PRIVATE ISLANDERS
WHEREAS mere mortals might be able to live in a nice, comfortable house if they are lucky, the world’s superrich are living it up on their own private islands.
Hotelier Sol Kerzner may not personally own an island, but in September he announced that his One&Only group had taken over management of the Hayman Island resort off Australia’s northeastern coast.
Tokyo Sexwale bought Mozambique’s Quilálea Island in 2008, shelling out about $70-million for it. It is now part of a bitter divorce dispute between Sexwale and his estranged wife, Judy.
Actor Mel Gibson bought the Fijian island of Mago in 2005, reportedly paying about $15-million for the 22km2 slice of paradise.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp is able to play at ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ on Little Halls Pond Cay in the Bahamas, which he bought in 2004 for $3.4million. Actor Eddie Murphy also has an island in the neighbourhood — Rooster Cay.
When he was 28, businessman Richard Branson visited the British Virgin Islands in 1978 and offered to buy Necker Island for £100 000. The land was valued at about £3-million at the time, so the offer was initially laughed off. Eventually, however, the cashstrapped owner accepted £180 000. Branson developed the island into a luxurious resort that has hosted guests such as Princess Diana and actress Kate Winslet, who was on the island when a fire destroyed the main house in 2011.