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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It’s either a status symbol or they are envisioning Mad Max times. Maybe a bit of both.
Not only that... but the motivations & loyalties for the uber-wealthy’s security details change the minute the SHTF. Recall the New Orleans police officers that simply walked away from their posts during Katrina? What’s to keep these retired Green Beret’s, Rangers & Seals from “renegotiating” their deals at gun-point?
I would think with the recent news about the kidnapping of the 84 year old Gutherie woman in AZ there would be even more reason to protect yourself IF you are wealthy.
There are always going to be crazy people around.
People that decide to kill the POTUS to impress Jodie Foster. I guess Hinkley didn’t know back then she was gay.
Elon spends millions on security for good reason.
As do most young celebrity women too.
They have to. They get credible threats all the time.
If I had Zuckerburg’s or Oprah’s money I would buy a big chunk of Hawaii too. Fence it off and hire people so I could sleep at night without worrying about some wacko trying to break in.
No matter what security measures they take, it may not be enough. Look at the private resort that the cruise line built in Labadee, Haiti. Some say the walls around it are 30’ high and they have armed guards on both sides of the wall, yet they’ve had to close it for a year because apparently it’s not safe.
3I Atlas made a U-turn and is headed to earth!
they just have plenty of money to spend on protection.
....
So did Maduro
Reminds me of a joke: Two guys camping. They'd heard rumors of a man eating bear in the area. Didn't think much of it. One night they hear a bear outside. One guy starts putting on his running shoes. Other guy says why bother, you can't outrun a bear. First guy answers, "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you!"
Well if the US military wants to get you, no fortress is secure enough...
Years ago in a Methodist church I volunteered a lot in our church youth group. The youth pastor asked me to spend a few Wednesdays on Revelation and the end times -- a heavy topic so I every now and then sprinkled in some humor. I told the kids that one thing to look out for to determine if a speaker or writer about eschatology doesn't know his stuff, is if he says the last book of the Bible is "Revelations" with a "s" (it's "Revelation").
Shortly after that we had a visiting bishop give us his screed on how we should support government policies that "help" people. He repeatedly said that his message was supported "from Genesis to Revelations". Every time he did, some of the teenagers turned to me and smiled. LOL
Kind of reminds me some of the 800 year old villas over in Italy that have survived to this day.
The reason that Tuscan villa is still there is because it was built like a fortress. Walls were made out of stone 2-3 feet thick. Windows were small with bars on the outside and shutters to close and lock from the inside.
Doors that were made with large iron strap hinges. 3” thick OAK doors. They didn’t have steel back then.
Benefit: Oak doesn’t rust...
Enemies foreign and domestic can be some of the most mega Rich in the world, let alone the country.
But I’m not in charge.
Thankfully.
I wouldn’t be nice
Which is why I'd vote for you. :-)
A lot of the holiday homes over in Italy are still built that way. Concrete or stone walls with stucco on the outside. Aluminum framed widows with roll down shutters.
Steel exterior doors with multiple locking points around the perimeter. Same with those Aluminum windows. They lock in multiple places around the frame. The roof is covered with clay or concrete tiles. Once those roll down shutters on the window are closed it is very difficult to break in. Yet, you can leave the window open to keep air circulating.
This makes is so you can close up the house and go back to the UK or where ever your full time home is located. Then no one is going to break in and steal all your stuff when you are not there.
My wife and I subscribe to a couple Italian real estate YouTube channels. One is called “A Home in Italy”. He is a expat Brit who now lives in Abruzzo. The province east of Rome on the Adriatic. He advertises these apartments and villas in a lot of the smaller villages(hill towns) that are about a 1/2 hour from the sea.
All of these places are OLD. Hundreds of years old. Almost all built prior to indoor plumbing and electricity. He will describe a shower as a “One Dave” shower based on its size. Or if widows actually are double glazed and have fly screens because those are modern inventions of the Twentieth Century.
should SHTF actually happen, these gazillionaires are quickly gonna find their staff revolting and taking over; at a minimum, there would be a civil war between pro-gazillionaire and anti-gazillionaire factions ...
gazillionaire fortresses take a formidable staff to run, particularly all of that extremely high-tech security stuff ... and then of course, sooner or later some critical resource like food or energy that is critical will run out, or some part that makes the whole thing run won’t be available ...
at best MAYBE the gazillionaires could survive the initial stages of SHTF, but after that, when they can finally poke their heads our of their fortresses, they better personally be able farm and shoot ...
Those gazillionaires better hope they have VERY loyal staff who will protect them instead of shoot them and then move into the nice accommodations they were guarding for the rich ingrates.
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