Epstein’s $125M Private Islands Sold for Just $60M, But the Real Cost of Owning One Isn’t the Purchase Price

The Part Nobody Talks About: What Private Islands Actually Cost

What most people don’t know about private islands is that the purchase price is usually the smallest part of the cost.

A raw undeveloped island in Belize, Canada, or Chile can be acquired for under $500,000. That number feels like a bargain until the build-out begins. Developing a raw island means constructing everything from scratch in open water. Power systems, desalination, docks, helipads, sewage, internet infrastructure, and erosion control. Richard Branson bought Necker Island in 1978 for approximately $180,000 and then spent over $10 million developing it. The land was never the expensive part.

What Epstein Paid and What He Built

Jeffrey Epstein bought Little Saint James in April 1998 for $7.95 million. He acquired Great Saint James in 2016 for $22.5 million. Total: $30.45 million.

Both purchases used shell companies. The prices are documented in court deeds and estate records.

What Epstein built on Little Saint James alone included multiple villas, pools, a helipad, a private dock, a desalination plant, full power systems, and constant rotating construction. Reports documented up to 70 staff on Little Saint James at peak periods, with construction crews reaching 200 people during active builds.

What It Cost to Run Them

Maintenance alone cost $180,000 per month after Epstein’s death in 2019. That figure covered only basic upkeep across all properties: Manhattan, Palm Beach, Paris, New Mexico, and both islands. No active use, no staff beyond caretakers, no ongoing construction.

When Epstein was actively operating Little Saint James with full staff, rotating crews, constant boat and helicopter traffic, and all supplies flown or shipped in, the real monthly cost was almost certainly a significant multiple of that number.

What the Market Did After

Epstein acquired both islands for $30.45 million. His estate sold them for $60 million in 2023, a $65 million discount from the $125 million listing price. The stigma cut the sale price.

The rest of the market didn’t flinch. Private island rentals are projected to grow at 8.3% annually through the early 2030s. One in five global private island inquiries in 2025 came from Americans. Caribbean private islands were called “the next ultra-luxury development frontier” as recently as January 2026. Vladi Private Islands, the largest broker in the world with over 3,000 historical sales, has reported no slowdown.

The stigma cut one island’s value by $65 million. But for any buyer, the real price tag is what comes after the purchase. Operating costs dwarf acquisition costs.