Google Co-Founder Page Has Spent Most of Pandemic On Fiji Isle In Pacific Ocean

So much for the moral authority behind insisting company employees return to the office. JL 

Newschant reports:

Larry Page, the secretive co-founder of Google, has reportedly spent a lot of the pandemic hiding out on tropical islands in Fiji, getting into the nation by means of a system designed to permit the ultra-wealthy to avoid COVID-19 journey restrictions. Fiji closed its borders in the course of the pandemic. However, by means of the nation’s “Blue Lane” initiative, superyacht and private-jet house owners can enter with minimal restrictions. Page, who’s the world’s sixth wealthiest individual (at) $117 billion, entered the nation by means of the Blue Lane system

Larry Page, the secretive co-founder of Google, has reportedly spent a lot of the pandemic hiding out on tropical islands in Fiji, getting into the nation by means of a system designed to permit the ultra-wealthy to avoid COVID-19 journey restrictions.

The reclusive billionaire has stayed totally on the heart-shaped Tavarua island, which lies west of the principle Fijian island, two individuals who have seen him there in the previous year told Insider.

One supplier instructed Insider that Page has been noticed in the water round some islands together with his spouse, Lucinda Southworth, hydrofoiling, a sort of browsing the place the board is elevated above the water.

Hydrofoiling is very in style among the many tech group, as demonstrated by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on a number of public events.

Page has additionally been noticed on the smaller Namotu, Insider reported, and there’s hypothesis amongst locals that he’s purchased that island or one other in the archipelago.

It’s unclear when exactly Page first arrived in Fiji — a rustic of about 900,000 — however he arrived as early as final summer time and has returned no less than as soon as since then, the supply stated.

Fiji closed its borders in the course of the pandemic, however by means of the nation’s “Blue Lane” initiative, superyacht and private-jet house owners can enter with minimal restrictions. Page, who’s the world’s sixth wealthiest individual with a web price of $117 billion, entered the nation by means of the Blue Lane system, Insider reported, citing two sources.

He introduced his household and an entourage, the report stated, and he’s spent an “extended period of time” in the nation in the course of the pandemic, in line with one supply who’s interacted with him.

Fijian authorities have helped Page preserve his presence on the islands personal, the report stated.

On June 19, as Fiji was hit by a second wave of COVID-19 circumstances, Fijian Broadcasting Company News reported that Page had donated medical provides to the nation by way of his personal jet.

But a number of days later, the story disappeared. Fijian well being authorities requested the community to take the article down, saying the knowledge shouldn’t be public, Insider reported, citing an individual conversant in the matter.

Despite his place among the many wealthiest in the world and his commanding main sway over one of the highly effective corporations, Page has largely prevented the general public eye since he and co-founder Sergey Brin stepped away from Google and mother or father Alphabet in 2019.

Both Page and Brin stay on the board of Alphabet. And by means of particular voting stock, the duo may at anytime overrule administration and impose their will on the company.

And but neither Page nor Brin have confronted the identical degree of scrutiny as different tech founders and executives, together with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Apple’s Tim Cook, all of whom have been known as to testify earlier than Congress.

“It’s certainly unusual, and it’s certainly not good corporate governance,” Nell Minow, vice chair of consulting agency ValueEdge Advisors, instructed Insider. “You don’t normally see someone who’s still involved with the company hang a ‘gone fishing’ sign on the door and disappear.”