Amazing Billionaire Playgrounds
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The billionaires on this year's Forbes list have at least one thing in common -- when it's time to play, the world is their sandbox. For those with 10- and 11-digit bank accounts, nothing in the world is off-limits; not even the thin air above. Some billionaires spend their downtime in flying palaces, while others prefer to ramble on ranches that stretch far beyond the horizon. Here are some of our favorites.
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Up Next: The Royal Canadian Pacific Railroad -
The Royal Canadian Pacific Railroad
Billionaire: Star Wars creator and director George Lucas
Location: Toronto to Vancouver, Canada, through the Canadian Rockies
Playground: The painstakingly restored vintage railway cars feature original tin ceilings, Circassian walnut wall paneling and bird's eye maple imported from Russia. Guests can curl up in Winston Churchill's former on-board private office, to watch the world go by. It's possible to reserve the entire 10 car train, just like Lucas did!
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Up Next: Space Camp -
Space Camp
Billionaires: Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin
Location: Hunstville, AL
Playground: They learned complex crew and operational systems with NASA-developed training equipment to prepare for a simulated shuttle mission. Over and over, they were placed in simulated (yet still very stressful) life-or-death situations. In one exercise, they were sent on an emergency shuttle "mission" to rescue a damaged satellite. There was even a mock press conference afterwards where Space Camp employees fired off questions.
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Up Next: Vermejo Park Ranch -
Vermejo Park Ranch
Billionaire: media mogul Ted Turner
Location: Raton, NM
Playground: Essentially a wildlife sanctuary that includes black-footed ferrets, which he helped rescue from extinction. Guests can stay at the nearly 600,000-acre ranch for $450 a night. Guests can fish in the 21 lakes stocked with rainbow, brown, brook and trout; or, hunt mule deer, elk, turkey, pronghorn and bison. Several lodges are available, including Ted's own house Casa Grande (an extra $100).
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Up Next: Grand Cayman -
Grand Cayman
Billionaire: AOL founder Steve Case
Location: Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Playground: A butler drives guests from the airport to the Residences' private dock, where an Intrepid powerboat whisks them across the North Sound. Residences' master suites overlook a private beach and include personal infinity pools, huge wraparound decks, cathedral ceilings and outdoor rooftop showers. Home-owners have a luxury BMW 6 or 7 Series at their disposal and lifetime memberships to Greg Norman's on-property golf course.
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Up Next: Maui -
Maui
Billionaire: Dell, Inc. founder Michael Dell
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Playground: It's understandable why the soft-spoken Texan would be drawn to this island of extremes. There's the weather, of course, which can offer snow at the summit, rain in the east and clear skies in the south. And there's natural beauty, from the breathtaking Kalaupapa Overlook to the craters at Haleakeala. Toss in the swanky shopping, heavenly hiking and gastronomic delights, and it's little wonder Dell purchased the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.
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