Mark Zuckerberg’s controversial Hawaii estate adds once deadly reservoir, 110 more acres (2024)

Story at a glance

  • Mark Zuckerberg spent $17 million to purchase an additional 110 acres to add to his Kauai estate.
  • The 110 acres includes the Ka Loko reservoir, which burst in 2006, unloading 400 million gallons of water and killing seven people.
  • Zuckerberg’s land purchases on Kauai have continued to ignite controversy over the years, with his estate now totaling roughly 1,500 acres.

Mark Zuckerberg spent $17 million to purchase an additional 110 acres to add to his now 1,500-acre estate in Kauai, Hawaii.

First reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the new 110 acres includes the Ka Loko Reservoir. In 2006, the reservoir’s dam broke and unloaded 400 million gallons of water, killing seven people.

Zuckerberg first purchased 750 acres of land for $100 million on Kauai in 2014before acquiring another 600 acres for $53 million in May. May’s purchase included a public beach and cattle ranch.

Zuckerberg’s land purchases on Kauai have continued to ignite controversy over the years.

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In 2017, hundreds of local Hawaiians who owned interest on small pieces of land within his estate were subject to lawsuits by Zuckerberg’s lawyers.

“This is the face of neocolonialism,” Kapua Sproat, a law professor at the University of Hawaii told the Guardian in 2017. “Even though a forced sale may not physically displace people, it’s the last nail in the coffin of separating us from the land.”

Zuckerberg eventually dropped the lawsuits.

Following Zuckerberg’s latest purchase, his and his wife’s spokesperson, Ben LaBolt, told Business Insider on Monday, “Mark and Priscilla continue to make their home at Ko’olau Ranch,” adding that the couple has “worked closely with a number of community partners to operate a working ranch, promote conservation, produce sustainable agriculture and protect wildlife and look forward to expanding their efforts to include this additional property.”

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  • Mark Zuckerberg’s controversial Hawaii estate adds once deadly reservoir, 110 more acres (1)
  • Mark Zuckerberg’s controversial Hawaii estate adds once deadly reservoir, 110 more acres (2)
Mark Zuckerberg’s controversial Hawaii estate adds once deadly reservoir, 110 more acres (2024)

FAQs

Mark Zuckerberg’s controversial Hawaii estate adds once deadly reservoir, 110 more acres? ›

Mark Zuckerberg spent $17 million to purchase an additional 110 acres to add to his Kauai estate. The 110 acres includes the Ka Loko reservoir, which burst in 2006, unloading 400 million gallons of water and killing seven people.

How many acres of Hawaii does Zuckerberg own? ›

(TheRealDeal) – For all of Mark Zuckerberg's talk about the metaverse, he's got a thing about real-world property too.

What part of Hawaii does Zuckerberg own? ›

Zuckerberg's properties are on Kauai's north shore in portions of the ahupuaa Pilaa, Waipake and Lepeuli. The Koolau Ranch, which is what Zuckerberg and Chan call their Hawaii estate, currently has cattle and horses, a nursery, organic ginger farm and turmeric farm.

How much land does Mark Zuckerberg own in the US? ›

Along with his Hawaii estate, Zuckerberg owns a total of roughly 1,400 acres and 10 houses in Palo Alto, San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, amounting to a $320m real estate portfolio.

Who owns most land in Hawaii? ›

The Hawaii State Government.

Of the approximately 4 million acres of land in Hawaii, the state government owns most of this.

Does Jeff Bezos own land in Hawaii? ›

Jeff Bezos, Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Buffett and Nvidia cofounder Jensen Huang are among the billionaires with land or homes on Hawaii's second-largest island.

How much land does Oprah own on Hawaii? ›

Oprah lives part-time on the island and owns more than 2,000 acres of land there; Jeff Bezos, Steven Tyler, Clint Eastwood, and Peter Thiel, among others, also own homes there.

Why is Mark Zuckerberg buying land in Kauai? ›

“After much consideration and careful deliberation, the Waioli Corp. has chosen to sell its property at Lepeuli. We have seen Mark and Priscilla's dedication over the years to land conservation, protecting native species, and working to preserve the natural beauty of Kauai.

What is the Kualoa Ranch controversy? ›

KANEOHE, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Dozens of Native Hawaiians protested against Kualoa Ranch Thursday for spilling sewage near Hawaiian burial sites. “We're trying to prevent environmental catastrophes in our communities. We're trying to stop the desecration of iwi kupuna,” said Kolea f*ckumitsu.

How much of Hawaii does Bezos own? ›

Jeff Bezos just shelled out $78 million for a massive Hawaiian estate spanning over 14 acres, The Post can confirm. But the Amazon founder has only hit the tip of the iceberg when it comes to investing in the Aloha State — which has locals worried.

Do any celebrities live in Kauai? ›

Some of the celebrities calling the Garden Island home, include Ben Stiller, Pierce Brosnan, Natalie Merchant and Bette Midler plus, the latest celebs include Lisa Ling and Richie Sambora.

Who owns Niihau? ›

Niihau
Nickname: The Forbidden Isle
StateHawaiʻi
CountyKauaʻi
Owner(s)Bruce Robinson Keith Robinson
Symbols
24 more rows

How does Mark Zuckerberg pay for his house? ›

Despite being a billionaire, Mark Zuckerberg borrowed money to purchase a home. Sometimes it pays to borrow money if it's at a low enough interest rate.

Who is the richest person in Hawaii? ›

1) Pierre Omidyar

Pierre Omidyar, the founder and chairman of eBay, lives in Honolulu and has a net worth of approximately $11.4 billion. Omidyar is also the co-founder of the Honolulu Civil Beat, a media company focused on investigative journalism.

Does China own property in Hawaii? ›

Hawaii's numbers look even more modest when you consider that the large majority of the capital invested in the state over the past 17 years came from a single company: China Oceanwide, which since 2015 has acquired $569 million of real estate in West Oahu, including 26 acres of oceanfront land for a new Atlantis ...

Where do the richest people live in Hawaii? ›

Hawaii places ranked by per capita income
RankPlacePer Capita Income
1Kapalua$75,992
2Puako$63,857
3Kaanapali$48,506
4Maalaea$43,571
56 more rows

How much of Hawaii does Zuckerberg own? ›

Zuckerberg and wife, Priscilla Chan, paid $17 million last month for 110 acres of agricultural land on Kauai, bringing their total Hawaii property holdings to more than 1,400 acres, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

How many acres is Oprah Maui? ›

Oprah Winfrey Buys 870 Acres in Maui for $6.6 Million | Architectural Digest.

What billionaires own land in Hawaii? ›

Hawaii is no stranger to billionaire landowners. Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison and even Oprah have famously bought up large tracts of land in the Islands. But there's one foreign billionaire landowner that has been completely absent for more than a decade: the owners of Molokai Ranch.

How much land does Steve Case own in Kauai? ›

Or visit during the annual Kapalua Food & Wine Festival. Case also owns 40,000 acres in Kauai, a resort in Arizona and a planned resort in Costa Rica.

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