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Billionaires Are Taking Home Security to the Next Level — Inside the Rise of Ultra-Luxury Private Bunkers

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This article is based on a feature originally published in Robb Reportwhich included commentary from Panic Room Builders founder and CEO Bill Rigdon. What used to be a niche market for survivalists has become a booming trend among the world’s wealthiest individuals — and Panic Room Builders has been at the forefront of this transformation. Across the globe, high-net-worth clients are commissioning private bunkers and panic rooms that rival luxury resorts in design, comfort, and amenities.


Gone are the days of simple concrete shelters stocked with canned food. Today’s projects are custom-designed to reflect each owner’s lifestyle. Think climate-controlled art galleries, underground wine caves, hydroponic gardens, home theaters, and even full-scale racetracks for high-speed electric karts. Many of these spaces double as guest suites or weekend retreats, complete with spa facilities, gourmet kitchens, and five-star finishes.


Bill Rigdon, founder and CEO of Panic Room Builders, has seen the evolution firsthand. His firm began decades ago building faith-based shelters, but now specializes in highly engineered underground compounds — often hidden in plain sight. “You go to your bedroom panic room, take an elevator down into a tunnel, and that leads to the bunker,” Rigdon explains. “It’s getting that complicated right now.”


The demand is driven by a mix of global uncertainty, geopolitical instability, and emerging technological threats. Many clients — including celebrities, entrepreneurs, and global investors — act on private intelligence, planning for everything from natural disasters to advanced AI risks. To meet these concerns, Panic Room Builders has integrated features like NBC-rated air filtration systems, drone-defense hatches, and secure underground transit routes.


One current project for a Las Vegas casino magnate involves a vast subterranean complex beneath a $200 million primary residence. Others prefer remote retreats in places like Montana or Wyoming, with private airstrips for fast departures. Regardless of location, Rigdon insists on one final step before declaring a project complete: “Once I finish, I want clients to live there for two weeks. Use it. Make sure it feels like a real safety net.”


From Hollywood Hills estates to hidden ranches, security has become as essential as luxury itself. And as Rigdon puts it, “People used to laugh at me. Now? I’ve never been busier.”

 
 
 

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