Inside the Canadian bunker where the super-rich plan to survive the apocalypse
Deep in the forests of Nova Scotia, a relic of the Cold War is being transformed into a luxury refuge for the global elite who fear the end of the world. The Diefenbunker, a 6,000-square-metre underground fortress built to shelter government officials from nuclear attack, is now being reimagined as a high-security haven for billionaires seeking to ride out everything from climate disasters to societal collapse.
The project, led by Canadian crypto-currency tycoon Jonathan Baha'i, is a stark reminder of how the anxieties of our age are reshaping the landscape. For a nation like Britain, with its own history of civil defence and a pragmatic instinct for survival, this story touches on deep fears about security, sovereignty, and the fragility of modern life.
Baha'i, who bought the site in 2013, initially used it for laser tag and data storage. But the world has changed. 'In the last two years, there has been more upheaval globally than in the previous 30,' says Paul Mansfield, a partner in the venture. 'That has brought people back to the concept of survival shelters.'
The new complex, to be built by Baha'i's Fallout Complex Inc., will feature 50 luxury apartments, each with its own private jet access to a small airstrip. Residents will enjoy biometric security, 24-hour surveillance, drones, and a spa, yoga studio, and smoking lounge. The bunker's interior will be illuminated by advanced OLED lighting that mimics sunlight, while a hydroponic farm will provide fresh food.
The security contractor, German firm Bespoke Home and Yacht Security, has worked with high-profile clients including US Vice President JD Vance and celebrity Kim Kardashian. Eleven of the 50 units have already been sold, though prices remain undisclosed.
Baha'i dislikes the term 'doomsday bunker'. He insists it is about 'intelligent preparation for all kinds of disruptions'. When Hurricane Fiona struck Nova Scotia in 2022, he opened the bunker to staff and their families, offering them a safe haven with its own generator and supplies.
The project is expected to break ground in early 2027, creating over 40 jobs in hospitality and data centre management. A new 1,400-square-metre data centre will use cutting-edge technology to minimise energy consumption while offering top-tier security for clients.
For British readers, this tale of a Canadian billionaire preparing for the worst may seem remote. Yet it reflects a growing global trend: the wealthy are increasingly looking to buy their way out of risk. As the world grows more uncertain, the bunker business is booming.
Whether this is a sensible hedge against disaster or a symptom of a society losing faith in its own institutions, the Diefenbunker project raises uncomfortable questions about inequality, resilience, and the limits of preparedness.