If you're like billionaires Richard Branson or Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, buying an island and claiming it to be your personal paradise is just another way to invest in happiness.
Ellison has bought about 98% of Lana'I, the sixth-largest island in Hawaii. That's 140 square miles of personal getaway, confirmed by Hawaii's governor, but no one's talking about how much it went for just yet. And it just happens to be more than 1,000 times larger than Branson's Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.
Oracle CEO buys Hawaiian island
The package deal includes two luxury resorts, two golf courses, two clubhouses and 88,000 acres of land, according to a document filed with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. It's also full of gorgeous scenery and pineapples as well. Some residents have said they hope that Ellison, who has a deep love of nature, will give the island an economic lift.
If you could buy any island, which one would it be? What would you do with it, and how would you use it?
And what if you don't have to be a billionaire to buy, or even rent, one?
While most private islands certainly aren't cheap, Little Monkey Caye in the Caribbean is listed for $55,000 on the Caribbean Island Brokers's website. And there is no shortage of real estate sites with private islands for sale or rent.
Others have bought their own island escapes before as well, and you can rent them for a hefty nightly fee.
I'm a celebrity, rent my island!
Billionaire magician and illusionist David Copperfield has a little piece of perfection in the Bahamas.
Marlon Brando bought an atoll, Tetiaroa, in French Polynesia that he discovered while checking out locations for the 1962 film "Mutiny on the Bounty."
And Keith Richards and Bruce Willis are just a couple of the celebrities who have homes on the private island of Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean.
More on islands:
Heavenly Hawaii: Dos and don'ts
10 things to do on Oahu for $10 or less
Tahiti and French Polynesia on a budget
How to pick the right Greek island for you
10 islands to see before your die
Share your private island dream with us in the comments below.
I like Cocos island myself. nice to get away from it all, and no development!
Gardiners Island
Mackinac Island, and include the Grand Hotel with it please.
Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas. How much is the Atlantis resort worth today?
Alcatraz, Hands Down.
any island!
Manhattan. Just imagine the monthly income from rent and parking. Lol
Tahiti.
Jupiter, a tiny island in a pond I like to call the solar system. It's a fixer-upper, but I consider myself pretty handy.
I would buy St. John USVI. Here is why. The island itself if beautiful. The whole island is need of some reconstruction from an economic standpoint. We recently visited the island and saw how much food stuff costs there as well as how not great it is. St. Croix has a much larger agriculture industry and exports a vast portion of it to other countries and not to either of the other two US VI's. Any of the fish that is sold at restaurants is bought from Puerto Rico (which is not a bad thing) with the exception of the "Fresh" catch of the day. The whole area is bountiful with all kinds of fish and local fishermen who can easily do the job for the local restaurants. This boosts the local economy and keeps the money local also. Also the East end of the island is doing a fantastic job of water conservation as well as energy efficiency use. The whole island could easily be boosted with power abilities by use of solar and wind generators for clean and renewable sources for energy helping to reduce the cost of power on the island. I have also had a few ideas on how to better capture fresh water supplies for the island during the non rainy season. There are so many great ideas out there I am sure but hey "If it were to be MY island" these are some of the things that I would look at doing to help it flourish.
Australia for me :p
Definately, any Hawaiian island, sippin' on pina-coladas.
Considering a lot of them will be underwater in another 20 – 30 years I wouldn't invest in any low lands.
Bora Bora would be one choice.....perfect blue waters....
All I need is a hammock, pillow, stack of books, cold drinks and good shade.
And maybe Yasmine Bleeth (LOL !)
I seem to recall that she is quite fond of white powder...er sand.
I've always wanted to own Peter Pan's Island where all the little boys NEVER grow up!
That ain't right bro.
Australia is my choce with all the womens but no men except me.