What Money can Buy !!!

Richard Branson's Moroccan paradise and Mark Zuckerberg’s Hawaiian escape: The jaw-dropping holiday retreats of the world's billionaires

• By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline, www.dailymail.co.uk
• March 16th, 2016

Billionaires live a cocooned life, so what are the houses like that they escape to for even more luxurious rest and relaxation?

Unsurprisingly, they’re incredibly impressive.

CEO Michael Dell, for example, heads to his 'Raptor Residence' in Hawaii which has been appraised by local publications to be worth a whopping $62million (£43.8million).

And fans of Keeping up with the Kardashians may recognise the Santa Barbara holiday home of executive chairman of Alphabet Inc, Eric Schmidt.

The lavish 1926 Spanish colonial mansion, which was reportedly bought from Ellen DeGeneres for $20million (£14million) in 2007, was used as a backdrop for Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' wedding.

While the properties may be spectacular and out of the reach of mere mortals, there are often cheaper alternatives nearby. 

So the next time you jet away on holiday, look out for the world's biggest moguls who could be sharing the same priceless sunsets from their exclusive slice of paradise. 

Bill Gates' Equestrian Estate in Rancho Santa Fe, California

When Bill Gates isn't in his 50,000-square-foot home overlooking Lake Washington, he holidays at his home in his equestrian estate in Rancho Santa Fe, California (pictured)

Bill Gates' 200-acre ranch features a guest house, office, four barns, a mile-long racetrack, and sprawling fields

Although Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has a busy schedule criss-crossing the globe, his base is a 50,000-square-foot home overlooking Lake Washington.

When he isn't spending time here, he has the option of visiting any of the numerous properties that he owns around the country.

These include the $18million (£12.7million) horse farm Rancho Paseana in the San Diego area which he bought from weight-loss guru Jenny Craig.

The 200-acre ranch features a guest house, office, four barns, a mile-long racetrack, and sprawling fields.

Richard Branson's Moroccan house

Stunning scenery: A view of Branson's Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, which sits 4,300 feet above sea level, as the sun sets behind the magnate's giant infinity pool

Book through Better Late Luxury and you can stay in a superior room for £345 a night. Enjoy the outdoor cinema (top) or swim in the 'reflecting' pool (bottom) 

Richard Branson has many famous holiday homes that you can rent out around the world including his famous Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. He is pictured here being filmed for the TV programme 'Billionaire's Paradise: Inside Necker Island'

Richard Branson has a string of luxury rentals that he stays at and rents out around the world, including his famous Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands and the Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa.

One of his most breathtaking business ventures is Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco. 

As well as making space for Branson twice a year, the renovated riad, tucked 4,300 feet above sea level in the Atlas mountains, has 27 rooms which anyone can book into, to holiday like a billionaire. 

The property has an infinity pool, sauna, multiple jacuzzis, a tennis court, ping pong table gym and outdoor cinema. Or guests can go for a ride on one of Branson's four mules - Peppermint, Parmesean, Paprika and Peanut - who live in a menagerie with three donkeys and two camels.

The grounds are extensive, with courtyards and landscaped gardens. Every room is filled with antiques and holidaymakers can book into one of nine Berber tented suites. These are traditional style luxury tented rooms overlooking a valley below. Each has a king bed, terrace, view of Mount Toubkal, the Atlas' highest peak, and most come with a Jacuzzi.

Larry Ellison's Malibu mansion

No one would be surprised to learn that the world's seventh richest man, Larry Ellison, has an impressive real estate portfolio including a pad (bottom) along Malibu's Carbon Beach, one of the most exclusive enclaves in the world

One of Ellison's previous yacht was the Rising Sun (pictured), which he sold to David Geffen. He is said to now own the 288ft Feadship motor yacht Musashi

No one would be surprised to learn that the world's seventh richest man, Larry Ellison, has an impressive real estate portfolio as part of his net worth of $47.6bn (£33.2bn).

Among his many properties, the Oracle creator owns a pad along Malibu's Carbon Beach, one of the most exclusive enclaves in the world.

This Michael Graves-designed mansion was purchased for $36.944million (£26.1million) from former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel in 2012. 

The 10,317-square-foot beach house comes with nine bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. And if he ever gets bored, he can hop onto one of his yachts. 

According to SuperYachtFan Ellison currently owns the 288ft Feadship motor yacht Musashi which has five decks and nine cabins so there is space to travel with friends or family. The vessel has two power boats stored on its stern that can convert into a basketball court when the boats are put into the ocean.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Hawaiian escape

Despite being worth a whopping $47.7billion (£33.3billion) according to Forbes, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg (topt) enjoys pleasures such as sampling local burgers and smoothies and surfing when he visits his Hawaiian holiday home on Kauai (bottom)

Despite being worth a whopping $47.7billion (£33.3billion), according to Forbes, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg enjoys simple pleasures such as sampling local burgers and smoothies and surfing when he visits his Hawaiian holiday home.

