Inhoudsopgave van Issue 1 2026 - BILLIONAIRE

Supermodel Georgie Badiel Liberty, based in New York, describes herself as a water activist. But first and foremost, she is a problem solver. Growing up in Burkina Faso, West Africa, as a young girl she would have to wake at 6am to walk three hours to get water with her grandmother before school. After school, she would repeat the same journey. “I felt lucky to go to school, that my father believed in education. But there was no break.” she says. Indeed she was one of the lucky ones; poor sanitation is a major cause of death for children under 5 in the region, according to WHO. A lucky break at the age of 17 led to her being crowned Miss Burkina Faso in 2003, in 2004 she was named…

Bouncing along in a jeep, down a rugged, overgrown forest path about 17 miles from the nearest town, local nature expert Kyle Goodwin, recreation manager at Cabot Citrus Farms, is pointing out a feast hiding in plain sight. “You see the giant elephant ears? They have a root with a taste and texture like a potato. Those palm fronds? The inner core has a delicious heart.” He pulls over the jeep by a wild tangerine tree and expertly aims a stick, thrown like a boomerang, into its top branches. A ripe tangerine falls into his hands, which he divides between us. The segments are deliciously sweet and sun-warm. Next up is a shrub with some vibrant purple berries. “These are called American Beauty berries, and they make a delicious jelly,…

With constant notifications and endless to-do lists, true luxury can feel as simple as a full night’s rest. A cloudlike hotel bed is only the beginning of a journey where sleep takes center stage. Sleep tourism goes far beyond plush pillows and blackout curtains and starts from a simple truth: no amount of spa treatments or sunrise yoga classes can undo the damage of prolonged sleep deprivation. When Wellness Isn't Enough For years wellness travel promised renewal through movement, mindfulness, and balance. But without deep, consistent sleep, even the most carefully curated rituals fall short. When circadian rhythms remain disrupted and the nervous system stays chronically activated, guests still return home depleted no matter how many treatments they’ve booked. The shift towards sleep-centered wellness is already evident at leading properties…

What are the ingredients of an heirloom? Certainly, durability to survive the generations, with materials such as scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and enduring metal such as gold and platinum. Mechanical movement which can run indefinitely — the oldest known mechanical device dating to 150 BCE. But more than that, a watch needs timeless design, a sense of classicism that outlasts fashions and trends, to be passed down from parent to child. We look at four watches from historic brands which could become your family’s next treasured heirloom. BREGUET To mark its 250th anniversary year last year, Breguet returned to the simplicity and brilliance of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s original vision. Abraham-Louis Breguet didn’t just contribute to horology; he shaped it. He apprenticed under the legendary Ferdinand Berthoud and Jean-Antoine Lépine before founding his…

If you are already thinking about a New Year’s celebration that is private yet fabulous, look no further than Villa Captiva. Accommodating 16 guests across five separate bungalows, Villa Captiva is located in Marigot Bay, St. Barts, the French-speaking Caribbean island of Saint-Barthélemy. A renovated, charming property on a private enclave secluded within lush, landscaped gardens, it has direct access to the sea with its own private and secluded white sandy beach and pontoon, with an irresistible infinity pool. Avantgardecollection.com…

A quiet but consequential shift is underway. Ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and families are no longer simply filling gaps left by the state as governments retreat from long-term commitments to development, social cohesion, and conflict prevention. They are shaping the systems that determine whether societies and economies remain stable—or fracture under pressure. This is not philanthropy as charity. It is philanthropy as stability-building. Peace, in this framing, is not limited to diplomacy or conflict mediation. It is the presence of functioning markets, credible institutions, inclusive narratives, and economic pathways that reduce grievance before it turns into unrest. This is not philanthropy as charity. It is philanthropy as stability-building. Peace, in this framing, is not limited to diplomacy or conflict mediation. In an era marked by climate stress, economic volatility, and displacement,…

“The ocean is approached as a place of wonder and learning, where confidence is built slowly through understanding, trust, and play.” That is the sentiment of South African champion freediver and mother-of-two, Hanli Prinsloo, who with her husband Peter, have launched a series of family-and-adults-only freediving retreats in magical seascapes from Mexico to Maldives. “From coral reefs and kelp forests, boat dives to shore entries, we have navigated the same questions and uncertainties many parents face: when to go in, when to stay out, how to read conditions with children in mind, and how to create experiences that feel safe, joyful, and empowering for the whole family,” relates Prinsloo, a lifelong advocate and campaigner for water awareness. And the sea can be an incredibly restorative place to find inner peace,…

A kids’ club rarely ranks high on the list of places parents want to spend a weekend. Enmeshed by a web of sticky walls and scribbled-on-tables, chaotic screaming and meltdowns, lack of adequate cloakroom or seating, nowhere to send a few emails or read the paper, and certainly, no wine bar, traditional kids clubs present pain over pleasure; something to be borne by parents on weekends of inclement weather. Now nearly 20 years old and with a robust reputation for brilliant family programming, Purple Dragon is the brainchild of British entrepreneur Sharai Meyers, also a mother of two boys. This is where Purple Dragon comes in, a London family members club which has rethought the model. Last year a majority stake was acquired by exclusive private members’ hangout, New York’s…

In a world in need of developing a blueprint for a sustainable planet, calling on the traditional knowledge of Indigenous People, is a must. With the culmination of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development approaching, it becomes increasingly apparent that while the existing 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) present a roadmap for addressing issues like environmental degradation, poverty and ensuring peace, they are neglecting to address other areas. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) already painted a sobering picture in its Global Resources Outlook 2024 report, warning of a “triple planetary crisis” fueled by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. With the current trajectory of natural resource consumption only spiraling upwards, “the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.” The evidence is clear: Indigenous keepers of…

Arguably one of Blancpain’s most famous creations, the Fifty Fathoms has defined the modern diving watch since its 1953 debut. The brand has since become a trusted name among divers and, for over two decades, a committed supporter of global ocean exploration and conservation. Blancpain works closely with marine researchers, biologists, conservationists, and photographers, offering long-term backing for their vital work. In 2020, the brand partnered with the Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, a non-profit based in the Philippines’ Palawan archipelago, to support its Sea Academy programme, focused on conserving and restoring local marine habitats. From Reef to Reach Despite its designation as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, Palawan’s marine ecosystems remain fragile and largely unexplored, hampered by scarce infrastructure, communication barriers, and logistical hurdles for researchers and local stakeholders alike. To help…

Marcelo Zimmler is the 33-year-old founder of New York’s Upper East Side Upsilon Gallery, specialising in art and fine prints. Now in its tenth year, and with a new London flagship, the gallery focuses on American Post-War and Contemporary original and edition artwork, with an emphasis on Minimalism, Pop Art and Abstract. Zimmler discusses the pieces that inspire him in his home. The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai I’m a big fan of Ukiyo-e prints but the Great Wave is especially meaningful since it’s by far Hokusai’s most iconic. I got this little facsimile last year in Tokyo at the Hokusai museum. German Cuckoo Clock I am half German and feel strong attachment to that part of my heritage. Cuckoo clocks have been traditionally made in the Black Forest since…