Billionaire is building $500 billion modern Eden in American southwest: The city will have self-driving cars, flying vehicles, drought-resistant water systems and more

Imagine a city with self-driving cars and skyscrapers that doesn’t waste a tonne of energy. Billionaire Marc Lore is reportedly building such a utopia at the heart of southwest America. As per a report by the Architectural Digest, the city, which is named ‘Telosa’ after the Greek word 'Telos', which means “higher purpose.” Some $500 billion has been invested in the making of the city, which is supposed to house over five million people in the next 30 years.

In a chat with Fortune, Lore said the city would be a model of reformed capitalism and fair wealth distribution. With the rising value of that land, a community endowment would utilise the profits to foster universal access to healthcare, education, transportation, and schools, irrespective of income. Lore mentioned that the initial phase of Telosa's development, projected for completion by 2030, will accommodate 50,000 residents on 1,500 acres.

AD 100 Danish architecture firm, has been roped in to design the metropolis, which would include hotels, stadiums and luxury spas.


According to Telosa’s official website, educational facilities, cultural venues and shops will extend into the streets, while shaded communal areas will offer residents inviting places to socialise and connect. The city’s parks will feature abundant native vegetation and thoughtfully designed reservoirs to conserve water for urban use. These green spaces will also ensure that every resident has access to an open recreational area just a short walk from home.

At the heart of Telosa’s design will stand the Equitism Tower, a funnel-shaped skyscraper envisioned as an iconic symbol of the futuristic city. The structure will incorporate elevated water storage facilities, aeroponic farming systems and a solar-powered photovoltaic rooftop designed to generate electricity and supply energy.

According to Dezeen.com, the city's vehicles, called Ground To Air, are pictured hovering in the air, attached to a floating rail line, and on wheels in the centre of the building.

"Projected features include space for water storage, aeroponic farms and a photovoltaic roof," said the studio. There will also be a water system which will be resistant to drought.

This modern-day Eden will be located somewhere in the Midwest or Appalachia.

Who Is Marc Lore?

Marc Lore is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Wonder Group, a food delivery business. From 2016 to 2021, he served as the president and chief executive officer of Walmart’s US e-commerce business. In September 2016, Lore was appointed to head the retail giant’s online commerce operations following its acquisition of Jet.com, an e-commerce platform he had founded in 2014. Walmart Inc. bought the company in a deal valued at $3.3 billion.

As per a Forbes report, Lore’s networth is a whopping $5 billion.