Inside the Bahamas island quietly selling $18 million villas—where the vast majority of the land will never be developed

(Credit: Photo courtesy Highbourne)

Back in 2008, Mark Holowesko, an investment management CEO who once managed portfolios overseen by the legendary Sir John Templeton, was one of seven owners of Highbourne Cay, a private island at the northern gateway to the Exuma Cays.

Then an oilman from Texas came calling with a plan to put 100 homes on the 500-acre private island in the Bahamas.