Preparing for a pandemic is no easy feat, what with stocking up on supplies and finding a secure spot to ride out a global catastrophe. However, some of the world's super-rich have got a head start, having bought up lavish estates and bunkers in remote locations across the globe. Take a look at the self-sufficient escapes that billionaires run to when disaster strikes...

The wealthiest 1% have got their sights set on luxury properties in remote locations. Forget London and New York, when the apocalypse comes the savvy super-rich will be holed up in New Zealand. According to doomsday bunker company Rising S Bunkers, seven Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have bought luxury units to install in the country in the past few years. 

New Zealand’s South Island has become something of an unusual billionaires' row, with an increasing number of the tech execs, hedge fund managers and other uber-wealthy types buying up plots and properties on the other side of the world. In a bid to curb these purchases, which were pushing house prices up, the New Zealand government passed a law in August 2018 banning foreign buyers from snapping up homes in the country.

The richest preppers won't be deterred by the new law, though. Attracted by the remoteness of this resource-rich country, many are seeking new ways to purchase property in its rural idylls. According to Bloomberg, 17 Americans used New Zealand's Investor Plus Visa scheme in 2017 alone, which awards residency to anyone who invests NZ$10 million ($6m/£4.8m) over the course of three years.

The co-founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman (inset), told The New Yorker in 2017: “Buying a house in New Zealand has become a sort of code for getting 'apocalypse insurance'... Saying you’re ‘buying a house in New Zealand’ is kind of a wink, wink, say no more.” Plush boltholes are common in this part of the world – this property, near Wanaka on the South Island, has its own helipad, which could come in handy for making a great escape.

Underground and emergency bunkers are big business and Rising S Bunkers prides itself on being one of the best in the industry. Demand for high-security, apocalypse-proof homes is only rising as political tensions mount and unprecedented epidemics sweep across the world. Gary Lynch, the company's general manager, said a number of their wealthiest clients had snapped up models bound for New Zealand.

Based in the United States, the team design and build everything in their Texas warehouse. Rising S Bunkers claim to be the only manufacturer to make their blast doors in-house, ensuring the quality is up to scratch. The team guarantees all of the structures they build for life.

The virtually impenetrable bomb shelters are built from steel, allowing them to withstand explosions and remain totally secure. Shelters are built to run off-grid using solar energy and septic systems, so even if the power grid goes down, the bunkers will be ready to go.

The company claim that demand for their luxury bunker models spiked in the wake of the polarising US elections in 2016. Their most premium option, The Aristocrat, costs well in excess of £6.7 million ($8m) and includes a bowling alley, swimming pool, gym and games room. There's also the more practical edition of an internal greenhouse, allowing residents to live sustainably.

The company also provides added extras such as whole-home air filtration systems for their luxury bunkers. Offering 'peace of mind in uncertain times', the NBC Air Filtration systems stop the spread of deadly viruses, with prices starting from £31,000 ($39k). For more opulent features fit for a billionaire, the company can also install everything from pool tables to supercar garages.

For the uber-rich, a bunker is not enough. The aim is a self-sufficient, remote property where they can ride out the storm. Sam Morgan (pictured inset), the founder of New Zealand's largest online auction site, Trade Me, started the trend back in 2008 when he bought an iconic sheep station near Wanaka on the South Island for over NZ$25 million ($15m/£12m).

Morgan didn’t go into details about his plans for Hillend Station at the time, which was previously owned by Infinity Investment Group. However, it seems to us like the perfect hideaway in the middle of nowhere, with plenty of secure space to develop.

A Kiwi himself, Morgan said at the time: "It's an exciting new challenge for me and I look forward to investing further in the region, while continuing all of Infinity's good work in preserving the unique beauty and character of the area.”

In 2018, Morgan listed eight private lots for sale at Hillend Station, naming them the Hillend Estates. Varying in size from three and a half to nearly five and a half acres, one lot is still on the market for NZ$895,000 ($544k/£436k). With gated access and fully-fenced grounds, the plots are ideal for those looking for security and serenity in New Zealand. 

But perhaps the greatest signal of New Zealand’s increasing reputation is the influence of billionaire Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal. Back in 2011, he said: “I am happy to say categorically that I have found no other country that aligns more with my view of the future than New Zealand.”

In June 2011, Thiel was awarded citizenship after spending only 12 days in New Zealand, bypassing the usual residency rules that require candidates to live in the country for a number of years. He then purchased a four-bedroom home in Queenstown in the region of Otago for NZ$4.8 million ($2.9m/£2.3m). After a significant fire in 2017, he repurposed a walk-in closet as a luxury panic room, an essential for any billionaire prepper.

