The Millionaire Who Built His Own Country

In 1972, a Las Vegas real estate mogul tried to build a libertarian utopia on a man-made island in the Pacific. He dumped sand on a remote reef to create a tax-free society with no welfare and no government intervention.

Michael Oliver believed he could establish a sovereign nation free from all taxation and economic regulations. His ambitious project aimed to turn the Minerva Reefs into a hub for tourism, light industry, and fishing. Despite the significant funding behind the venture, the neighboring kingdom of Tonga quickly claimed the reef and eventually dismantled the project. It remains a fascinating example of how far individuals will go to try to escape the constraints of modern governance.