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Richard Branson is renting out his private estate on his second Caribbean island for the first time at $25,000 a night. Take a look inside the 3-villa compound.

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Sir Richard Branson announced on Tuesday that he plans to ride out Hurricane Irma on Necker Island.<p>The billionaire entrepreneur <a href="https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/preparing-hurricane-irma" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">made the announcement in a blog post on Virgin Group's website</a>.</p><p>Branson's private island, called Necker, is one of more than 50 islands that make up the British Virgin Islands. Necker is expected to take a direct hit from Irma, which is now a Category 5 hurricane with winds topping 185 mph. The National Hurricane Center called Irma "potentially catastrophic."</p><p><span>"On Necker Island we have constructed really strong buildings (with hurricane blinds) that should be able to handle extreme weather pretty well, though with a Category 5 hurricane almost nothing can withstand it," Branson wrote. "I will be on Necker alongside our team, as I have been on the three times we have had hurricanes over the past 30 years."</span></p><p><span>According to Branson, the British Virgin Islands have been hit numerous times by hurricanes in the past, although they have been spared the worst. </span></p><p><span>In the post, the founder of Virgin Group urged the people of the British Virgin Islands to seek shelter and to not underestimate the destructive power of Irma.</span></p><p><span>In addition, Branson expressed his concern for the island's wildlife.</span></p><p><span>"I am also concerned for the wonderful wildlife of the BVI, not least on Necker and Moskito, where many flamingos, lemurs, scarlet ibis and other stunning species live," Branson wrote. "Hopefully all people and animals can keep out of harm's way in the coming days."</span></p><p><span>At the same time Branson also holds great respect for the power of hurricanes.</span></p><p><span>"It may sound strange, but I consider hurricanes one of the wonders of the natural world," He wrote. "I beheld nature at its most ferocious. The power of the sea breaking over the cliff tops, the eerie hush when you are in the eye of the hurricane and then the roar of the winds, the lightning and the rain."</span></p><p><span>To close out the post, the long-time environmentalist takes the opportunity to use Irma as a call for greater action on climate change. </span></p><p><span>Branson wrote:</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>"Man-made climate change is a key factor in the increasing intensity of these hurricanes, as many experts have suggested. The damage caused by Harvey all over Texas is a tragic and costly reminder that our climate is changing and that we are not doing enough to tackle this enormous challenge. If Irma is any indication, we must brace ourselves for more of these catastrophic weather events. How much cheaper and smarter to support the Paris Agreement and move to clean energy?"</span></p><div></div><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-kennedy-fidelity-alibaba-stock-price-growth-competition-2017-8">Fidelity portfolio manager: Alibaba is 'leapfrogging' the competition and shows no signs of slowing</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Richard Branson refuses to leave his private island amid 'potentially catastrophic' Hurricane Irma

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Virgin Group</span></p><p class="caption">Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island ahead of Hurricane Irma.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Virgin Group <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-irma-richard-branson-survives-storm-private-island-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">founder Sir Richard Branson has survived ferocity </a>of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/hurricane-irma-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hurricane Irma</a>, but his private island wasn't so lucky.</p><p>According to a Virgin Group spokesperson and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-hurricane-irma-on-his-private-island-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">now confirmed by Branson himself,</a> Necker Island has been severely damaged by Irma.</p><p>In a <a href="https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/hurricane-irma" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new blog post on Virgin's website</a>, Branson recounts the devastation the Category 5 hurricane has caused in the Caribbean.</p><p><span>"It is a traumatic time here in the British Virgin Islands. Hurricane Irma is continuing a path of destruction that brought the eye of the storm to Necker Island, Moskito Island and the whole surrounding area," he wrote.</span></p><p><span>"I have never seen anything like this hurricane. Necker and the whole area have been completely and utterly devastated. We are still assessing the damage, but whole houses and trees have disappeared."</span></p><p><span>In fact, the doors and windows outside of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-irma-richard-branson-private-island-bunker-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">wine cellar where Branson and his team sought shelter</a> had flown 40 feet away. </span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Google Maps/Screengrab</span></p><p class="caption">Necker Island.</p></div><p></p></div></div>According to Branson, all local communications networks are down and his blog post was actually dictated through a satellite phone. </span></p><p><span>The intrepid billionaire expressed his sympathy for his fellow islanders whose lives have been destroyed by Irma. He also urges anyone in the path of the storm to immediately take shelter.</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>"All of the team situated on Necker and Moskito are safe and well. We took shelter from the strongest hurricane ever inside the concrete cellar on Necker and very, very fortunately it held firm. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the disaster elsewhere in the BVI, Caribbean and beyond.</span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>For those who are still in the path of Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Jose to come, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to put safety first and prepare as strongly as possible. Having seen first-hand the power of this storm, please ensure you stay inside, ideally in organized shelters or other solid concrete structures with water, supplies and emergency contact plans."</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Virgin Limited</span></p><p class="caption">Branson on Necker Island in 2014.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Like much of the Caribbean, Necker Island faces a long rebuilding process. One that Branson promises will result in something "even more wonderful" than before.</span></p><p><span>"I know we are fortunate here on Necker and Moskito. Our wonderful team are fine. I know we will all band together and rebuild the islands to become stronger and even more wonderful than they were before," Branson wrote. </span></p><p><span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-irma-barbuda-destruction-photos-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hurricane Irma has wreaked havoc in the Caribbean</a>. The Category 5 hurricane entered the Caribbean on Tuesday night as it made landfall in the Leeward Islands. Since then, Irma has left a path of destruction in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Martin, and Montserrat.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-irma-latest-update-projected-path-track-florida-2017-9">Hurricane Irma's forecast shows the giant storm heading for Florida - here are the latest updates</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Richard Branson says Hurricane Irma 'utterly devastated' his private island, urges everyone to take shelter from monster storm