In 2015, he increased his portfolio in Otago and bought a 477-acre block at Damper Bay on the shores of Lake Wanaka, famed as a filming location for The Lord of the Rings, for NZ$13.5 million ($8.2m/£6.6m). While Thiel has revealed little about the parcel of land, it's likely to be similar to this lakeside property which sold in the area in June 2019. Definitely nothing like a hobbit home! 

However, the land Thiel purchased was previously the site of controversy. New Zealand’s national hiking trail, the Te Araroa trail, runs alongside the lake boundary of Thiel’s property. According to The Guardian, the Upper Clutha Environmental Society was concerned the region would be spoilt by garish mansions and succeeded in reducing the number of parcels on offer from six to one – which Thiel then went on to purchase.

Moving away from New Zealand, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle, Larry Ellison, bought the majority of the island of Lanai in remote (and safe) Hawaii in 2012. Ellison dropped £240 million ($300m) on 98% of the island, including two Four Seasons hotel resorts and 90,000 acres of land – plus a town of 3,200 residents.

Ellison's first investment was a £60 million ($75m) renovation of the former Manele Bay Hotel, which re-opened in 2016 as the Four Seasons Resort Lania. Nightly rates start from around £760 ($950), because stranded billionaires need somewhere luxurious to hole up, right?

Naturally, there's a golf course, holistic wellness spas and nine restaurants to keep the super-rich entertained during a difficult time. Ellison also has plans to build a sustainable ecosystem that will eventually lead to a 100% green, self-sufficient island – the ideal hideout for laying low in the event of a global crisis.

For the ultimate billionaire hideaway where you can tee off in complete isolation, look no further than Tara Iti Golf Club, a luxury housing development and golf course in New Zealand. Appealing to super-rich Americans searching for a luxurious community to escape to, the secluded spot is flanked by sand dunes, woodlands and coastline.

American co-founder Jim Rohrstaff, who moved to New Zealand a few years ago, described the benefits of the prestigious property's remoteness to The New Yorker: “From the outside, you won’t see anything. That’s better for the public and better for us, for privacy.”

Situated on the North Island, Tara Iti is 65 miles north of Auckland. The super-exclusive golf club is located on Te Arai Beach and has eight members' cottages, each complete with a snug living area, kitchenette, luxurious bathroom and large bedroom, plus floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the stunning, rugged landscapes.

With plenty of space to land helicopters alongside the putting green, the secretive 570-acre community hand-picks its billionaire guests. Complete with a golf course designed by renowned architect Tom Doak, residents can enjoy miles of seemingly untouched beaches, all manner of wildlife and complete privacy from the outside world. We can't imagine a more peaceful place to shelter should the worst happen.

Fidelity National Financial chairman and US billionaire Bill Foley has multiple properties in the Wairarapa region on New Zealand's North Island. Originally established as a sheep station back in the 1840s, this luxury lakefront hotel and private cottages were used by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, during their state visit to the country in 2014.

Scenic and secluded, Wharekauhau Lodge stretches across farmland and coastline, with a working sheep farm and vegetable gardens making the residence self-sufficient in the event of a national disaster. As well as all the essentials, the extensive property also includes a tennis court, spa and outdoor pool.

Bill Foley owns a huge stake in the New Zealand wine industry and alongside the produce grown on the estate, deep-pocketed visitors can also explore the best vineyards in the area. The US business mogul fell in love with Wharekauhau after a visit in 2009 and Bill and his wife, Carol, snapped up the estate shortly after. We can't say we blame them!

Over two and a half hours' drive from Wellington, the remote ranch is secluded and stunningly beautiful. It has plenty of room to land a helicopter too if Bill needs to make a quick landing in post-apocalyptic conditions. Occasionally, lots are listed for sale on the estate, so you could pick up your very own piece of survival land. 

Director James Cameron is known for exploring new territories. He went to record-breaking depths during underwater filming for the Titanic movie and took CGI to the next level with his film, Avatar. Now, the director-turned-farmer has expanded into plant-based business ventures in rural New Zealand.

Joining the flocking billionaires, Cameron bought more than 2,500 acres of land in Wairarapa on the North Island. The director set up Cameron Family Farms and purchased a walnut orchard, along with a vast plot of land, plus a large property overlooking Lake Pounui, which sits within miles of rolling countryside.

