Inside Zurich’s Secret Gold Vaults: Where the Ultra-Wealthy Store Their Billions

Deep beneath Zurich airport lies a testament to gold’s enduring allure: a 350-square-meter high-security vault where the ultra-wealthy store their precious metals.

Managed by Egon von Greyerz, these facilities require minimum investments of $400,000 for Zurich or Singapore storage, and $5 million for their Swiss Alps location. This exclusive world of gold storage reflects a broader trend, as the Royal Mint reports a 153% increase in bullion sales amid growing global uncertainties. The movement toward gold spans far beyond the ultra-wealthy, though. Von Greyerz, a former Dixons finance director turned gold advocate, argues that gold represents the ultimate form of wealth preservation in an era of unprecedented global debt ($315 trillion) and geopolitical instability. His clients, spanning 90 countries, typically invest 20-50% of their wealth in gold, far exceeding the global average of 0.5%.

The precious metal’s value has risen over 15,000% since 1970, and with mining reserves potentially running out by 2050, combined with increasing industrial applications and its traditional role as a safe haven, gold’s appeal shows no signs of diminishing. Even for smaller investors, von Greyerz advocates buying gold at any affordable level, noting particular advantages like tax-free gains on British gold coins.