A revealing look at the intersection of wealth, philanthropy, and
conservation
Billionaire Wilderness takes you inside the exclusive world of the
ultra-wealthy, showing how today's richest people are using the natural
environment to solve the existential dilemmas they face. Justin Farrell
spent five years in Teton County, Wyoming, the richest county in the
United States, and a community where income inequality is the worst in
the nation. He conducted hundreds of in-depth interviews, gaining
unprecedented access to tech CEOs, Wall Street financiers, oil magnates,
and other prominent figures in business and politics. He also talked
with the rural poor who live among the ultra-wealthy and often work for
them. The result is a penetrating account of the far-reaching
consequences of the massive accrual of wealth, and an eye-opening and
sometimes troubling portrait of a changing American West where
romanticizing rural poverty and conserving nature can be
lucrative--socially as well as financially.
Weaving unforgettable storytelling with thought-provoking analysis,
Billionaire Wilderness reveals how the ultra-wealthy are buying up the
land and leveraging one of the most pristine ecosystems in the world to
climb even higher on the socioeconomic ladder. The affluent of Teton
County are people burdened by stigmas, guilt, and status anxiety--and
they appropriate nature and rural people to create more virtuous and
deserving versions of themselves. Incisive and compelling, Billionaire
Wilderness reveals the hidden connections between wealth concentration
and the environment, two of the most pressing and contentious issues of
our time.