Richard Branson’s private island isn’t just a luxury retreat.
It’s a fitness playground unlike anything else on Earth.
From tennis courts surrounded by lemurs to hiking trails that end in sea jacuzzis, Neker Island redefines what it means to stay active.
And in a recent video tour, fitness content creator Jesse James West got an exclusive look at Branson’s island gym along with five other billionaire fitness spaces, ranking each one from S-tier (superior) to F-tier (the worst).
Jump to:
- The Anti-Aging Vampire’s Lair: Brian Johnson’s S-Tier Setup
- Yik Toddl’s Minimalist Approach: Function Over Flash
- Gym Shark’s Ben Francis: Where Events Meet Excellence
- Steven Clebek’s Unconventional Training Methods
- Patrick Bet-David’s Championship-Level Facility
- Richard Branson’s Neker Island: The Ultimate Fitness Paradise
- The Correlation Between Wealth and Wellness
The Anti-Aging Vampire’s Lair: Brian Johnson’s S-Tier Setup
First up was Brian Johnson, the tech entrepreneur who sold Braintree (parent company of Venmo) to PayPal in 2013 and now dedicates his life to radical longevity.
Johnson tracks literally everything about his body and follows strict anti-aging protocols that have become legendary in biohacking circles.
I would say you look younger right now.
His gym features standard equipment like squat racks and pull-up bars, but the real magic lies in his collection of cutting-edge recovery tools.
A $100,000 hyperbaric oxygen chamber takes center stage, allowing Johnson to simulate being 30 feet underwater to enhance cellular recovery.
The Most Expensive Gadgets in Fitness
Johnson’s wellness arsenal doesn’t stop there.
- Softwave device ($100,000): Advanced skin therapy technology
- Shockwave therapy machine ($70,000): Used daily on every joint in his body
- Red light therapy chamber: Full-body infrared treatment
- Thermal scanning device: Monitors skin temperature during therapies
Every single molecule in this house, all the air, all the water, all the food, everything’s tested all the time.
Johnson’s dedication extends beyond equipment to his daily routine, which includes finishing his last meal before 12:20 PM.
His obsessive tracking recently helped him break a personal nighttime record lasting 3 hours and 49 minutes, longer than the entire Titanic movie.
Simple Advice for Better Sleep
When asked for his top health tip, Johnson didn’t recommend expensive gadgets.
Lower your heart rate before bed. Eating earlier, like 4 hours before bed. If you drink coffee, push it to earlier in the day cuz a half a cup of coffee still in you at bedtime is very hard.
His reasoning? Coffee has a six-hour half-life, meaning afternoon coffee equals trying to sleep with caffeine still coursing through your system.
Verdict: S-tier for functionality, unique amenities, and next-level biohacking technology.
Yik Toddl’s Minimalist Approach: Function Over Flash
Real estate billionaire Yik Toddl worked his way up from $4 per hour to building a portfolio worth over a billion dollars.
His gym reflects a completely different philosophy: efficiency and simplicity.
I’m cheap, just so you know. That’s number one.
Despite having the resources for endless equipment, Toddl chose a single multi-functional cable machine that handles everything from pull-ups to bench press.
The Wisdom Behind Wealth
Toddl’s journey started 30 years ago at a dinner where he learned about fourplexes, properties with four units where owners live in one and rent out the others.
I had zero consciousness level that’s going to take me the four units to 100 units to 200 units to 1,000 units. I had no idea.
But his perspective on wealth evolved dramatically after hitting rock bottom four years ago despite massive financial success.
I got to the top of the top and I realized like I’m empty inside. So I forgot to feed my own soul.
His gym includes unique training equipment like a ski simulation machine, reflecting his active lifestyle and focus on functional fitness over bodybuilding aesthetics.
Verdict: B-tier for practicality and efficiency, though lacking the wow factor of more elaborate setups.
Gym Shark’s Ben Francis: Where Events Meet Excellence
Ben Francis launched Gym Shark from his parents’ garage in 2012 at age 19.
Today, the company is valued at over $1.5 billion, making him a billionaire before turning 30.
His gym showcased during the tour was actually built inside a parking garage for the Gym Shark Lift London event, accommodating thousands of attendees before being relocated to company headquarters.
This has never been used before. Everything here is brand new.
Equipment on Another Level
The temporary gym featured an impressive array of equipment organized by muscle group.
- Twelve free benches for pressing movements
- Complete Hammer Strength bodybuilding equipment
- State-of-the-art cardio machines with built-in TVs
- Multiple squat racks and cable stations
- Even a DJ booth for atmosphere
Beyond the gym itself, Gym Shark created unique experiential amenities including a comic book area, nail station, professional posing room with premium lighting, and even a pub-style lounge serving pre-workout drinks.
