10 Insane Doomsday Homes of the Rich
Updated: Feb. 10, 2023Today's doomsday and high-security shelters are a far cry from those around during the Cold War. While all are equipped to protect you from everything from an asteroid and World War III to a global pandemic, many have extra features that make them seem a bit over-the-top. Here's a look at some of the features found in doomsday homes of the rich.
Vivos xPoint
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, there’s a compound known as Vivos xPoint which consists of 575 military bunkers that once served as an Army Munitions Depot. According to the facility’s website, it’s the largest survival community on earth and can accommodate about 5,000 people. The compound has a community theater, hydroponic gardens, classrooms, a gym, spa and a medical clinic. Learn more about this community here.
Survival Condo
For $4.5 million, you can have a 3,600-square-foot bunker in what’s known as the Survival Condo in Kansas. The site is located in two abandoned missile silos that were built to house warheads in the 1960s. “We have started with a structure that was built to withstand a nuclear explosion and to this day is considered to be ‘one of the strongest structures built by man,'” according to the website. The complex also has a rock climbing wall, dog park, arcade and movie theater. This reader-built shed doubles as a shelter.
Vivos Europa One
Located in Germany, Vivos Europa One is built in a former Cold War-era storage facility. The structure is carved out of bedrock and has room for 34 private residences. “Members will arrive at their own discretion, prior to lockdown, by car or private planes that may be landed at nearby airports,” according to the website. “Vivos helicopters will then be deployed to rendezvous with each member group, and fly them back to the shelter compound, safely secured from the general public, behind sealed and secured walls, gates and blast doors.” Learn how to choose a safe room in your home to protect yourself from a tornado.
The Panic Room
Peter Thiel is a billionaire and co-found of PayPal. According to Bloomberg, Thiel bought a $13.8 million home on 477 acres in New Zealand that includes a panic room. The real estate listing for the property described it as “a most beautiful and picturesque farm” on a “secluded and peaceful setting.” Thiel is one of several Silicon Valley executives who point to New Zealand as what they believe would be the safest place if a doomsday scenario took place, due to its remote location.
The Oppidum
Known as the largest billionaire bunker in the world, the Oppidum was once a joint project between the former Soviet Union and the former Czechoslovakia. The site now includes a 77,000-square-foot underground bunker and the final look is decided by the owner’s specifications, according to Forbes. In addition to the bunker, the Oppidum also features a swimming pool, underground garden, movie theater and wine vault. Here are 10 stunning home wine cellars you need to see.
The Sin City Underground Bunker
When it comes to doomsday homes of the rich, this place in Las Vegas looks a lot like other American homes. However, the 15,200-square-foot underground living area is built to withstand just about anything. “The Bunker looks like a large home in a yard with pool, spa, trees, guest house, barbecue and fountain and is surrounded by 500 linear feet of floor to ceiling murals of city and mountain views with lighting that simulates day, dusk and dawn,” according to the listing on Zillow. Interested? It will cost you $18 million!
The Modern Day Ark
Lu Zhenghai began building his modern-day Noah’s Ark in 2010, in China, in an effort to survive what he thought would be the end of the world in 2012. According to the Daily Mail, Zhenghai blew his entire life savings on the project. It was built with 10 tons of timber and 60 tons of steel, but never finished. Oh, and the world hasn’t ended. Make sure you have these 16 things in your storm emergency kit.
Villa Vals
When it comes to doomsday homes of the rich, Villa Vals in the Swiss Alps is literally built into the side of a mountain. The entrance to the property is in a wood shed which is connected to the villa by an underground tunnel. Want to try it out? It’s available for vacation rental through the Villa Vals website. It can accommodate up to 10 people. Prepare for a natural disaster with these 21 tips.
Hollywood Hills Safe House
Known as “Safe Core,” there’s a home in California’s Hollywood Hills overlooking downtown Los Angeles complete with a panic room and top-level security to protect against a doomsday scenario. The home even has steel-reinforced concrete caissons that burrow 30 feet into the hilltop so there are no concerns when it comes to earthquakes, according to Forbes. It also comes with a disorientating fog system to ward off intruders, a wine cellar that doubles as an underground bunker which is fully stocked with water and food.
Safe Cellars
If you’re building a new home, why not just have your own shelter built-in? The Atlas Survival Shelters’ Safe Cellar is designed to be installed under the concrete floor of a new house, and provides a safe room, wine cellar, gun room, tornado shelter and can even be equipped to serve as a nuclear and chemical warfare shelter.
