Luxury cars, sprawling estates, private jets - it's a day in the life of your average multi-millionaire. But an exclusive club of celebrities and CEOs are splashing cash on a luxury the average consumer could imagine only in their wildest dreams: their very own private islands.
An increase in high wealth individuals is translating to optimistic real-estate investments in Exuma Cays - a 365-island archipelago in the Bahamas; and David Copperfield, Johnny Depp, Tim McGraw, Bernard Arnault and Tyler Perry are among some of the high-profile residents.
Investible assets were up more than 8.4 per cent from 2009 to 2010, according to the World Wealth Report by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini - even as the U.S. dipped into recession.
But Andrew Welsch, Director of Operations at Private Islands magazine, said for high-net-worth individuals, it's always a buyer's market.
'Islands will always have value in a down-turned economy,' he told MailOnline.
An island in the Exuma Cays typically range between $500,000 to $30million, he said.
And for celebrities seeking a rare moment of privacy, buying an exclusive oasis, even with the exorbitant price-tag, is an attractive option.
Tyler Perry, who purchased a seven-acre island in the Exuma Cays in 2009, was so content with the investment he recently purchased a 25-acre undeveloped island called White Bay Cay, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The director is reportedly building a 14,000-square-foot Balinese-style main house with five to six smaller guest bungalows on the island. There are also plans for a spa, a tennis court and a marina.
Country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are in the final stages of construction on their 15,000-square-foot, four-bedroom on their 17-acre island, Goat Cay.
The plantation-style home main house will have a lookout tower and will be flanked by three smaller homes for a manager and staff, sources familiar with the construction told the Journal.
They join longtime Exuma Caye resident Johnny Depp, who purchased Little Hall's Pond Cay in 2004, and LVMH Chairman and Chief Executive Bernard Arnault, who also has a home on the Exuma Chain.
In the Southern Bahamas on the Exuma Chain is David Copperfield's 700-acre, 11 island resort Musha Cay, which he purchased for over $50million in 2006. The illusionist reportedly spent an additional $30million renovating facilities on the properties.
Mr Copperfield rents out the resort, which can sleep up to 24, $37,500 a night, including meals and beverages and enjoy an optional, interactive treasure hunt where he says guests are immersed in a 'living movie' in which actors and illusionists play pirates.
Listing broker John Christie, of H.G. Christie told the Wall Street Journal one of the least expensive on the market now is Nicolas Cage's former island, Leaf Cay, which remains completely undeveloped and is available for $8.5million.
At the top end of the market is Cave Cay, a 250-acre island priced at $110million that has its own harbor and runway, which has been on the market for about a year.
Also on the market is Children's Bay Cay, the $37.5million island previously owned by heirs to the Johnson & Johnson family fortune.
Living on such isolated property does have its drawbacks.
There are no major airports and no restaurants - unless owners develop the conveniences themselves.
Island development projects can also take a number of years, and involve hundreds of workers, with owners forced to import electricity, cellphone towers, and even water purifiers.
Ninety per cent of the islands on the Exuma Chain are also either uninhabitable or protected as part of a 176-square-mile marine park.
But it is exactly that lack of tourist infrastructure that is so attractive to some buyers.
Eddie Irvine, a former Formula One racecar driver from Northern Ireland, purchased an undeveloped island in the area last year.
'I can be there for three or four days and you really don't see anybody,' he told the Journal.
The number of islands also makes the Exumas generally more affordable than other exclusive destinations like the Seychelles, despite the fact Bahamian property on the chain has doubled over the last ten years.
The market for private islands has not been completely unaffected by the housing slump, however.
The Wall Street Journal reports an unnamed, 681-acre developed island has been on the market for $55 million for two-and-a-half years and was offered in a sealed-bid auction.
The listing broker, George Damianos, said a sale hasn't been finalised.
An increase in high wealth individuals is translating to optimistic real-estate investments in Exuma Cays - a 365-island archipelago in the Bahamas; and David Copperfield, Johnny Depp, Tim McGraw, Bernard Arnault and Tyler Perry are among some of the high-profile residents.
