From private yachts and remote islands to vitamin shots and super tutors – how the super-rich are surviving coronavirus
As Tom Hanks and Boris Johnson prove, even the most elite aren’t safe from Covid-19 – but that doesn’t mean the one per cent don’t have their own exclusive coping strategies to ride out the global pandemic
Covid-19 has proven that the virus can infect even the most affluent – from top actors to world leaders. And while precautions such as working from home and social distancing remain a privilege not everyone can afford, the super-rich find even more extravagant safety measures that only they can access. Here are a few.
Remote islands
The grandmaster plan of the one per cent – as revealed in a Bloomberg report – is to flee down south to New Zealand, or whisk off to an island they own far, far away. One investor and Park Avenue billionaire staying in his Southampton home is currently unperturbed: “I don’t feel concerned at the moment – it’s not near me right now.” Should the crisis escalate, he’s prepared to seek refuge in Idaho and hide in a cabin.
Meanwhile, B&B Yacht Charter president Jennifer Saia told The New York Times that one of its clients, a former telecommunications executive’s backup plan is to escape via seaborne isolation on a yacht at the Bahamas, for a virus-free environment and a splendid view to boot.
Private jets
In times of crises, flying first class simply won’t do. Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly, told Bloomberg that the well-heeled have started travelling via private chartered jets and have made on-demand requests to evacuate groups, families and even individuals from Asian countries to safer destinations elsewhere.
The same report reveals that flying round-trip from New York to London on a 12-seat Gulfstream IV, for instance, can cost about US$140,000 – a stark comparison to a US$10,000 first-class ticket in a commercial flight. Still, the rich are more inclined to pay extra to avoid getting infected.
Special treatment