Anna Hartz
Young Student Trades U.S. Life for Private Island in Finland
Buying your own island sounds like something only millionaires do. But for 24-year-old Oliver Russell, it became a reality.
He recently bought a small private island in Finland for 28,000 euros. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. He had been thinking about Finland for a while, writes El Economista.
An American with Finnish Roots
Oliver grew up in the United States. But his family has Finnish roots. He spent many summers there as a kid.
He always felt a connection to the country. After finishing high school, he visited Finland again with some friends.
They rented a cabin for just 700 euros for the week. That trip made him think more seriously about moving.
He knew that, as a Finnish citizen, he could study in Finland for free. He also had family and friends there. It seemed like a good place to build a future.
He started looking at properties, mostly for fun. He didn’t think he’d actually buy anything. But then he saw the ad for the island. It caught his attention.
A Life to Share on TikTok
Back in the U.S., he had made some smart money moves. He bought a house in Fort Collins and sold it for a profit of $80,000. He also got lucky with investments in companies like Tesla and Nvidia. That gave him the cash to consider buying something big.
When the island popped up online, he couldn’t resist. He talked it over with his girlfriend Helena, who’s 20. They came up with a plan. They would share their life on the island on TikTok and Instagram. Maybe it would even turn into a business.
Right now, Oliver has set up a tent on the island. He uses a small boat to bring over his belongings. He wants to build a floating dock so it’s easier to carry supplies. Then he plans to build a sauna. That will be his test project.
If that goes well, he’ll apply for a permit to build a real house. He dreams of a small home with two bedrooms, an open kitchen and living room. It should feel rustic but still have modern features like solar power.
