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.
My choice would be an island where I could deport all teapublican racist sc@mbags and then detonate a nuclear bomb!
And which Island would you send the race baiters like Jackson, Sharpton to name a few.
You are a product of your own hate.
I find it laughable that nobody sees that this guy can buy an island, and the middle class hasn't seen increases for a decade.. this guy can buy an island, but people can't afford healthcare. I am all for capitalism, but this is a bit extreme.. Wish I was a member of that club..
Do you have any idea how many jobs for the middle class this man has created?
He has attained his wealth honestly and provided jobs for many at good salaries while attaining his wealth.
If he wants an island, why should anyone care?
That's right, dream about being able to do it but despise those that can. Wow.
Totally agree! That is a little much don't you think?!?!
Bora Bora
More power to those who attain their dreams, no matter the level of wealth they attain by honest means.
What they do with it should have nothing to do with those who wish to steal that gain wether through taxation or outright theft by official actions.
In this mans case he has no bearing on reason middle or lower class are having economic difficultys, and on fact through his ef
Whichver island has the most friendly native girls works for me.
Manhattan!
SeaStead
I would buy Australia
Sorry. Its technically a "continent" and not an island. Might I interest you in lovely New Zealand perhaps?
Tecnically, a land mass surrounded my water is an island by definition.
Sea Stead... I'm designing my own!
Puerto Rico; but just for Rincon. lol.
There is a city on island. where tourism at present is only income but the city is looking at more opportunitys with new purchaser.
CNN has odd slant as this "sale" is between two private interest. and this island has been private and corporate ever since Dole. Family stole the land decades ago.
Almost al lands confidcated by Gov for corporate interest,but after years of legal wrangling the corps mustpay a "royalty fee".
As usual the white midle and upper class complain about high taxes so every time a budget needs upping they try to steal from Islanders trust funds.
My Island would be nice heavily treed roadless and touristless Alaskan interior lake or Pacific Isle.
Everyone likes to fancy what they would do if they became rich. No one thinks about what to do if they became poor.
If I was poor, I would -CNN CENSOR- before I -CNN CENSOR-.
Or I would just -CNN CENSOR-.
That would be the poor man's life right there!
Pinkham Island Maine
Aitutaki, Captain Cook Islands
I would turn the entire island into a sanctuary ... beyond beautiful.
Aogashima, definitely the most amazing island I've ever seen. Sure you may have to worry about the volcano erupting but everywhere has quirks.