s bit of Britain
Richard Branson owns not one, but four islands ? Neckar Island, Moskito Island, Makepeace Island and ?England? in the World Islands of Dubai. Neckar Island, which is situated in the British Virgin Islands and is a favourite with celebrities and royalty, can also be rented. For a mere $42 000 per day you can rent the entire island, or if you wish to visit the island during the months of September and October you can rent an individual room for $21 000 per week.
David Copperfield?s Musha Cay in the Bahamas is also a little pricey at $325 000 per week ? although personally I would think twice about visiting a magician?s private island. Especially that close to the Bermuda Triangle?
The Bahamas seems to be a hot spot for celebrity island ownership with Johnny Depp, Nicholas Cage, Julia Roberts and Eddie Murphy all proud island owners.
If you?re thinking of buying?
With 700 tropical islands and 10 000 uninhabited cays, the Bahamas is the ideal place to go island hunting. The fact that these islands are a short hour?s flight from Florida means that while you may rub shoulders with your favourite celebs, you?ll be paying high prices for it.
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Greece, always a favourite with island hunters ? the Onassis family owns Skorpios Island and Pablo Picasso?s daughter the western island of Petalous ? is the location of more than 1500 islands. Fewer than 200 of these islands are inhabited and the relaxed property laws make it easy for foreigners to buy islands here.
Belize, with the second longest barrier reef in the world, has the best value-for-money islands in the world. With no islands up for sale on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, this is as good as it is going to get for the diving enthusiast.
The Forbes list
Malcolm Forbes, the magazine tycoon famous for his lavish lifestyle, purchased the Fijian Laucala Island in 1972 for $450 000. It was recently sold to Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz for $10-million. Rather a good investment. Not surprising then, Forbes magazine features an annual list of the most expensive islands in the world. The top five that cracked the 2006 list were:
- Isla de sa Ferradura, Spain $39.7-million
- Pakatoa Island, New Zealand $35-million
- Cerralvo Island, Mexico $35-million
- Temptation Island, Thailand $30-million
- Caritas Island, Connecticut $25-million
A little out of your price range? Don?t despair, for those truly committed to joining the ranks of the island-owning rich and famous, there are cheaper alternatives. There are some very reasonably priced islands off the coast of Canada and in the Scandinavian archipelago. They may just get a little chilly over the winter months?
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