<p>Richard Branson's 74-acre Necker Island is well-known for being a paradise where <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-richard-branson-likes-to-prank-guests-on-necker-island-2015-4">celebrities </a>and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-to-pitch-richard-branson-on-necker-island-2015-2">entrepreneurs</a> can escape to party and unwind far from the public eye.</p>
<p>But it's somewhat less known that the billionaire founder of the Virgin Group also owns a second Caribbean retreat, Moskito Island, about a mile away from Necker.&#xa0;</p>
<p><span>Branson bought Moskito Island in 2007 for a&#xa0;</span><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/05/14/bransons-luck">reported purchase price</a><span>&#xa0;of $10 million.</span></p>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The island is </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2014/12/07/exclusive-first-look-at-sir-richard-bransons-exotic-moskito-island/">currently home</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> to a population of ring-tailed lemurs that Branson imported from zoos in Canada, South Africa, and Sweden. Branson </span><a href="http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/neckers-endangered-iguanas-are-thriving">has also moved</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> a number of Necker's endangered iguanas over to Moskito.&#xa0;</span></p>
<p>The Virgin Group is in the early stages of developing the island. The construction team has finished installing basic infrastructure - electricity, plumbing, etc. - and a three-villa compound for the Branson family, which a Virgin spokesperson referred to as the "Headland Estate."&#xa0;</p>
<p>The island also has nine private lots, all of which will be developed into villas. All nine of the lots have been sold to unnamed buyers, and construction on the first villa will begin this year, the Virgin spokesperson said.</p>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span></p>
<p><strong>Facilities include a pool area and a clubhouse filled with teak decorations. According to <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2014/12/07/exclusive-first-look-at-sir-richard-bransons-exotic-moskito-island/">Forbes</a>, there will eventually be large tennis courts with a two-story viewing pavilion.</strong></p>
<p><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span><strong><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span>The pool area fronts the beach.</strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span></strong><span class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><span><span data-post-image="" class="image on-image"></span><p></p></span></span><strong>And there's plenty of lush greenery all around.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>The island hasn't officially opened for business yet, but it looks like some lucky travelers have gotten a sneak peek.</strong></p>
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Take a look at what Richard Branson is building on his other private island

