Map reveals billionaire-led global private city projects

A growing number of billionaires are investing in the creation of for-profit private cities around the globe, with projects like Forest City in Malaysia and Prospera in Honduras gaining attention. These developments reflect a broader trend where tech leaders are exploring new ways to build communities that align with their values and ambitions.

At the Network State Conference in Singapore this October, Balaji Srinivasan, former chief technology officer at Coinbase, highlighted the idea of an "ultimate exit" from the United States, which he described as a "failing" system. He suggested that by 2025, there could be a significant movement toward these alternative societies.

Why It Matters

The emergence of these startup-like cities has the potential to reshape both American and global landscapes. If successful, they could lead to a shift in how people live, work, and interact with one another. This movement might influence city demographics, cultural norms, and even societal structures on a larger scale.

Forest City, Malaysia & Prospera, Honduras

One of the most notable examples is Forest City, a project located on a Malaysian island. Srinivasan runs a Network School within this community, which is marketed as a "frontier community for techno-optimists" and "society-as-a-service." Residents pay $1,500 monthly to access coworking spaces, Wi-Fi, and office pods.

Historically, libertarians have been pioneers in creating private cities. Prospera, a libertarian city on the island of Roatán in Honduras, is one such example. It has attracted $100 million in investments from prominent tech figures.

Another emerging project is Praxis, founded by Dryden Brown with the goal of restoring Western civilization. Venture capitalist and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel is a key investor in this initiative. The project is based on laissez-faire economics and a tech-forward, crypto-driven world.

Praxis's Declaration of Ascent states: “As the warrior-kings once sought the sacred Grail, so too shall we build an empire where true power flows from heroic courage and alignment with the divine order.”

HAWXTECH.NET reached out to Praxis, Prospera, and Network School for comment via email.

What People Are Saying

Patri Friedman, grandson of economist Milton Friedman and founder of Pronomos Capital, told the Financial Times: “This whole movement is about reinventing governance for the 21st century, inspired by startups and the internet.”

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, shared his perspective: “While the idea of a billionaire planning a city for themselves and those like them seems new, the reality is that societies designed around the needs of the wealthy have existed throughout history—and mostly with underwhelming results. That’s because wealth alone doesn’t drive the mindsets of many successful individuals.”

Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, added: “A playground for the people, sold as a place where ‘community’ and ‘innovation’ will thrive. Sound familiar? Whether it’s co-working hubs, membership-only access, or Elon’s vision of a city built from scratch, these are privately funded societies designed to strip away traditional government oversight and societal pressures, at least for those who can afford the buy-in.”

What Happens Next

There are many unanswered questions about how these cities will function in practice. “For these so-called techno-cities, questions remain: Who governs them? What laws apply? How do you enforce order when wealth replaces regulation?” Thompson said.

“For now, this is more fantasy than reality, unless of course you count the billionaires quietly buying up islands and desert land to start building their utopias.”

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