‘Treasured Island’ is a definitive look at the elite island of St. Barth

Published August 23, 2026 6:05am ET | Updated August 27, 2026 6:59am ET



The world is an oligarchic place these days. While the relentless rise in international travel has diminished the traditional exclusivity of some early jet-set destinations, there have emerged several geographic poles where it is increasingly difficult for the common man to gain true access. These include Monaco, Swiss ski resorts such as Gstaad and St. Moritz, and, to a lesser extent, Dubai. Among the most desirable and secluded of these bolt holes for the super-rich (not the mere cosmopolitan wealthy, but the much rarer class of “have yachts”) is the small, French-owned, volcanic island of St. Barthelemy, known colloquially as St. Barth. It can be reached only by sea or by puddle jumper flight from places including St. Martin; there is no golf course, and, quite unusual for the region, its inhabitants are almost exclusively white (St. Martin’s population, just 15 miles away, is conversely almost entirely black).

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