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Divers captured rare footage of a gruesome killer whale hunting technique. </li><li>An orca off the coast of California was seen "slurping" the liver of a live shark. </li></ul><p>Divers in California have captured a rare video of a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/orca-killer-whale-attack-boat-expert-advice-2023-5">killer whale</a> "slurping" the liver out of a live shark. </p><p>The gruesome footage shows an orca tearing into the stomach of a 30-foot-long whale shark before removing its liver. </p><p>Other nearby orcas are heard clicking excitedly as the killer whale swims away from the shark that sinks lifelessly to the bottom of the ocean. </p><p>The footage was captured by 58-year-old diver James Moskito in the Sea of Cortez in California in April when he and other divers encountered a pod of eight killer whales. In the video, the divers are heard whooping at the view of the orca. </p><p>"It's literally over in a matter of seconds," Moskito <a href="https://www.livescience.com/animals/orcas/watch-orca-tear-open-whale-shark-and-feast-on-its-liver-in-extremely-rare-footage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Live Science.</a> </p><p>"Looks like they slurped in the liver and then the whale shark just fell and descended down, with no movement — I'm assuming it was dead," he said.  </p><p>Shortly after the encounter, another orca killed another whale shark nearby. By the time the team got to the shark, it was "just thrashing at the surface with a killer whale attached to it," he said. </p><h2>Shark livers are orca delicacies </h2><p>While this footage is rare, this isn't the first time this behavior has been observed. Previous research had found that the behavior is widespread near the <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=866b6451291264df59693bac3e3d64c9ef2b199b15d3b30c0e24f0d6015c1f7a&amp;postID=64c90ef9fa4d08025228be6d&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41598-019-39356-2%3Futm_medium%3Daffiliate%26utm_source%3Dcommission_junction%26utm_campaign%3DCONR_PF018_ECOM_GL_PHSS_ALWYS_DEEPLINK%26utm_content%3Dtextlink%26utm_term%3DPID100024933%26CJEVENT%3D196bc858307811ee801300700a18b8f9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farallon Islands</a> in northern California.</p><p>Two other orcas, who live in the waters of South Africa's Mossel Bay, have become so good at <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-orcas-kill-great-white-shark-eat-liver-south-africa-2022-7">ripping the livers</a> of sharks that they have scared great white sharks away from their hunting grounds. </p><div type="image" title="People inspect the carcass of a great white shark." height="3264" width="4352" msid="102348294" hostid="261"></div><p>Orcas tend to go for the part of their prey that gives them the best "bang for their buck," Michael Weiss, research director at the Center for Whale Research, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-viral-orcas-only-ate-liver-great-white-shark-hunt-2022-8">previously told Insider</a> about the behavior. </p><p>"Shark livers are extremely fatty, so there's a lot of calories in there," he said. </p><p>It's even possible the orcas use <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/orcas-hunting-sharks-liver-common-2-whales-organise-scientist-2022-8">their sonar</a> to detect the most delectable parts of their prey, he said. </p><p>After the most attractive parts of their prey are gone, the whales move on to another shark, leaving the carcass to bottom-feeding scavengers. </p>

Rare video shows an orca ripping open a 30-foot-long whale shark before feasting on its liver

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11897842" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="paris-hilton" source="Orion">Paris Hilton</keyword> says she and new husband Carter Reum are on a seven-week <keyword id="12704987" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="honeymoon" source="Orion">honeymoon</keyword>. </li><li>The pair spent two weeks in <keyword id="11970520" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bora-bora" source="Orion">Bora Bora</keyword> but decided to extend their trip by a further five weeks. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/paris-hilton-carter-reum-always-together-during-wedding-dress-changes-2021-12">Paris Hilton and Carter Reum</a> decided to take a seven-week-long honeymoon as a reward for "working so hard," she said during Tuesday's episode of the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/this-is-kyle-richards/id1552058389?i=1000544175166">"This is Paris" podcast</a>.</p><p>The media personality and her entrepreneur husband dropped in halfway through the episode featuring her co-host Hunter March interviewing her aunt and <a href="https://www.insider.com/kyle-richards-says-daughter-hid-engagement-at-paris-hilton-wedding-2021-12">"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Kyle Richards</a>. </p><p>Calling in at around 29 minutes to the surprise of both Richards and March, Hilton started off by saying she was so happy to finally be able to relax after spending a "crazy year" planning her three-day <keyword id="11896825" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wedding" source="Orion">wedding</keyword> extravaganza in November, which included <a href="https://www.insider.com/paris-hilton-carter-reum-3-day-wedding-celebration-photos-2021-11">a neon carnival and black-tie dinner</a>.</p><div type="image" title="Paris Hilton and Carter Reum." height="3194" width="4259" msid="88194428" hostid="261"></div><p>"We've just been working so hard that we've actually decided to take a seven-week honeymoon," Hilton, 40, said. "It's Thanksgiving and Christmas and we've been working so hard so we've decided to enjoy."</p><p>"I know you must be exhausted," Richards said, referring to the star's lavish wedding celebrations, before asking her niece where she's currently on vacation. "We're in <keyword id="12704988" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="anguilla" source="Orion">Anguilla</keyword> right now," Hilton said. </p><p>She went on to say she and Reum were staying at the <a href="https://www.zemibeach.com/">Zemi Beach House hotel</a> on the Caribbean island. "It's like turquoise waters, white sands, it's so beautiful," the newlywed said. </p><p>Before traveling to Anguilla, Hilton shared a series of photographs taken at several other honeymoon stops on the more than month-long honeymoon, including <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CW9J20lv56E/">French Polynesia</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXEkLnCPmtg/">Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands</a>. </p><p>She originally kicked off the series of honeymoon trips with a two-week stay at the Conrad Hotel in Bora Bora, according to Elle Magazine. The publication added that the couple were joined on the first leg of the vacation by several family members including her brother <a href="https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/wedding/a38328982/paris-hiltons-honeymoon/">Barron and brother-in-law Courtney Reum</a>.</p><p>Later in the podcast, Richards asked how it feels to be a wife, to which Hilton replied that she's excited to be in a new phase of her relationship. </p><p>"I've always felt like we were married this entire time, but now I just feel like just so excited for this next phase and I can't wait to have babies. He's just the perfect guy for me," she said.</p><p>Representatives for Paris Hilton did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. </p>

