The 10 Most Expensive in the World
From Lanai to Little Pipe Cay, these ten island properties are among the highest transactions and bids ever recorded on the global private island market.
The private island, the rarest real estate asset there is
Unlike a villa or a castle, a private island can never be replicated elsewhere—it is this absolute geographical rarity that explains valuations that are unparalleled in the luxury real estate market. The prices below combine confirmed transactions and current listings, with varying degrees of accuracy depending on the confidentiality inherent in this type of transaction.
Top 10 most expensive private islands
Lanai — Hawaii, United States
~$300MAcquired 98% by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, this 90,000-hectare island has become an open-air laboratory dedicated to sustainable development, with two Four Seasons resorts and large-scale organic farming.
Pumpkin Key — Florida, United States
Up to $125 millionA private island off the Keys, offered on the market with one of the highest asking prices ever seen for an American island, illustrating the growing appetite of investors for this segment.
Little Pipe Cay — Bahamas
~$100MOne of the most iconic islands in the Exumas, renowned for its turquoise waters and total discretion, regularly cited among the most expensive listings on the Bahamian market.
Ronde Island — Grenada
~$100MOne of the highest island transactions ever recorded in the Caribbean, confirming the enduring appeal of this archipelago for the wealthiest buyers.
Cave Cay — Bahamas
$95 to $110 million90 hectares and approximately 6,500 m² of living space spread across several pavilions — one of the few Bahamian islands offering a fully developed infrastructure.
Cromwell Island — Montana, United States
$72 millionA little-known lake island on Flathead Lake, currently on the market: the most expensive property ever put up for sale in Montana, with an old palace and a unique architectural identity.
D'Arros Island — Seychelles
~$60MAn island in the Indian Ocean with a turbulent history, long associated with some of the world's wealthiest owners before joining an environmental conservation project.
Bonds Cay — Bahamas
$30 million650 acres currently on the market for the first time in twenty years, with potential for development into boutique hotels or luxury residences.
Jumby Bay Island — Antigua
$30 million135 acres off Antigua, one of the most iconic transactions in the Eastern Caribbean island market.
Musha Cay — Bahamas
Not disclosedOwned by illusionist David Copperfield, 78 acres have become one of the world's most expensive island rental destinations — a rare example where the owner's fame counts as much as the geography.
Why do these prices defy all conventional logic?
In the private island market, valuation doesn't follow the usual square meter ratios: geographic scarcity, accessibility (by air or sea), the level of existing infrastructure, and above all, the complete privacy afforded by isolation, all carry far more weight than surface area alone. It's also a market with limited transparency: many transactions are negotiated off the open market, between qualified buyers, which explains why some prices are never officially disclosed.
Unlike a villa, a private island cannot be compared to any neighboring property — each transaction is a unique case, making any accurate estimate dependent on specialized expertise in this very particular segment of the luxury market.
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