Inside the World’s Most Expensive Private Bunkers

Updated: May 1, 2024By Audrey KyanovaBusiness

This article originally appeared on Investing.com. It has been republished here with permission.

©Влад Варшавский/stock.adobe.com

In an age of uncertainty and escalating global tensions, the world’s elite are investing in more than just luxury homes and yachts. Enter the realm of private bunkers – opulent, fortified sanctuaries hidden beneath the earth’s surface. This list contains some of the wildest, most intense private bunkers in the world.

Built by private contractors, billionaire tycoons, celebrities, and even politicians, these subterranean marvels boast lavish amenities, from gourmet kitchens to indoor pools, all surrounded by an eerie atmosphere of impending doom. As the divide between the haves and have-nots deepens, explore the secretive world of those preparing for the worst, where extravagance meets survivalism.

1. The Beckhams’ Hidden Tunnel

Location: Cotswold, England
Cost: $8 million home price*

In July of 2020, David and Victoria Beckham got permission from the Cotswolds government to construct a secret tunnel underneath their $8 million mansion. In addition to being allowed to build the bunker, the Beckhams also got permission to build a wine cellar and garage extension at the rural retreat.

The Beckham's Hidden Tunnel @breathelifeinyo / Pinterest.com

The tunnel is being built primarily in the event of a burglary, where the family will have to make a quick escape. The tunnel will give the Beckhams access to their garage, with its fleet of luxury vehicles, from the main house, giving them an escape in an emergency.

2. Lady Gaga’s Panic Room

Location: Homes in California
Cost: $50,000-$100,000 per panic room*

If you saw the headlines in the spring of 2021, then you know that Lady Gaga’s dogs were kidnapped at gunpoint by an assailant who shot her dog-walker. Though the dogs were later returned unharmed, the pop star is taking no chances.

Lady Gaga's Panic Room @aguasd / Pinterest.com

Reportedly, she has installed state-of-the-art panic rooms in all of her homes. A source told HeatWorld that the “Bad Romance” singer wanted a “proper shelter” for her two French bulldogs and herself, and she will no longer be taking the pups in public unless accompanied by an armed guard. Money is, of course, of “no object” to Gaga when it comes to protecting her beloved pets.

3. The Clooney-Alamuddin’s Bomb-Proof Safe Room

Location: Berkshire, England
Cost: $500,000-$1 million*

George and Amal Clooney own a mansion in Berkshire, England, and the pair wanted to make their estate even safer. They first visited the mansion on their two-week honeymoon, and the seventeenth-century estate was lacking, as far as safety goes.

The Clooney-Alamuddin's Bomb-Proof Safe Room ©Steve Granitz,/Getty Images

The Clooneys got permission to install a panic room in the historic mansion. The room will be fireproof, attack-proof, and bomb-proof. The Clooneys didn’t decide to construct this bunker because of George’s crazy fans; they built the bunker because Amal, an international human rights attorney, often represents high-profile clients in controversial cases. Better safe than sorry.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Former Townhouse

Location: New York City, New York
Cost: $50,000-$100,000*

Actress and Goop CEO Gwyneth Paltrow was worried about security risks when she lived in her New York City brownstone. So, she did what every uber-rich person would do and installed a fortified, maximum-security safe room in the townhouse.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Head @carlajane2012 / Pinterest.com

The safe room was designed to protect herself against intruders, according to U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey, who rented the home from Paltrow after she left it in 2005. Kerrey told The Daily Mail that Paltrow designed the “lock-the-door” room herself, buying it and developing it so that “no one could get to her.” In 2005, she realized the panic room wasn’t enough, and she moved to a different apartment with better security and a doorman.

5. Tom Cruise’s Telluride Hideout

Location: Telluride, Colorado
Cost: $59 million*

Are we really surprised that Tom Cruise has his own bunker? His Telluride, Colorado mansion is a log house hideaway worth $59 million. It sits on 298 acres of property, and it has a private helipad, horse stables, and a system of forest trails that go deep into the mountains.

Tom Cruise's Telluride Hideout @loghomemagazine / Pinterest.com

According to Wired, there is a $10 million bunker underneath the mountain estate. Cruise is usually pretty private about his life, so we doubt that we’ll get to see the bunker anytime soon. Cruise has starred in quite a few disaster and action movies, so perhaps he’s imitating what he does on-screen.

6. Bill Gates’ Secret Bunker

Location: Rancho Santa Fe, California and Medina, Washington
Cost: $3-$6 million per bunker*

Billionaires and millionaires are building a lot of bunkers, apparently preparing for some type of apocalypse that the rest of us don’t know about. Bill Gates is one of these doomsday preppers, but his high-security shelter doesn’t have cots and canned food.

Bill Gates' Secret Bunker @Atlas Survival Shelters / Youtube.com

Gates has bunkers at all of his homes, some of which are so lavish that they include swimming pools and bowling alleys. His bunkers, located at his properties in Rancho Santa Fe and Washington, cost “a few million” each, according to The Hollywood Reporter. What exactly Gates is preparing for is unknown, as he hasn’t mentioned his bunkers publicly.

7. Mark Zuckeberg’s Kauai Bunker

Location: Kauai, Hawaii
Cost: $260 million, allegedly*

You already know that Mark Zuckerberg has more than one billionaire bunker in the works. His initiative in Kauai, Hawaii involves constructing a high-security compound built with luxury and fortification. This secluded retreat is designed to offer utmost privacy and safety, featuring state-of-the-art security systems, including surveillance cameras and reinforced structures capable of withstanding severe weather conditions.

