Inside a $58 Million Villa on Richard Branson’s Moskito Island
English billionaire Sir Richard Branson bought the 132-acre Moskito Island in the British Virgin Islands in 2007. The Virgin Group founder tapped late Taiwanese architect and educator Dr. Ken Kao, a former professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, to create a Caribbean private island community, which included the Branson Estate in addition to six custom homes. Now, the last waterfront mansion to be completed before Kao’s passing has hit the market with Hamptons and can be yours for a cool $58 million.
Known as The Aerie, the epic waterfront property is perched high on a hilltop offering sweeping 270-degree ocean, island, and sunset views. You can even spot the neighboring Necker Island, Branson’s other BVI hideaway, which he purchased nearly 50 years ago. Altogether, The Aerie offers up 10 bedrooms and can accommodate around 20 people, making it ideal for big families and large groups of friends. For added privacy, the living spaces are split between a two-story main house and three detached guest dwellings, including a hillside villa and two courtyard suites, each with their own private terraces.
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The main house’s open-air great room was designed in similar fashion to the estates at Necker, bringing the outdoors—and cooling tradewind breezes—inside. If you and your guests want to spread out, head up to the viewing platform one floor above as a bonus place to hang out and watch the sun dip beneath the crystalline blue waters. Additional highlights include a gourmet wood-clad chef’s kitchen, a communal dining area, and a bunk room where the kids can separate themselves from the adults. It also comes with a sprawling crescent-shaped infinity pool that has a swim-up bar and a hot tub, making it “simply the best place to soak in the breathtaking vistas,” according to the listing.
Of course, for those looking to venture off property, the eco-resort has tons to do. Some of the shared amenities include three sandy beaches, two tennis courts, and a state-of-the-art gym. If you’re the more active type, you can take your pick of watersports from kayaking and paddleboarding to sailing, kite surfing, e-foiling, and snorkeling. Since its opening, Moskito Island has faced several hurdles, including severe damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017 and temporary restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, but has since made a full recovery.
Click here to see more photos of The Aerie at Moskito Island.
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