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The end of the world will usher in utter devastation, with extreme weather, violence, drought, floods, hunger, and widespread chaos. While many fear these events, some see them as a chance to make a profit. The greater the devastation—or even the mere anticipation of it—the more the following sectors are poised to benefit.
10. Arctic Oil Extractors
Arctic summer ice has decreased by 40 percent over recent decades. While most of us worry about the impacts on the climate, sea levels, and polar bears, numerous drillers are eagerly awaiting the ice to melt, granting them access to valuable oil reserves beneath the surface.
The US Geological Survey estimates the Arctic contains 47 trillion cubic meters (1,670 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas and 13 percent of the planet’s undiscovered crude oil, equaling approximately 90 billion barrels. Thick ice sheets once prevented access to this oil, but with the ice melting, oil rigs are now moving in.
Russia, the US, Norway, Greenland, and Canada are competing to gain or regain control over potential oil reserves and the new shipping routes that are opening as the ice melts. In 2007, Russia even planted a titanium flag at the North Pole’s base from a submarine, and reopened a long-abandoned Soviet-era military base in the region.
In August 2014, ExxonMobil partnered with the Russian oil company OAO Rosneft to drill a $700 million exploratory well in the Arctic Ocean. This collaboration took place despite significant environmental protests and, surprisingly, in defiance of US and EU sanctions against Russia.
9. The Firearm Industry
As any survivalist will tell you, the one essential item during an apocalypse is a firearm. When society collapses into chaos, weapons will be the only means of defense against looters, violent gangs, and other troublemakers. A gun also makes it much easier to hunt and survive off the land. As fears of a future disaster grow, so too does the demand for firearms.
By 2013, gun sales in the US had reached record levels, with over 21 million gun applications processed through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The firearms industry is certainly excited to be viewed as the key to security in a turbulent future. Many gun shops are playing into these fears, urging customers to purchase firearms before it’s “too late.”
The rush to buy guns has only escalated with discussions surrounding stricter gun control laws. Some individuals have stockpiled massive, SWAT-like arsenals, complete with automatic weapons and bulletproof vests. It seems that if the world as we know it ever does collapse, those with the most firepower will reign supreme.
8. Water Resource Investors
Many regions around the world are already suffering from severe droughts, and this trend is expected to worsen as climate change continues to disrupt weather patterns. While investors could focus their resources on technologies that could mitigate climate change and prevent devastating droughts, there’s more profit to be made if water continues to dry up.
Investors are currently acquiring water rights globally—and in some instances, holding onto them, waiting for droughts to increase the value of their commodity. Major companies like New York’s Water Asset Management are not only securing water rights but also investing in water treatment facilities, essentially monopolizing access to fresh, drinkable water. According to Water Asset Management’s COO, “Not enough people are thinking of water as an asset.” Climate change is seen as a “driver” for their business.
Freshwater is the most valuable resource, a fact that will become painfully clear if its availability continues to decrease. The United Nations reports that freshwater consumption has tripled in the past five decades, and demand is expected to soar in the coming decades, particularly if the global population approaches 10 billion. While this spike in demand and dwindling supply spells trouble for most of us, water investors stand to profit handsomely before any crisis hits.
7. Miners in Greenland
Greenland, long covered in thick permafrost, is gradually changing as the polar ice caps melt. Land that was once inhospitable is now thawing, prompting gold, copper, and uranium miners to rush to stake their claims in this untapped mining territory.
The changing environment could significantly alter life for Greenland’s indigenous people, potentially disrupting their traditional hunting practices. With the arrival of foreigners to a land that currently houses just 56,000 residents, Greenlanders may soon find themselves in the minority in their own country. London Mining, for example, plans to bring in thousands of Chinese workers over the next five years.
On the other hand, mineral extraction could be a highly profitable move for Greenland, offering the financial resources needed to secure complete independence from Denmark. However, the mining of uranium raises significant concerns due to potential health hazards and its dual-use nature, providing fuel for both power plants and nuclear weapons. If climate change and environmental exploitation don’t lead to an apocalypse, the extraction of more uranium in Greenland could just be the final catalyst to trigger global destruction.
6. Prepper Conventions
While being prepared for an uncertain future is always wise, the so-called preppers are convinced that the end of the world is imminent, and they’re ready to survive no matter what. The number of preppers is growing, and numerous businesses are more than willing to capitalize on their fears, selling them the tools necessary to outlast everyone else.
The survivalist movement has expanded so much that prepper conventions are now a common occurrence, where like-minded individuals gather to trade knowledge, products, and survival gear. Large events like Tennessee’s Mountain Prepper Home, Gun & Outdoor Expo, or Arizona’s Self Reliance Expo feature rows of vendors offering tactical vests, survival shelters, and a wide range of other equipment.