The Work Ethic Behind Success
When asked for his best business advice, Francis emphasized two critical factors.
The first thing is definitely doing something that you really love. I also think work ethic is so important. I’ve never met anyone that’s successful in what they do that isn’t working really hard at it.
Verdict: S-tier for combining full functionality with creative amenities and flawless execution.
Steven Clebek’s Unconventional Training Methods
Steven Clebek, founder of Diamond Resorts International and two-time Undercover Boss participant, built what he calls his “dream gym.”
In his younger years, he was a serious bodybuilder training at hardcore meathead gyms.
However, his current training approach shocked visitors.
You won’t believe how big I can get just doing this.
Clebek demonstrated his workout routine, which consisted primarily of isometric flexing without any weights.
His reasoning? At 63 years old with significant muscle memory from his bodybuilding days, he believes touching heavy weights causes him to gain muscle too quickly.
When Less Is More (Or Is It?)
The gym featured standard equipment including cable machines and Pilates apparatus, plus an infrared massage rolling device.
But Clebek’s training session consisted mostly of bodyweight movements and isometric holds rather than traditional resistance training.
He did demonstrate impressive core strength on the Pilates reformer and maintained flexibility that would challenge people half his age.
Verdict: C-tier due to questionable functionality given the available equipment versus actual usage.
Patrick Bet-David’s Championship-Level Facility
Patrick Bet-David started in insurance sales before founding his own agency in 2009.
After selling for a nine-figure sum in 2022, he launched a media company that now hosts one of the most popular podcasts in business.
His private gym is built inside an airplane hangar at his media company headquarters.
A Facility for Champions
The space features professional-grade equipment across multiple training zones.
- Organized sections for arms, cardio, chest, legs, and back
- Dumbbells up to 100 pounds with ergonomic grip design
- Full Nautilus machine lineup
- Multiple cable stack stations
- Full basketball court
- Dedicated MMA training area where UFC fighters train
- Outdoor soccer field with two helicopter landing pads
Bet-David, at 46 years old, demonstrated impressive strength by completing 22 pull-ups, then doing 10 more while wearing a full suit.
Fitness as Competitive Advantage
If you don’t move your body and exercise, you don’t have the stamina and the intensity. The other guy does, good luck competing in the marketplace.
He views fitness not as vanity but as business necessity, arguing that physical conditioning directly impacts negotiating power and decision-making stamina.
Verdict: A-tier for comprehensive equipment, professional-grade facilities, and championship-level amenities.
Richard Branson’s Neker Island: The Ultimate Fitness Paradise
Richard Branson, the 75-year-old founder of the Virgin empire, owns $150 million Neker Island in the British Virgin Islands.
Rather than building one impressive gym, Branson turned the entire island into a fitness experience.
I love life and I think if you can stay fit and healthy you live a long enjoyable life and I do a lot of exercise but fun exercise, things I enjoy.
Where Wildlife Meets Wellness
The island experience begins with ice baths and includes activities most billionaires couldn’t dream of.
- Morning tennis courts: Shared with endangered lemurs roaming freely
- Hiking trails: Featuring giant tortoises and kangaroos
- Wildlife encounters: Thousands of protected flamingos
- Sea jacuzzi: A literal hot tub built into the ocean
- Kitesurfing: Branson’s personal favorite full-body workout
- Pickleball courts
- Yoga classes: With kangaroos as participants
The terrain itself provides natural resistance training, with challenging elevation changes throughout the island.
Traditional Gyms as Backup
While the island does feature two traditional gym spaces with Peloton bikes, treadmills, cable machines, and free weights, these facilities are modest compared to other billionaire setups.
But that’s precisely the point: with an entire island designed for active living, conventional gym equipment becomes secondary.
The emphasis is on functional fitness through adventure rather than isolated muscle training in a confined space.
Verdict: God-tier (a special category above S-tier) for creating the most comprehensive fitness lifestyle experience imaginable.
The Correlation Between Wealth and Wellness
A fascinating pattern emerged across all six billionaire gyms: the wealthiest individuals often chose the most efficient setups.
Rather than collecting every possible machine, successful entrepreneurs like Toddl and Branson prioritized functionality and enjoyment over equipment quantity.
Meanwhile, those building fitness-focused businesses like Ben Francis invested in comprehensive facilities that doubled as brand showcases.
The takeaway? You don’t need billions to adopt billionaire fitness principles: consistency, finding activities you genuinely enjoy, and integrating movement into daily life matter far more than expensive equipment.
Whether it’s Brian Johnson’s optimization obsession, Yik Toddl’s minimalist efficiency, or Richard Branson’s adventure-based approach, each billionaire proved that sustainable fitness comes down to building systems that align with your lifestyle and values.
