Posted on 02/16/2026 8:46:56 AM PST by Whatever Works
America’s richest citizens are quietly transforming their estates into military-grade compounds equipped with underground bunkers, biometric security systems, moats, and private armed forces. The scale and urgency of this shift raises a question the mainstream press seems reluctant to ask: What exactly are they preparing for?
***
The wealthy are spending between $100,000 and $1.5 million on security installations that include underground bunkers, laser-powered perimeter defense systems, and biometric access controls. Some are purchasing specially trained protection dogs for as much as $175,000. The message is unmistakable: traditional security measures no longer feel adequate, even for those living in America’s most exclusive neighborhoods.
*** The broader implications are profound. When the people with the most resources, the best information, and the deepest institutional connections begin building fortified compounds designed for long-term survival scenarios, it suggests they see threats the general public has not been adequately warned about. This could include anything from economic collapse and social breakdown to more catastrophic scenarios involving warfare, pandemics, or infrastructure failure.
***
The timeline matters too. These projects are accelerating now, in early 2026, with facilities like Aerie preparing to open demonstration experiences this year. The urgency is palpable. These are not five-year plans being casually developed. These are crash programs being implemented with significant capital and serious intent.
(Excerpt) Read more at economiccollapse.report ...
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“America’s richest citizens are quietly transforming their estates into military-grade compounds equipped with underground bunkers, biometric security systems, moats, and private armed forces.”
I wonder if things really fall apart how many of those people when wanting to enter their hidey holes will find out the security folks that were guarding it will refuse to let them in?
"Because that's where the money is."
“Yes we’re gonna have a wingding
A summer smoker underground
It’s just a dugout that my dad built
In case the reds decide to push the button down
We’ve got provisions and lots of beer
The key word is survival on the new frontier”
Defensive fortifications are a monument to the gullibility of man. If someone wants in...
Their bunkers won’t help them. They’ll most likely die somewhere else.
My Dad is retired and doing fine, but not mega rich, He’s an engineer. Helped design his house. Looks normal. It’s not — it’s a frreaking fortress. He just considered it prudent.
“I wonder if things really fall apart how many of those people when wanting to enter their hidey holes will find out the security folks that were guarding it will refuse to let them in?”
Always my first thought too. My guess is, no.
Interestingly, many of these new bunkers have AI security and no security people.
I guess they will do their own cleaning and cooking.
I think it’s just a shift to knowing you need physical security because the cops can’t or won’t do anything.
You see the same thing in Europe and South America.
My house is not a fortress, but it’s remote and I live in a forest that periodically burns. So, when I built it, I built it such that it would be hard to break into by someone using tools and having some time on their hands — plus fire resistant.
The walls are concrete covered in stucco. Lots of steel.
Windows are all on the second floor, have lexan cores and steel frames, plus the dividers are actually bars that don’t look like bars. Metal electric shutters (like you see in a hurrricane area) come down obstensibly for storm and fire protection, but also help with crime. These go down at night.
Doors are all metal, solid core, with metal frames, and double-cylinder assa-abloy locks (unpicksble and you need a key to get out). We also have light bar doors (mainly for bears and bugs if we want to keep the door open and not have a visitor). Doors also have a floor kick lock.
Double thick (2inch plywood) roof, thick fireproof layer, with a low gauge metal cover (that’s mainly for fire). Spray foam insulation.
Commercial garage doors that can’t be “popped” using the hanger and triangle wood method. Also insulated. Locked door between garage and house.
Yes, cameras and alarms, all wired and call local security by cell.
And and locked property gate about a mile from the front of our house that discourages idle visitors. Can’t see our house from any public road.
Zombie proof? No, but resistant to all but someone specifically targeting us.
A guy has to eat.
They don’t know anything we don’t, they just have plenty of money to spend on protection.
Example: basement is three layers of steel reinforced concrete blocks plus cement and a layer of bricks. His house laughs at 100 mph winds. Yes over 30 years in Tornado alley he’s seen those. One neighbor’s house was leveled as in gone. Only damage to my Dad’s was a little ding on the roof from part of the neighbor’s house landing on it.
Yup
I understand the thinking that they must know something special that is leading to this, but I personally don’t attach much meaning to their actions.
Excess wealth and a new thing to acquire, maybe doing so for the same reasons we non-wealthy prepare, perhaps the new thing in their social circle, perhaps merely ‘why not?’
If I had so much money it didn’t matter, then I would prepare for a 10 year event such as a comet strike or something that could take a decade for agriculture and food distribution to recover.
Um your house does sound like a fortress. :-)
backhoe
> find out the security folks that were guarding it will refuse to let them in <
Ha! That would make a good Twilight Zone episode.
I have a friend who is one of us. He has a ranch with pigs. Those things will eat anything. No evidence. Not that he’s done that. :-)
Yeah, I guess it does. It’s pretty common around here, mainly due to fires.
I think some of it comes from my time in Iraq. I was artillery but did a fair amount of door kicking when we needed to secure an area.
Simple things like a light barred security door (that opened out and had a deadbolt) really upped the level of hassle for a forced entry. They’re all of $200 at Lowe’s— and are great for air if they also have a screen to keep out bugs.
Windows on a second floor only = need a ladder.
Heck a glass storm door outside of a regular door even changes the math.
I basically did all the things that made me think “let’s go to the next location”.
Interesting, to say the least.
Stock your property with a lot of carnivorous scavengers.
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