Former Google CEO Larry Page secretly spent $32 million on a private island and added it to his collection, the New York Post reports.
The billionaire co-founder, known for his passion for acquiring islands, was recently discovered as the owner of another piece of land. Documents show Page shelled out $32 million in 2018 for Cayo Norte, a large tract of land known for its reefs, sea turtle sanctuary, and white-sand beaches located 20 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico. At 300 acres, it is the largest private island in Puerto Rico.
Page purchased the island using the same limited liability company he had previously used to purchase other islands. The 50-year-old billionaire is known to have five islands around the world, from the South Pacific to the Caribbean, where he also owns neighboring Cayo island, Lollik, for which he paid $23 million in 2014.
Locals say they haven’t noticed any changes since Page bought it. But some saw helicopters landing there. Regular visitors also report seeing people practicing Silicon Valley’s favorite sport, hydrofoiling, which is essentially surfing with a special board.
Environmentalists hope that Page will not disturb the nature of Cayo Norte, as it has high ecological value for the area. The destruction of the island’s ecosystem could harm the entire region.