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Inside the world's most luxurious doomsday bunkers (pictures)

Grab a snifter of fine brandy, relax in your magnificently appointed underground doomsday lounge and watch the world burn.

Fox Van Allen
Fox Van Allen is a Los Angeles-based writer for CBS Interactive covering technology, tech lifestyle and gaming topics for GameSpot, CNET, ZDNet and TechRepublic. He has previously worked as a news and feature writer for a number of other sites, including Techlicious, Tecca, WoW Insider (Joystiq) and Blizzard Watch. In his spare time, Fox is an amateur skydiver, retro gaming and arcade enthusiast, 8-bit pixel artist, podcaster and Twitch live streamer.
Fox Van Allen
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1 of 23 Viaframe/Corbis

Welcome to your post-apocalyptic life!

If you're poor, we have bad news for you. When the apocalypse comes, you probably won't make it.

As for the rich? Well, you'll be able to ride out the end of the world in comfort and style -- if you plan ahead.

A handful of companies have converted old Cold War facilities into massive underground doomsday condos. Rich, luxurious and opulent, these living quarters have all the conveniences of modern life, without any of the deadly radiation turning us surface dwellers into human glowsticks.

Interested in surviving the end of days? Here's how you can expect to live out the rest of your post-apocalyptic life. You know, so long as your pre-apocalypse bank account supports it.

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2 of 23 The Oppidum

Secret billionaire bunker in the Czech Republic

First up: Meet The Oppidum, the self-described "largest billionaire bunker in the world."

Located in a confidential, secluded location somewhere in the Czech Republic, the Oppidum was a former Cold War military bunker (circa 1984) that's since been repurposed as luxury condos for survivalists burdened with doomsday paranoia and too much disposable income.

The entire facility takes up roughly 323,000 square feet of countryside.

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3 of 23 The Oppidum

Oppidum: The cutaway view

Once the nuclear bombs start flying, you'll want to be safely barricaded underground. But if the world is simply on the brink of total annihilation, The Oppidum has an above-ground residential area to maximize your standard of living.

You can use the facility's secret corridor to enter and seal yourself inside the underground bunker in less than 60 seconds.

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4 of 23 The Oppidum

The luxurious layout

Shown here is the layout of The Oppidum's first underground level. Note that the facility reserves ample room for recreation, including a screening room, kids' playroom, gym and simulated outdoor spaces.

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5 of 23 The Oppidum

A spacious post-nuclear haven

Rather than focus on saving the human race from annihilation, The Oppidum instead focuses on spacious, post-apocalyptic luxury for a choice few.

Its largest private living area -- the penthouse apartment, if you will -- measures a whopping 6,780 square feet. Six smaller apartments (1,720 square feet) are also available.

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6 of 23 The Oppidum

Businesses, like cockroaches, will survive

Just because the world is ending doesn't mean your giant multinational corporation needs to. The Oppidum boasts this "interior bunker office and meeting room" will allow you to continue holding board meetings, even as every single customer you have ever had is being vaporized by a 100 million-degree Fahrenheit fireball.

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7 of 23 The Oppidum

A green reminder of the world you helped destroy

The Oppidum's underground pool area is designed to give you a taste of the world that once was. It even features a garden area rich with simulated natural light.

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8 of 23 The Oppidum

Preserving precious alcohol for future generations

The Oppidum holds everything necessary to survive for a decade under ground: food, medical supplies, water and air purification systems and generators.

There's even a massive wine cellar for holding 10 years' worth of your favorite vintage.

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9 of 23 Vivos

For the budget-minded millionaire prepper

Looking for a more affordable way to survive the end of days in luxury? We've got you covered there, too -- The Vivos Group has built its own nuclear-safe bunker in Indiana.

It costs $35,000 to reserve space in Vivos Indiana as an adult; kids can grab a spot for just $25,000.

Vivos does note that in the case of an imminent apocalyptic event, however, the price to reserve space in the vault could jump as high as $1,000,000 ... in gold bullion.

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10 of 23 Vivos

80 people, one kitchen

Now that you're locked inside Vivos Indiana for the next year, you'll be spending a lot of time in close quarters.

This kitchen area, for example, will be shared with the doctors, nutritionists, soldiers, communications specialists and other professionals needed to restart society on the surface.

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11 of 23 Vivos

80 people, five bathrooms

The finishes at Vivos Indiana aren't as opulent as those at The Oppidum.

The facilities aren't anywhere near as private, either. Expect to share five bathrooms among your 79 fellow vault dwellers.

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12 of 23 Vivos

Better hope your 'plus one' doesn't snore

Bedrooms at Vivos Indiana are private, but tight.

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13 of 23 Vivos

Dining in the vault

This is the main dining area of Vivos Indiana. Your meals will consist of freeze-dried meats and grains. Fresh-grown vegetables will be supplied by the vault's garden.

Each vault dweller will receive a ration of 2,500 calories per day, along with necessary vitamins.

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14 of 23 Vivos

The theater

Next to the dining area is a large, comfortable theater seating area.

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15 of 23 Vivos

"Who wants to watch Veggie Tales again?"

The Vivos Indiana shelter has televisions, though access to new programming might become very limited in the case of complete nuclear obliteration.

This television will likely wind up playing the same few DVDs on repeat until everyone goes mad ... or turns into ghouls.

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16 of 23 Vivos

Scrabble will survive the apocalypse with you

The shared lounge space provides the opportunity to talk, relax, watch prerecorded TV and play board games.

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17 of 23 Vivos

Well stocked for the end

Those living in the Vivos Indiana vault will be supplied with fresh bedding, linens, toiletries and over-the-counter medical supplies.

It also has survival gear for surface missions, when the surface again becomes habitable. (Just don't get addicted to the Radaway.)

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18 of 23 Vivos

The sad new future of agriculture

Once sealed off from the outside world, the Vivos Indiana bunker needs to be as self-sufficient as possible.

To this end, the facility contains a gardening room with the supplies required to grow edible plants.

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19 of 23 Vivos

Keeping all the poison out is important

Once the blast door is shut, the facility's NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) air filtration system will kick in to make sure that air inside is safe to breathe. Water, meanwhile, will be drawn from an incredibly deep well shielded from the terrors of the surface.

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20 of 23 Vivos

Keeping the lights on

Let's face it: If Vivos Indiana ever loses power, everyone inside will be a goner.

Thankfully, the vault was designed with redundant diesel generators and large banks of batteries for power storage. Replacement parts for the generators are also kept on hand.

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21 of 23 Vivos

The hospital

"But Fox," you ask, "what happens if I get sick or need an operation while living under the surface?"

Not to worry, my well-financed prepper. Vivos Indiana has "extensive medical equipment" on hand for use by your fellow medically trained vault dwellers.

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22 of 23 Vivos

A post-apocalyptic future for your pet, too!

Good news for pet parents: Vivos Indiana has its own kennel.

Bad news for fitness enthusiasts with allergy issues: The kennel also doubles as this sad little gym.

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23 of 23 Vivos

The blast door

Shown here is arguably the most important part of the Vivos Indiana shelter: the blast door. It's what keeps you safe from the radiation, chemicals, zombies and other threats sweeping the globe outside.

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