Last week, we came across a new study that said, should we experience global societal collapse, New Zealand is the best place to ride it out.
Is even entertaining the idea a bit sensational? A bit paranoid? Possibly. But then why was it just confirmed that Google co-founder Larry Page, reportedly the sixth wealthiest person in the world, secretly became a resident of New Zealand?
That’s according to the Associated Press, who note the billionaire’s residency is “stoking debate over whether extremely wealthy people can essentially buy access to the South Pacific country.” While Page reportedly applied for residency in November 2020, his application was approved relatively quickly once he actually entered the country in January.
We’ll leave the Kiwis to debate the ethics of prioritizing the one-percent over everyone else, but as for why Page wanted to get access to the island nation at all, that’s something we’re very much interested in.
As Gizmodo explains, Page joins controversial entrepreneur Peter Thiel in having New Zealand as an escape plan. The outlet also cites a New Yorker story from 2017 about the ultra-wealthy preparing for doomsday:
“Saying you’re ‘buying a house in New Zealand’ is kind of a wink, wink, say no more,” said Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn. “Once you’ve done the Masonic handshake, they’ll be, like, ‘Oh, you know, I have a broker who sells old ICBM silos, and they’re nuclear-hardened, and they kind of look like they would be interesting to live in.’”
Here’s a thought: What if these billionaires took that money and — instead of building luxury doomsday bunkers to hide from pandemics, the climate crisis or other global catastrophes — used their vast wealth to actually try and thwart them before they happen?
What’s that? They can’t hear me in their soundproof panic rooms?
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