Paris Hilton says she and Carter Reum were working so hard before their 3-day wedding they needed a 7-week-long honeymoon

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">Sir Richard Branson.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/hurricane-irma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Irma</a>, which struck the Caribbean and the Southeastern US in September 2017, was one of the largest and most powerful storms in history.</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/virgin-group" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virgin Group</a> founder Sir <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/richard-branson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard Branson</a> rode out the storm at his compound on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. </strong></li><li><strong>Branson described the experience as "14 hours of a screaming train going by."</strong></li><li><strong>Irma directed affected 1.2 million people and caused more than $3 billion in damage.</strong></li></ul><p>Hurricane Irma was one of the largest and most powerful storms in history. Irma, which struck the Caribbean and the Southeastern US in September 2017, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-hurricane-irma-on-his-private-island-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was a Category Five hurricane that generated sustained winds of 187 mph</a>. The storm was also massive, roughly the size of Texas. </p><p>Which is why many were shocked when <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-irma-richard-branson-survives-storm-private-island-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson decided to ride out the storm</a> at his compound on Necker Island, one of the British Virgin Islands. </p><p>Branson and a handful of Necker's staff spent the night in the private island's reinforced wine cellar. </p><p>Recently, Branson recounted what that evening was like for those in the cellar.</p><p>"It was 14 hours of a screaming train going by," Branson said in an interview with Business Insider. "We were very lucky to be in a wine cellar, a good concrete wine cellar."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Necker Island</span></p><p class="caption">Necker Island.</p></div><p></p></div></div>According to Branson, the group took full advantage of the wine cellar's contents during the night to pass the time.</p><p>"It didn't feel so bad when we came out, we were all in a good mood," he said. </p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: </em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/virgin-atlantic-economy-class-flight-review-pictures-2018-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>I flew Virgin Atlantic from London to New York to see if Richard Branson's airline is still one of the world's best - here's the verdict</em></a>.</p><p>However, the devastation caused by the hurricane was sobering for Branson.</p><p>"It is a traumatic time here in the British Virgin Islands," he said in a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-private-island-necker-has-been-devastated-hurricane-irma-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blog post published on Virgin Group's website the day after the storm struck</a>. "Hurricane Irma is continuing a path of destruction that brought the eye of the storm to Necker Island, Moskito Island, and the whole surrounding area."</p><p>He continued: "I have never seen anything like this hurricane. Necker and the whole area have been completely and utterly devastated. We are still assessing the damage, but whole houses and trees have disappeared."</p><p>The doors and windows outside of the<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-irma-richard-branson-private-island-bunker-2017-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wine cellar</a><span> </span>had been blown 40 feet away, he said.</p><p><span>All local communications networks were knocked out by the storm. As a result, his blog post had to be dictated through a satellite phone.</span></p><p>In total, <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2018-03-12/hurricane-center-updates-irma-death-toll-in-us-caribbean" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Irma directed affected 1.2 million people and caused more than $3 billion</a> in damage as it carved a path of destruction through the Islands and the American south. Tragically, the storm also caused 129 fatalities in the US alone. </p><p>For Branson, this story has a happier ending.</p><p><span>"We've had 500 wonderful people for 18th months rebuilding Necker Island and also helping rebuilding schools in the area and it's now back and beautiful again," he said. "So we have our home back which is great."</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wheelchair-accessible-vehicles-at-conversions-custom-gull-wing-2019-1">How one company customizes trucks and SUVs to better suit wheelchairs</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

You Searched For "Moskito Island" and got 7 results

Richard Branson is renting out his private estate on his second Caribbean island for the first time at $25,000 a night. Take a look inside the 3-villa compound.

Katie Warren

Richard Branson refuses to leave his private island amid 'potentially catastrophic' Hurricane Irma

Benjamin Zhang

Richard Branson says Hurricane Irma 'utterly devastated' his private island, urges everyone to take shelter from monster storm

Benjamin Zhang

Take a look at what Richard Branson is building on his other private island

Madeline Stone

Rare video shows an orca ripping open a 30-foot-long whale shark before feasting on its liver

Marianne Guenot

Paris Hilton says she and Carter Reum were working so hard before their 3-day wedding they needed a 7-week-long honeymoon

Maria Noyen

Richard Branson reveals what it was like to ride out one of history's most destructive hurricanes in his wine cellar

Benjamin Zhang

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