The main house is flanked by dense forest and Cameron and his family reportedly moved there indefinitely, intending to live off the land away from the big cities, according to the NZ Herald. “We want to raise our kids with the values we had when we were growing up, close to the land and with a strong work ethic,” he said in a statement regarding the move.

Cameron has become well-established locally for his sustainable living and farming. In 2016, he also purchased the town of Featherston’s old Post and Telegraph Depot to use as a distribution centre for his farm produce. The director, who is a huge advocate of plant-based lifestyles, has also converted two dairy farms into organic vegetable farms, so he's well-prepared for a life of safety and seclusion in New Zealand.

One millionaire mogul who is ready to evacuate if populated areas become compromised is Julian Robertson. The hotelier owns three remote luxury estates around the rural lakes and mountains of New Zealand, which come complete with golf courses, infinity pools and plush accommodation. 

Matakauri Lodge is nestled deep in the mountains of Queenstown on the South Island and is accessible by private jet. This luxurious and secluded location consists of multiple residences, meaning Robertson could essentially form his own hamlet if he decides to leave the hustle and bustle behind for good.

The lodge is perched on the shores of the picturesque Lake Wakatipu, sheltered by the breathtaking mountains. The prestigious Owner's Cottage offers the utmost in luxury, with four generous bedrooms, each with their own private balcony, plus a secluded courtyard, facilities for a private chef and an infinity-edge hot tub. What more could a billionaire prepper wish for?

Robertson’s property is particularly well-equipped for an emergency getaway. The remote mountain resort includes a private jetty onto the vast Lake Wakatipu, as well as multiple helicopter landing sites between the resort, the mountains and the hotelier’s other New Zealand properties. These include a working sheep and cow farm that can ferry supplies to the exclusive enclave.

But it’s not only New Zealand and the remote reaches of the Pacific Ocean that appeal to super-wealthy survivalists. Look hard enough and you’ll find secret billionaires' bunkers all over the world. The Oppidum complex in the Czech Republic is the largest dedicated space for weathering global disasters.

Dubbed the largest billionaire bunker in the world, it stretches a massive 323,000 square feet, with a residential doomsday shelter carved into the foot of a mountain, deep underground. The layout allows for one large apartment, measuring 6,750 square feet, and six smaller 1,720-square-foot properties.

The luxury features include an underground garden with a natural light simulator, as well as a spa and pool. There's also a cinema, library and other leisure offerings, plus offices, conference rooms and medical facilities. Private vaults are available to keep valuable possessions safe.

Originally a joint venture between the Soviet Union and the then-Czechoslovakian authorities, the facility's construction began in 1984 during the Cold War. It was at a time of heightened tensions, with the fear of nuclear disaster looming. In 2013, entrepreneur Jakub Zamrazil took on the former military compound, transforming it into the decadent doomsday bunker we see today.

Hunkering down in luxurious living quarters, wealthy inhabitants can take shelter in the event of natural or man-made disasters, including long-term power outages, for up to 10 years, without resurfacing for supplies. Surrounded by mountains and far from nuclear targets, the area is considered one of the safest locations in the world.

Not all survivalist homes have to be nestled underground or hidden away in remote locations. One property that bucks the trend is this unique mansion in the heart of Los Angeles that's just gone on the market for £24 million ($30m). Believe it or not, this stunning estate was built to withstand a nuclear war.

Located behind a security gate, the huge estate includes an 18,000-square-foot home, as well as a 3,300-square-foot English Tudor-style guest house, plus two vacant parcels of land. The home's secure parameters have attracted many celebrity residents over the years, including Elizabeth Taylor and legendary musician Prince.

The 10-bedroom mega-mansion boasts a variety of opulent amenities including a ballroom, a four-car garage and a gym. The property was built in 1953 during the Cold War by famed architect Hal Braxton Hayes. With threats of nuclear disaster swirling, he incorporated more than a few design elements to ensure the property could withstand the worst.

Offering an insight into the property's construction, a 1953 article in Popular Mechanics magazine sheds light on the home's unusual hidden features. While the expansive interior includes huge swathes of glass, the sturdy structure was built with fluted walls, designed to withstand aftershocks from atomic bombs. 

According to the same article, Hayes also installed a swimming pool that could double up as a natural decontamination bath. In case of a nuclear disaster, underwater tunnels led to a subterranean bunker that was stocked with oxygen tanks. Although the property's agent, Jason Oppenheim, doesn’t know for sure that the secret underground room is still there, he believes that it may well be. Not a bad spot to call home in a global catastrophe!