Lesson Plan: Billionaire Bunkers and the Ethics of Survival

Ann S. Michaelsen

2 months ago

Overview

This lesson explores the BBC article “Tech billionaires seem to be doom prepping. Should we be worried?” (BBC, October 9, 2025), which examines the growing trend of tech billionaires building high-security bunkers in preparation for potential societal collapse. Students will consider ethical questions around power, privilege, trust, and human behavior in times of crisis. The lesson aligns with LK20 English Curriculum (ENG01‑04) competence goals, particularly those under the heading “Communication, culture, society, and literature” (KV6), which emphasize developing a critical and reflective understanding of contemporary issues and media sources.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, students should be able to:

Summarize details from a recent BBC article about the rise of “doomsday prepping” among billionaires.
Analyze motivations behind extreme survival measures taken by the ultra-wealthy.
Reflect on ethical and societal implications of inequality in crisis situations.
Build independent critical thinking, discussion, and argumentation skills.

Materials
BBC article: Tech billionaires seem to be doom prepping. Should we be worried?
Optional supplementary articles:
Economic Times (2025)
RTE – Bunker Mentality (2025)
BBC (2017)

Step 1: Individual Reading Task

Read the article “Tech billionaires seem to be doom prepping. Should we be worried?”. Consider the following quote:

“I once met a former bodyguard of one billionaire with his own ‘bunker’, who told me his security team’s first priority, if this really did happen, would be to eliminate said boss and get in the bunker themselves. And he didn’t seem to be joking.”

Write a paragraph explaining what this quote suggests about loyalty, fear, and survival instincts among the ultra-wealthy and their staff.

Step 2: Comprehension Check (Written Answers)

Answer each question in writing:

List reasons billionaires are reportedly building bunkers.
Describe features of Mark Zuckerberg’s underground structure at his Hawaiian property.
Define “apocalypse insurance” as mentioned in the article.
Summarize how neighboring residents view Zuckerberg’s properties.
Explain why workers/contractors might be required to sign NDAs.
Identify fears linked to AI and societal change related to wealthy prepping.

Step 3: Critical Reflection

Write a short reflection exploring these points:

What might motivate extremely wealthy individuals to undertake drastic survival preparations?
How could the concept of trust change when survival is at stake?
What does the bodyguard’s quote reveal about human nature and power dynamics?

Step 4: Essay Task (Choose One)

Write a short comment responding to one or both of these prompts:

Essay 1: Discuss the moral implications of billionaire “doomsday prepping.” Are inequalities more problematic in survival scenarios? Use examples and quotations.
Essay 2: Explain how fear of losing control over artificial intelligence contributes to survivalist thinking among tech leaders.

Step 5: Individual Analysis Activities

Pick ONE activity:

Write an analysis on whether billionaire bunkers are practical, ethical, or symbolic. Support your opinion with reasons.
Write a short role-play script: Imagine you are a billionaire, a security officer, or a regular citizen during a global catastrophe. Write a monologue giving your view on resource sharing.
Design a brief written plan for a “community survival plan” that prioritizes cooperation and sustainability instead of exclusivity.

Step 6: Final Reflection

Write a short paragraph answering:

What do these stories reveal about our trust in technology and leadership today?

Optional Extension: Media Framing Analysis

Research how media frames “doomsday prepping” among the wealthy versus ordinary people. Write a brief paragraph on tone and focus differences in two articles of your choice.