In recent years, several high-profile billionaires have embarked on ambitious projects to build their own cities. These ventures aim to redefine urban living, incorporating cutting-edge technologies, sustainable practices, and innovative governance models. Here’s a look at some of the most prominent city-building ventures:
1. Elon Musk – Starbase and Snailbrook, Texas
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is developing two distinct city projects in Texas. Starbase, located in Boca Chica, is envisioned as a launch site for SpaceX and a potential hub for future Mars missions. Meanwhile, Snailbrook in Bastrop County is a company town designed to house employees of Musk’s enterprises, including The Boring Company and SpaceX. The town plans to feature affordable housing, recreational facilities, and a school, aiming to create a cohesive community for its residents.
2. Marc Lore – Telosa
Former Walmart executive Marc Lore has proposed Telosa, a $400 billion city intended to house 5 million residents by 2050. Planned for the American desert, Telosa aims to integrate sustainable design, autonomous transportation, and equitable economic systems. The city’s design emphasizes walkability, renewable energy, and community ownership models to promote inclusivity and environmental responsibility.
3. Bill Gates – Belmont, Arizona
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has committed $80 million toward Belmont—a planned smart city located close to Phoenix, Arizona. The project envisions a high-tech urban environment featuring autonomous vehicles, high-speed internet, and sustainable infrastructure. Belmont aims to serve as a model for integrating technology into urban planning to enhance quality of life and economic growth.
4. Peter Thiel – Seasteading and Praxis
Venture capitalist Peter Thiel has supported initiatives like Seasteading, which explores the creation of autonomous floating cities in international waters. Praxis, a project supported by Peter Thiel, plans to build a Mediterranean city centered on tech-driven progress and experimental governance models. These projects reflect Thiel’s interest in experimenting with new societal models outside traditional governmental frameworks.
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5. Mohammed bin Salman – Neom and The Line
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is leading the development of Neom, a $500 billion futuristic city planned near the Red Sea coast. A key feature of Neom is The Line, a linear city designed to accommodate 9 million residents within a 170-kilometer stretch. The project emphasizes sustainability, with plans for zero-emission transportation and renewable energy sources, aiming to position Saudi Arabia as a leader in futuristic urban development.
6. Akon – Akon City, Senegal
Akon, the Senegalese-American artist, has unveiled plans for a $6 billion futuristic city in Senegal called Akon City. The city is envisioned as a hub for innovation and tourism, featuring cryptocurrency-based transactions using “Akoin,” renewable energy sources, and advanced infrastructure. Akon City aims to stimulate economic growth and provide opportunities for the local population.
7. Flannery Associates – California Forever
A group of Silicon Valley investors, including Marc Andreessen and Laurene Powell Jobs, has formed Flannery Associates, acquiring land in Solano County, California. The project, known as ‘California Forever,’ aims to create a new city focused on solving housing shortages while promoting sustainable urban development. While details remain limited, the project’s backers aim to create a model community that balances innovation with environmental stewardship.
8. Jeff Bezos – Blue Origin’s Space Habitats
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, through his aerospace company Blue Origin, is exploring the development of space habitats to support human life beyond Earth. While not a traditional city-building project, Bezos’s vision includes creating orbital settlements that could house millions, aiming to alleviate Earth’s resource constraints and expand human civilization into space.
These visionary projects reflect a growing trend among billionaires to reimagine urban living through the lens of technology, sustainability, and alternative governance. While each initiative varies in scope and philosophy, they collectively underscore a desire to address contemporary challenges and shape the future of human habitation. As these projects progress, they will undoubtedly influence discussions on urban development, societal structures, and the role of private enterprise in public life.
Written by Pydimarri Hema Harshini