Could be yours: Children's Bay Cay on the Exuma Chain in the Bahamas, previously owned by heirs to the Johnson & Johnson family fortune, is now on the market for $37.5million
But Andrew Welsch, Director of Operations at Private Islands magazine, said for high-net-worth individuals, it's always a buyer's market.
'Islands will always have value in a down-turned economy,' he told MailOnline.
An island in the Exuma Cays typically range between $500,000 to $30million, he said.
And for celebrities seeking a rare moment of privacy, buying an exclusive oasis, even with the exorbitant price-tag, is an attractive option.
Tyler Perry, who purchased a seven-acre island in the Exuma Cays in 2009, was so content with the investment he recently purchased a 25-acre undeveloped island called White Bay Cay, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The director is reportedly building a 14,000-square-foot Balinese-style main house with five to six smaller guest bungalows on the island. There are also plans for a spa, a tennis court and a marina.
Escape from the spotlight: Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Country are in the final stages of construction on their 15,000-square-foot, four-bedroom on their 17-acre island, Goat Cay
Country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are in the final stages of construction on their 15,000-square-foot, four-bedroom on their 17-acre island, Goat Cay.
The plantation-style home main house will have a lookout tower and will be flanked by three smaller homes for a manager and staff, sources familiar with the construction told the Journal.
They join longtime Exuma Caye resident Johnny Depp, who purchased Little Hall's Pond Cay in 2004, and LVMH Chairman and Chief Executive Bernard Arnault, who also has a home on the Exuma Chain.
In the Southern Bahamas on the Exuma Chain is David Copperfield's 700-acre, 11 island resort Musha Cay, which he purchased for over $50million in 2006. The illusionist reportedly spent an additional $30million renovating facilities on the properties.
Neighbours: Magician David Copperfield (left) and Johnny Depp (right) both own private islands on Exuma Cay
In the club: LVMH Chief Executive Bernard Arnault (left) owns an island on the chain, and Tyler Perry (right) is currently building on his second island, White Bay Cay
Mr Copperfield rents out the resort, which can sleep up to 24, $37,500 a night, including meals and beverages and enjoy an optional, interactive treasure hunt where he says guests are immersed in a 'living movie' in which actors and illusionists play pirates.
Listing broker John Christie, of H.G. Christie told the Wall Street Journal one of the least expensive on the market now is Nicolas Cage's former island, Leaf Cay, which remains completely undeveloped and is available for $8.5million.
At the top end of the market is Cave Cay, a 250-acre island priced at $110million that has its own harbor and runway, which has been on the market for about a year.
Also on the market is Children's Bay Cay, the $37.5million island previously owned by heirs to the Johnson & Johnson family fortune.
Playground: Little Halls Pond Cay was purchased by Johnny Depp in 2004
On the market: Nicolas Cage's former island, Lead Cay, is offered at $8.5million and is currently the least expensive for sale on the Exuma Chain
There are no major airports and no restaurants - unless owners develop the conveniences themselves.
Island development projects can also take a number of years, and involve hundreds of workers, with owners forced to import electricity, cellphone towers, and even water purifiers.
Ninety per cent of the islands on the Exuma Chain are also either uninhabitable or protected as part of a 176-square-mile marine park.
But it is exactly that lack of tourist infrastructure that is so attractive to some buyers.
Eddie Irvine, a former Formula One racecar driver from Northern Ireland, purchased an undeveloped island in the area last year.
Exclusive: In the Southern Bahamas on the Exuma Chain is David Copperfield's 700-acre, 11 island resort, Musha Cay
Investment: David Copperfield purchased the Cay for over $50million in 2006 and reportedly spent an additional $30million renovating facilities on the properties
The number of islands also makes the Exumas generally more affordable than other exclusive destinations like the Seychelles, despite the fact Bahamian property on the chain has doubled over the last ten years.
The market for private islands has not been completely unaffected by the housing slump, however.
The Wall Street Journal reports an unnamed, 681-acre developed island has been on the market for $55 million for two-and-a-half years and was offered in a sealed-bid auction.
The listing broker, George Damianos, said a sale hasn't been finalised.
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