Google co-founder is unable to buy this private island even after 12 years of court battle

Google co-founderLarry Page has been unable to secure ownership of a private Caribbean island for over a decade. The tech billionaire remains reportedly locked in a legal dispute over the Hans Lollik and Little Hans Lollik islands in the US Virgin Islands, despite purchasing them in 2014 through a holding company.According to a report by Business Insider, the dispute has stretched across multiple courts for nearly 12 years. The dispute has now hit another hurdle recently after mediation efforts failed to produce a settlement. According to a filing in the US Virgin Islands Superior Court, negotiations reached an impasse, leaving the matter to be decided through further court proceedings.Page and his wife, Lucinda Southworth, acquired the two islands for $23 million in 2014. However, developer James Eckel claimed he had an earlier agreement to purchase the properties, triggering a lengthy legal battle that continues today.

Why Google co-founder Larry Page’s island legal dispute is not being resolved

The legal dispute has unfolded in both Texas and the US Virgin Islands. In 2019, a Texas appeals court ruled that Eckel was entitled to financial damages rather than ownership of the islands. However, separate litigation has continued in the Virgin Islands, where Page’s company, USVI Properties, is seeking confirmation that it owns the islands “free and clear of any claim by Great Hans,” an entity controlled by Eckel.Great Hans has argued that representatives working on Page’s behalf were aware of prior negotiations involving the islands. The company has also maintained that ownership issues should not be resolved until Page provides sworn testimony regarding the transaction.The case has also revealed details about the operations of Page’s family office, Koop, which generally keeps a low public profile. Court records show that individuals involved in negotiating the purchase initially did not disclose that Page was the ultimate buyer. Wayne Osborne, chief executive of Page’s family office, later confirmed the billionaire’s involvement during a 2016 deposition.Consultant Gil Simon, who helped negotiate the transaction, testified that Page’s identity was deliberately concealed in discussions with sellers. Page’s lawyers previously fought to block his deposition, claiming he had no “unique or superior” knowledge of the deal.Court papers indicate Page had no intention of extensive development of the properties. In a 2018 filing, his lawyers stated that he “plans to maintain the Islands in their undeveloped green and natural state.”Osborne also testified that the intention was to acquire the islands without pursuing large-scale development projects. Located near St. Thomas, the islands have occasionally surfaced in headlines during the litigation. In 2020, reports indicated that individuals were removing invasive goats from Hans Lollik as part of environmental management efforts.The disputed islands are not the only private island properties linked to Page. In 2018, he purchased Cayo Norte, an island off Puerto Rico, for about $32 million through the same holding company involved in the Hans Lollik acquisition.He also acquired a majority stake in Fiji’s Tavarua Island in 2020 through a separate entity. During the Hans Lollik proceedings, testimony additionally confirmed that Page owns Eustatia Island in the British Virgin Islands.