Escaping the End of the World: Tech Billionaires Plan to Survive the Apocalypse in the Argentine Steppes

In the foothills of the Andes, across a wild expanse five times the size of Manhattan, a group of tech entrepreneurs is preparing for the end of the world. Over the past two years, at the remote Wamani ranch—an hour's drive along dirt roads from the nearest Argentine village—prefab houses, geodesic domes, and a private airstrip have sprung up.

This refuge was created by Spanish-Argentine tech entrepreneur Martín Varsavsky, who amassed a $700 million fortune in telecommunications, the internet, renewable energy, and biotechnology. Far from nuclear superpowers, close to the oil fields of Patagonia and the fertile plains of Argentina's wine capital, Mendoza—this is precisely where Varsavsky believes one can survive Armageddon, writes the FT.

"World War III Has Already Begun"

"We are already in World War III, the front lines have already been drawn," declares the 66-year-old Varsavsky, describing a conflict in which Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran oppose much of the rest of the world. "It just makes sense to have a refuge."

The idea of building bunkers in the event of nuclear war, climate catastrophe, or economic collapse is popular among the super-rich. Peter Thiel is buying land in New Zealand, Mark Zuckerberg has set up a bunker beneath his ranch in Hawaii, and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman has calculated that roughly half of Silicon Valley's billionaires have some form of "apocalypse insurance."

However, Varsavsky's vision is broader. He is convinced that in the event of a nuclear war, all of Argentina and the Southern Cone region will be able to support "complex societies" due to their distance from missile bases and radiation clouds, as well as an abundance of food and energy.

Together with five co-investors (including billionaire Kind bar brand founder Daniel Lubetzky and fellow entrepreneur Alex Oxenford, who became Argentina's ambassador to Washington under Javier Milei), they bought 32,000 hectares of land. Total investments have already reached about $10 million.

Entrepreneurial Autonomy

The owners' main goal is complete self-sufficiency:

• Energy: The buildings are completely equipped with solar panels.

• Agriculture: Plans include purchasing cattle to graze on the ranch's arid lands and acquiring additional fertile plots for growing grains.

• Apocalypse Tech: Investors are exploring the possibility of installing large language models (LLMs) on solar-powered computers to deploy a "local internet" in the event of a global server crash.

At the same time, the ranch is used not only as a strategic bunker but also for joint vacations with family and friends. In the future, the founders even think about renting it out on Airbnb so the project becomes financially self-sustaining.

The Milei Effect: Why the Tech Elite is Heading to Argentina

The appearance of American and European billionaires in Argentina is largely tied to the rise to power of libertarian President Javier Milei in late 2023. His radical market reforms and course toward technological freedom have delighted parts of Silicon Valley (Peter Thiel also purchased a mansion in Buenos Aires).

Milei's government plans to launch a special "citizenship by investment" program, which will attract wealthy individuals with the opportunity to shelter from global instability. Consultants compare it to New Zealand's fast-track $3 million residency program popular among Californian technocrats.

Varsavsky himself actively supports Milei, accompanying him on trips and suggesting the creation of a national semiconductor reserve, as well as introducing a "tranquility visa" for investors.

Life in the Wind and "Playing Telephone"

Local residents in nearby towns treat the large-scale project with suspicion. "It's very strange to buy so much land just for yourself without any commercial plan," local workers note. At the same time, the ranch staff defends the investors, emphasizing that Martín treats the preservation of the wild landscape with care.

However, life in the foothills of the Andes has its harsh nuances:

• The Elements: Several times a year, fierce storm winds cover Mendoza, making it impossible to go outside on the open plain.

• Climate: Due to global warming, experts forecast an intensification of water resource deficits in the region, although the ranch currently has four springs and streams.

Yet the founders' plans remain unchanged. As Varsavsky himself admits: "My wife and I have an agreement: if China takes Taiwan or Russia takes the Baltic states, the next day we will be there."