Mark Zuckeberg’s Kauai Bunker @guarandinganews/Pinterest

Special features include sustainable energy sources, such as solar panels, and advanced water filtration systems, ensuring self-sufficiency. The compound is set to embody a sanctuary that merges cutting-edge technology with environmental consciousness, reflecting Zuckerberg’s vision of a secure and sustainable living space amidst nature’s tranquility.

8. The Oppidum

Location: The Czech Republic
Cost: $40 million for the Futurist model*

Nestled amid the Czech mountains, The Oppidum, a lavish doomsday refuge sprawling 323,000 sq ft, boasts opulent amenities. It features a 6,750 sq ft apartment and six 1,720 sq ft units, a ground-level golf course, helipad, and an underground 5-star bunker with deluxe facilities like whirlpool baths, double sinks, and rainfall showers.

The Oppidum @OnlyTheBestHere/Youtube

Additional offerings include a spa, pool, garden with artificial lighting, cinema, library, and more. Ensuring self-sufficiency for a decade, it safeguards inhabitants from nuclear threats, equipped with essential utilities and medical services, including dental care.

9. The Global Seed Vault

Location: Svalbard, Norway
Cost: $8.8 million to construct in 2008*

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, situated in Norway, stands as a monumental safeguard for the world’s agricultural diversity. Carved into the Arctic permafrost, it was inaugurated in 2008 on the Svalbard archipelago, over 2,000 miles from the North Pole.

The Global Seed Vault @hubpages/Pinterest

The vault’s purpose is to store duplicates of seed samples from global crop collections, acting as a backup in case of catastrophic events. It currently holds over a million seed samples, from almost every country, ensuring the preservation of genetic diversity critical for future generations to adapt to changing climates and potential global food crises.

10. The Ultra-Secret Greenbrier Bunker

Location: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Cost: $24-$47 per ticket to tour*

The Greenbrier Bunker, hidden beneath the luxurious Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, was a top-secret U.S. government facility during the Cold War era. Constructed in 1958, it was designed to serve as an emergency shelter for the United States Congress in the event of a nuclear attack.

The Ultra-Secret Greenbrier Bunker @onlyinyourstate/Pinterest

Spanning over 112,000 square feet, the facility included a massive 25-ton blast door, decontamination chambers, a power plant, and a water filtration system. It remained a closely guarded secret for over 30 years until its existence was revealed in 1992, leading to its decommissioning.

11. Creative Home Engineering’s Celebrity Bunkers

Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Cost: $200,000-$400,000*

Creative Home Engineering, a company renowned for its innovative hidden passageways and secret rooms, has expanded into the realm of luxury bunkers tailored for celebrities and high-net-worth individuals. These bespoke bunkers are designed to offer unparalleled safety and comfort, featuring state-of-the-art security systems, lavish living spaces, and amenities that rival those of a five-star hotel.

Creative Home Engineering’s Celebrity Bunkers @soloway-designs/Pinterest

From underground cinemas to biometric access controls, each bunker is customized to meet the specific desires and security needs of its owner, ensuring a safe haven in times of crisis while maintaining a level of opulence and privacy that suits the lifestyle of the elite.

12. Ben Affleck’s Panic Room (That Kevin Smith Now Has)

Location: Los Angeles, California
Cost: $6 million home price*

Kevin Smith and Ben Affleck share more than just their history as “Chasing Amy” co-stars; they’ve also exchanged real estate. In 2003, Smith purchased Affleck’s house, uncovering a unique feature left by the Oscar-winning screenwriter-director: a small panic room hidden behind a bookcase in the master bedroom.

Ben Affleck’s Panic Room @ houseaddictive/Instagram

While Smith might have fantasized about discovering something as extravagant as the Bat Cave, he described the space to PageSix.com as a modest 2×2 room, reminiscent of a small bathroom, equipped with a safe, a video monitor, and a phone for emergency situations.

13. Vivos xPoint

Location: South Dakota
Cost: $1,091 per year, plus a $55,000 upfront payment*

Vivos xPoint, sprawling nearly three-quarters the size of Manhattan, stands as the world’s largest doomsday bunker community, featuring 575 bunkers in South Dakota. Constructed from robust concrete and steel, these bunkers are meticulously spaced to ensure both privacy and security for their occupants.

Vivos xPoint @uncrate/Pinterest

Each bunker, covering a 2,200 sq ft floor plan, can house 10-24 people and is positioned 400 ft away from its nearest neighbor. With dimensions of 12.5 ft in height and 26 ft in width, these shelters include kitchens, dining and living areas, multiple bedrooms, and even a gym, tailored to the occupants’ specifications, melding luxury with survival readiness.

14. The Safe House

Location: Warsaw, Poland
Cost: $3 million*

The Safe House redefines luxury underground bunkers by paradoxically being an above-ground fortress with a unique twist: it incorporates glass windows to allow natural light, creating an airy, open interior unlike traditional bunkers. From the outside, it appears as a formidable concrete structure, but its windows, massive concrete blocks in reality, open to reveal a lighter, inviting space within. In emergencies, these windows seal shut, and metal walls can roll down over the glass for added security.

The Safe House @Jonathan Bell/Pinterest

This 6,100 sq ft architectural marvel boasts a swimming pool and an outdoor theater, utilizing a metal shutter as its screen. A double-height ceiling in the patio ensures the space remains bright and spacious, while a retracting bridge connects the terrace to the swimming pool, elegantly disrupting the monolithic exterior with a touch of sophistication.