5. Climate-Ready Seed Corporations
Climate-resistant seeds are designed to help us cope with a future where traditional crops can no longer thrive due to the extreme weather conditions brought on by climate change. Developing seeds that can survive in the harshest conditions is a smart move, and the companies behind these seeds are targeting massive profits.
Over 2,000 patents exist for genetically modified plants that are highly resistant to heat, cold, salinity, drought, and higher levels of ultraviolet radiation. Six agribusiness giants—DuPont, BASF, Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, and Dow—hold the rights to these patents, and they are not sharing their technology. It’s illegal for farmers to save seeds from patented GMO crops, forcing them to purchase new seeds every year, leaving them at the mercy of these agribusinesses.
If climate-resilient plants are the only crops able to grow in apocalyptic conditions, these six corporations could hold the power to control the global food supply.
4. Apocalypse-Ready Realty
A group of individuals has come together with the intention of surviving the collapse of society in the so-called “American Redoubt”—a rural region stretching across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and parts of Washington and Oregon. The goal is for like-minded, devout people to unite and safeguard themselves, as well as the land, from marauding invaders.
The movement has grown so large that real estate agents now focus on selling property in the American Redoubt and similar locations ideal for self-sufficient living. Firms like Revolutionary Realty and Survival Realty promote “defensible hillside locations” that are hidden from public view.
For those looking to create the ultimate survival sanctuary, companies offer underground bunkers that claim to be EMP-proof. These subterranean fortresses don’t come cheap. Even a basic underground steel tube will cost around $72,000.
3. Disaster Relief Contractors
When disasters, whether natural or man-made, strike, disaster relief contractors often see opportunities rather than misfortune. While many of these companies are genuinely working to help, things get murky when the government consistently awards rebuilding contracts to the same massive corporations instead of local businesses. This deepens the problem, as large contractors often take their profits out of town when the job ends, draining money from the local economy. In contrast, local contractors typically reinvest their earnings in the community, helping the area recover further.
The same type of corruption, waste, and political cronyism seen in Iraq’s rebuilding efforts arguably appeared during the Hurricane Katrina and Haitian earthquake cleanups. Much like war profiteering, this form of disaster profiteering resulted in companies like Ashbritt and Halliburton receiving a combined $200 billion for reconstruction after Katrina, despite other qualified contractors offering much lower bids for the same projects.
Even four years after Haiti’s devastating earthquake, the situation remains dire. The country’s infrastructure is still in ruins, with poorly built structures and incomplete housing projects. More than 300,000 Haitians still live in tent camps. This disaster relief effort came with a price tag of over $267 million in contracts, with less than 1 percent of the funds going to Haitian firms, while most went to contractors from the Washington metropolitan area.
When massive amounts of money are involved with little accountability and the right political connections, every apocalyptic storm, hurricane, or earthquake can start to look like an opportunity to profit.
2. The Entertainment Industry
If society were to collapse, we’re fairly certain the entertainment industry would follow suit. But for now, the industry is capitalizing on our collective fear that the end of the world is imminent. Highly popular TV shows like The Walking Dead leave us questioning whether we could survive once civilization falls apart. Additionally, there’s a surge in movies depicting apocalyptic Earth scenarios, like Elysium, After Earth, and Oblivion (all from 2013), not to mention video games like Fallout and The Last of Us.
Apocalyptic themes are a constant in pop culture, and this obsession is raking in hundreds of millions of dollars annually for those in the entertainment business. It’s hard to say whether it’s the audience’s growing interest driving this trend or if the entertainment itself is fueling our preoccupation with the end times. Either way, it seems people can’t seem to get enough of these dystopian visions.
Doomsday Preppers holds the record as the most-watched show ever on the National Geographic Channel. And if the show itself doesn’t stir up enough concern, fans can visit its website to discover their “prepper score,” revealing how long they might survive in a global catastrophe. On the site, users often compare their scores and make plans to stock up on additional essentials such as water, MREs, or whatever else they think they might need.
1. Food Storage
While it’s hard to dispute the value of having a reasonable amount of emergency food on hand, what about stashing away multiple years’ worth of non-perishable goods? You’d need that level of preparation if society were to completely collapse—and even then, it’s unlikely that one individual or family could safeguard their supplies from thieves or governing powers.
Even though large-scale food storage seems excessive and perhaps unnecessary, the industry is booming. Preparing for the worst has become so widespread that anyone fearing the apocalypse can simply walk into Costco and pay $3,500 for a 32,000-serving, one-year supply of freeze-dried meals. In the meantime, smaller food storage businesses report a 900 percent revenue increase since 2009.
