A New Era of Private Living
Much of what we know about the rise of extreme privacy among the rich comes from reporting by Arian Campo-Flores and the photography of Scott McIntyre for the Wall Street Journal, combined with insights from advisors like RJ Mollen and security experts interviewed by Forbes. Together, their work shows a clear shift: the ultrawealthy are investing heavily in ways to avoid public life, build safer environments and create personalized worlds where few outsiders can enter.
Extreme privacy is no longer just about quiet retreats or gated communities. It has become a fully engineered lifestyle designed to help the rich save time, stay safe and move through life without delays or unwanted attention. This trend is growing fast because their fortunes have grown fast. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the top 0.1 percent in the United States now holds $23.3 trillion in wealth, more than double what they had a decade ago.
What is “Extreme Privacy” Today
Extreme privacy means limiting interactions with the public at every step. It includes private entrances at hotels, anonymous real-estate ownership, personal security teams, members-only restaurants, car elevators that deliver you straight into your living room, fully rented wellness centers and curated social circles where everyone is screened.
Masoud Shojaee, chief executive of Shoma Group, described modern luxury this way: “For me, luxury in this era is defined as time-saving and efficiency and service.” His words reflect a core belief shared by many wealthy individuals who want to remove the friction of everyday tasks like waiting in lines, checking into hotels or dealing with crowds.
Stephanie Shojaee added that these private settings feel emotionally safer as well. In her words, “The conversations for some reason, they just feel safer, and they feel deeper.”
Why Wealthy People Are Choosing Extreme Privacy
There are several reasons behind this accelerating shift:
- Time and efficiency. The rich want to move seamlessly from place to place without delays. Campo-Flores notes that the ultrawealthy now live in an “ecosystem of exclusive restaurants, clubs, resorts and other service providers” that give them customized experiences as fast as possible.
- Safety concerns. Recent kidnappings, assaults on executives and a sharp rise in online threats have pushed many to seek more protection. One security consultant said, “A lot of companies are nervous right now,” because threats against executives have increased sharply.
- Comfort and control. They want environments where every detail is controlled. As one Miami wealth manager put it, “They have enough money to live exactly how they want to live.”
- Selective socializing. Many want to spend time only with people who share their values or level of wealth. Pablo De Ritis, president of Faena Rose, said the appeal is in “that level of access” to curated cultural events available only to approved members.
- Financial and legal protection. Wealth advisors like RJ Mollen explain that privacy can be strategic. As Mollen wrote, “Privacy is not secrecy. Privacy is strategy.” Offshore trusts and shell companies create separation between a person and their assets, which can help avoid lawsuits, extortion attempts or unwanted disclosure.
Real-World Examples of Extreme Privacy
Extreme privacy now touches every part of life for the rich. Examples include:
- Private entry dining. At the members-only MILA MM in Miami Beach, the Shojaees were escorted to a table set with their favorite cocktails and chopsticks engraved with their names. Stephanie Shojaee says they go because it lets them “enjoy each other’s company without the distraction of crowds.”
- Sky-garage condo living. The Bentley Residences tower in Sunny Isles Beach includes car elevators that take residents directly to their homes. Developer Gil Dezer, who patented the elevator system he calls the Dezervator, said, “The ultimate luxury is privacy.”
- Private island escapes. Dezer recalled traveling to Belize by jet and helicopter, then staying in a resort with only seven villas. “It feels like you have the place to yourself,” he said.
- Exclusive wellness centers. At Centner Wellness in Miami, one wealthy family rented the entire 15,000-square-foot facility for several days for $150,000. Founder Leila Centner explained that each guest received a fully personalized experience, from blood cleansing to magnetic stimulation.
- High-control social clubs. Faena Rose requires a $15,000 initial fee plus $15,000 annually. Members get access to private shows by groups like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and performers from the Metropolitan Opera.
- Private dinner clubs. ZZ’s Club offers custom dining arranged with 48 hours’ notice. Co-founder Jeff Zalaznick said, “The more personalized and the more seamless, and the less things you have to ask for… that’s what great service is.”
- Invisible travel arrangements. Travel planner Lauren Beall described clients who rent suites above luxury stores like Christian Dior in Paris, complete with after-hours shopping and private dinners. “We’re into that exclusive access right now,” she said. “There’s a huge price tag that goes with it.”
- Offshore privacy systems. RJ Mollen describes some wealthy individuals who place assets in offshore trusts in jurisdictions like Nevis or the Cook Islands to create what he calls a “legal fog.” These structures help keep ownership details out of public view.
- Hidden security for children. Security firms sometimes send plainclothes teams to shadow wealthy children without their knowledge. One example involved a college student whose family was receiving threats. According to the consultant, “I don’t believe that she ever realized that she was under a protective package.”
The Rising Cost of Extreme Privacy
Extreme privacy is staggeringly expensive. The cost varies depending on how much protection, exclusivity and convenience someone wants.
Some common price ranges include:
- Luxury condos with sky garages: starting around $6 million
- Full-facility wellness center rental: around $150,000 for several days
- High-end social clubs: $15,000 to join plus $15,000 per year
- Personal security and protection:
- Basic bodyguard: about $120,000 per year
- Online threat monitoring: $200,000 to $300,000 per year
- Security-trained drivers: $250,000 to $500,000
- Residential security systems: $750,000 to over $1 million
- Full executive protection teams: often $2 million or more per year
Corporate executives receive some of the highest levels of protection. Alphabet paid $8.3 million to protect CEO Sundar Pichai last year. Meta paid $24.4 million for Mark Zuckerberg and his family. One expert noted that Zuckerberg likely pays even more privately.
Another consultant explained why these packages are so extensive: “He’s incredibly adventurous and does all these wild and crazy things because he can.”
The Systems Behind the Curtain
Extreme privacy is made possible by networks of lawyers, offshore advisors, family offices, security experts and specialized consultants. These support teams coordinate legal structures, monitor threats, handle travel logistics and maintain confidentiality. For many wealthy families, these teams operate as carefully as intelligence agencies.
Advisors argue that this type of privacy is a protective measure, not a sign of wrongdoing. As one put it, “Not everyone hiding wealth is hiding wrongdoing.”
The ultrawealthy are building private lives that most people never see. From car elevators that eliminate public contact to family offices that manage offshore trusts, from exclusive clubs to high-priced security teams, extreme privacy has become the new ultimate luxury. It gives them time, safety, comfort and control in an unpredictable world. As wealth continues to grow and risks continue to rise, this trend is likely to become even more common. For the rich, privacy is no longer a perk. It is the centerpiece of their lifestyle.
