THE ultra-rich are building apocalypse-proof bunkers with White House-style medical suites, go-kart tracks and mammoth movie theatres.
Al Corbi, the founder of US-based firm SAFE, has been designing and building “unmatched protection” for 50 years.
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Mr Corbi told The Sun the mega-wealthy have been installing nuclear bunkers for decades – ever since the Cold War days.
But recently, he says, there’s been a surge in demand for presidential health and wellness suites that complement huge entertainment spaces.
They are being designed to ensure people can maintain their health during an apocalyptic event – keeping them well and entertained for as long as 30 years.
Al explained the logic behind the medical suites, saying: “Think about it, you can have this $100million (£75million) bunker, but it would be useless if you’re bleeding out, or something is happening to you.”
He added that tools for longevity within the bunker were key, given there wouldn’t be a great deal of help outside in an event such as a nuclear catastrophe.
He said: “Let’s assume the worst. Nuclear holocaust. Zip, everything’s gone.
“You can come out pretty quick, but what are you coming out to?
“So that is your new home, at least for the foreseeable future.
“So you need a system that one – keeps you healthy, two – you can control the environment – tactical, extraction, whatever you have to do, and three – you want to be comfortable and safe for six days, two weeks, or 30 years.”
Wife Naomi, who runs the health side of the business, said their medical suites are “comparable to what the White House medical unit has”.
She added: “We provide them with the tools, the education, there are systems in there where if they’re by themselves, they can click a button where it’ll walk them through the process of whatever it is that they need.”
But aside from keeping healthy, the demand to keep entertained continues to surge – and there’s a clear frontrunner for entertainment space of choice.
Al said: “You know you want a theatre. If you could see the libraries in these theatres, it even amazes me.
“They’ve got more movies than any one major network has, they have a larger archive collection of entertainment than any one entertainment centre.”
There are also more bunkers being built for dual-use, so that they don’t sit below ground collecting cobwebs.
For example, Al said: “Escape tunnels wind up being great go-kart race tracks.”
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Virtual golf and even protective moats than can be used for jet-skiing have been requested by clients, Al said.
He added incredibly wealthy business people who often spend time in a handful of cities are now starting to make sure they have a bunker built in each of them.
He said: “What we have seen is these requests to do something hardened in these five cities.
“It’s so funny because we watch these spy movies all the time with these bug outs and these safe houses – well, they do exist.
“And they exist for the wealthy.”
WORLDWIDE SECRET BUNKER NETWORK
In another development, SAFE is planning a series of secret underground bunkers in cities across the world.
They’re set to be built underneath busy spaces commonly used by ordinary people.
Naomi said: “We are building our first-ever commercial space in a city centre, I can’t say where, that will have bunkers underneath for clients to purchase.
“The clients can pick their hub.”
Al said there will be hubs globally, including one in London.
He said: “You may never know this exists, but there will be a place there where the ultra, ultra, ultra-uber will know something that no-one knows about underground.”
Because such developments are heavily vetted by planning authorities, they aren’t building as many as they’d like – but still, they say there are a thousand in the works worldwide.
And although the opulent $100million (£75million) bunkers attract the headlines, the duo say there is also more demand for services that simply harden up people’s homes in projects that are less than $20,000 (£15,000).
Naomi said: “It brings this level of security at a very affordable price point, we’re definitely seeing an influx of that.
“It doesn’t have to be the $100million project. We love those, but do smaller ones too.”
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