Fact Check: Are Gates, Bezos and Altman investing in 'Freedom City' to be built on Greenland?

WASHINGTON, DC: A claim circulating on social media has suggested that some of the world's wealthiest tech billionaires are investing in a project in Greenland. The post has generated widespread attention, sparking debate about the nature of the authenticity of the claim, amid the tensions surrounding President Donald Trump's interest in occupying the country in the Arctic.

Claim: American tech billionaires are investing in Greenland

With the Trump administration repeatedly highlighting its intention to acquire Greenland, questions about a proposed libertarian‑style “freedom city” have resurfaced.

The claim first surfaced on a page on X, called ‘Unusual Whales.’ 

The post’s caption read, “BREAKING: Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Sam Altman among billionaires investing in 'Freedom City' to be built on Greenland.”

Fact Check: The project is unlikely to happen

The claim is an unsourced speculation, as there is no evidence that the city is being built. 

The possibility of the project is unlikely as Greenland is officially part of NATO-member Denmark’s territory and has wide-ranging autonomy with its own extensive local government, and has remained firmly opposed to Trump’s increasingly frequent assertions that 'We do need Greenland, absolutely.'

According to a fact check by Grok, the claim is misleading and partially inaccurate.

Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Sam Altman have invested in projects related to Greenland, but not directly in building a 'Freedom City' there. Recent reports have sensationalized the story by linking separate investments in mineral exploration with a speculative ‘freedom city’ concept.

Context: Donald Trump's desire to acquire Greenland

Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland either through purchase or occupation during a meeting at the White House on Friday, where he said the Arctic island was critical for US security given the threats posed by Russia and China.

A survey conducted last year by pollster Veria found 85 percent of Greenlanders rejected being part of the US, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said a US military invasion would spell the end of NATO, which both countries are part of.

In April, Reuters reported that some Silicon Valley tech investors had been advocating for the idea of a 'freedom city' in Greenland, which the outlet described as 'a libertarian utopia with minimal corporate regulation,” but the aforementioned entrepreneurs have no role in it.