In 2014, the tech guru forked out for a 750-acre property on the island of Kauai for a staggering $100million (£70.6million). 

In addition to this, Zuckerberg snapped up the two neighbouring plots of land including a stake in the 393-acre Pila’a Beach which came with its own white-sand stretch.

Michael Bloomberg's London house

When the New York former mayor Michael Bloomberg wishes to escape, he heads for his historic house in London

Michael Bloomberg (right) reportedly put down $26million (£17million) for a seven-bedroom house (left) which bears a famous blue plaque denoting its historical significance

When the New York former mayor Michael Bloomberg wishes to escape, he heads for his historic house in London. 

He reportedly put down $26million (£17million) for the seven-bedroom house which bears a famous blue plaque denoting its historical significance. 

The plaque details that one of its former inhabitants was author Mary Ann Evans, who went by the alias George Eliot.

Eric Schmidt's Montecito estate

The lavish 1926 Spanish Colonial mansion, which was reportedly bought from Ellen DeGeneres for $20million (£14million) in 2007, was used as a backdrop for Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' wedding

When former Google CEO Schmidt is not residing in his other Californian home in Atherton, he can found in the four-acre property which boasts fountains and a 1,300-square-foot master suite

Fans of Keeping up with the Kardashians may recognise this Santa Barbara holiday home of executive chairman of Alphabet Inc, Eric Schmidt. 

The lavish 1926 Spanish Colonial mansion, which was reportedly bought from Ellen DeGeneres for $20million (£14million) in 2007, was used as a backdrop for Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' wedding.

When former Google CEO Schmidt is not residing in his other Californian home in Atherton, he can found in the four-acre property which boasts fountains and a 1,300-square-foot master suite.

Yuri Milner's French-chateau-style mansion in LA

Yuri Milner's $100million (£70.6million) French-chateau-style mansion sits in Silicon Valley, where the investor in Facebook, Zynga, Twitter, Spotify, ZocDoc and Groupon rests his head when in the area

The Russian investor purchased the extravagant estate in March 2011, when it was one of the most expensive real estate sales in the entire country

The home (bottom), which was reportedly not even on the market when Yuri Milner (top) bought it, is now valued to be worth only $50million (£35million)

Yuri Milner's $100million (£70.6million) French-chateau-style mansion is in Silicon Valley, where the investor in Facebook, Zynga, Twitter, Spotify, ZocDoc and Groupon rests his head when in the area. 

The Russian businessman purchased the extravagant grounds in March 2011, when it was one of the most expensive real estate sales in the entire country.

The home, which was reportedly not even on the market when he bought it, is now valued to be worth only $50million (£35million).

The 30,0-square-foot home has five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a ballroom, wine cellar and home theatre. 

Bernard Arnault's Courchevel resort 

Frenchman Bernard Arnault who has a hand in Dom Perignon, Luis Vuitton and Hermes knows how to enjoy the finer things in life. For winter pursuits, Arnault is well set, owning the luxury hotel Cheval Blanc in the chic ski resort of Courchevel

Until recently Bernard Arnault (pictured) owned a superyacht called Amadeus which could often be seen floating off the Cote d'Azur. He even hosted Tony and Cherie Blair on board in 2007

Frenchman Bernard Arnault who is the chairman of LVMH and has a hand in Dom Perignon, Luis Vuitton and Hermes, certainly knows how to enjoy the finer things in life. 

Until recently he owned a superyacht called Amadeus which could often be seen floating off the Cote d'Azur. He even hosted Tony and Cherie Blair on the vessel in 2007 and Bono was once invited on board for a sunbathe.

For winter pursuits, Arnault is well set, with LVMH owning the luxury hotel Cheval Blanc in the chic ski resort of Courchevel. Or if he is seeking the sun he can head to the indulgent retreat in the Maldives, Cheval Blanc Randheli.

Michael Dell's Hawaiian sanctuary 

Michael Dell, who founded Dell computers, primarily lives in a modern 'castle' in Austin, Texas. When he's in the mood for a getaway, he jets off to his 'Raptor Residence'

Situated in a private community on the Big Island, Michael Dell's (right) home (left) has seven bedrooms and has been appraised by local publications to be worth a whopping $62million (£43.8million)

What do you do when one house isn't enough? If you are CEO Michael Dell, you merge three premier listings to create one super estate. 

'Raptor Residence' in Hawaii is a 4.3 acre haven which boasts 23 rooms over 18,500-square-feet of living space.

Situated in a private community on the Big Island, the home has seven bedrooms and has been appraised by local publications to be worth a whopping $62million (£43.8million).