Treasured Island

"In this social history of the island, the people who live there, and the people who invade it, Michael Gross explains with his singular style how a small volcanic island became a hub for oligarchs, old money, and no small number of aspirational ne'er-do-wells. A smart page turner that reminds us paradise isn’t always what it appears to be." — Town & Country "An expansive history of wealth and place marked by deep research ." — Kirkus Reviews "A lavish . . . history of luxury getaway St. Barthélemy." — Publishers Weekly ”Colorful, definitive, deeply researched … [the book] profiles this small, beautiful island and the bizarre personalities who have transformed it from a sleepy, impoverished backwater into the pinnacle of elite luxury…. Island politics are revealed to be a vibrant affair, complete with occasional arson attacks and armed standoffs…Primarily a work of social reportage, Treasured Island covers a remarkable cast of characters and insular dramas. These range from the adventurer and alleged smuggler Remy de Haenen, who was the first to land an airplane on St. Barth … to David Rockefeller’s Organization of American States-affiliated footman to the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Rogues and brigands are the rule in this account, not the exception…. Gross laments the changing nature of the island [and] gives the impression that he would be more comfortable sailing with Rockefeller than getting bottle service at Nikki Beach with Tom Brady and Jake Paul" — Washington Examiner "Readers who love both travel to luxurious tropical destinations and learning about the lives of people who live there, this new book is for you." — Global Traveler "We couldn’t resist this tale of intrigue.” — New York Post “When it comes to mapping wealth and place, there are few writers who go as deep or as far as Michael Gross. Gross doesn’t content himself with describing the world of money; he climbs inside it, asks the questions nobody else thinks (or dares) to ask, and comes back having turned over every stone . . . . I couldn’t put the book down from the very beginning." — Alicia Pestalozzi, Palmer: The Palm Beach Reader “Late-stage hi-capitalist Jet Set must-read.” — William Norwich, author, editor, journalist “The book has got it all: the twists, the turns, the tensions, the crazy characters and shifting timelines, the 'psychological velvet rope' (Gross’s name for the island’s tiny runway), and a deep dive into St. Bling [another nickname for the place] as a Rorschach test for the filthy rich! Treasured Island takes us on an all-exclusive tour.” — Zoomer “A fascinating exploration of the intersection of wealth, fame, ambition, and paradise.” — Jane Wilkens Michael, iHeart Radio “Discover the wild, scandalous, and untold history of how an impoverished volcanic outpost became the ultimate playground for billionaires and celebrities.” — The Table Read “I appreciate finding, all gathered in a single volume, everyone’s memories and anecdotes—often transformed by time and retelling— not to mention the various storytellers who try to explain the island’s recent evolution.” — Laurence Hervieux O’Keefe, Co-founder, St. Barths Online