Oprah silent amid Maui fires as desperate Hawaii residents beg celebrity billionaires with homes on the island for help
- Oprah owns nearly 2,000 acres of land on Maui including an 11-bedroom ranch
- Jeff Bezos owns a property on the south shore and Owen Wilson, Clint Eastwood and Steven Tyler also own property
As the residents of Maui awake to another day of destruction caused by a devastating wildfire that has so far claimed 36 lives and left hundreds homeless, many are wondering where the island's richest landowners are - and what they're prepared to do to help.
Oprah, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Clint Eastwood and Steven Tyler are among big names with homes on Maui but none have commented yet on how they intend to help those in need.
Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez posted on Instagram that the fires were 'breaking her heart', but he is yet to offer a statement.
With a net worth of $162billion, he is the third richest man in the world. Bezos owns a $78million property on Maui's southwest shore.
![Maui's part-time residents include Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, Steven Tyler, Owen Wilson and more. Larry Ellison owns almost the entire island of Lanai, which sits near to the town of Lahaina. Fleetwood Mac's Mick has encouraged fundraising efforts and is himself suffering the loss of his restaurant. There has been silence from the others as thousands of locals try to put the pieces of their lives and homes back together](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/10/20/74183173-12393699-image-a-4_1691694910965.jpg)
Maui's part-time residents include Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, Steven Tyler, Owen Wilson and more. Larry Ellison owns almost the entire island of Lanai, which sits near to the town of Lahaina. Fleetwood Mac's Mick has encouraged fundraising efforts and is himself suffering the loss of his restaurant. There has been silence from the others as thousands of locals try to put the pieces of their lives and homes back together
A source close to the couple tells DailyMail.com they are 'devastated' by the disaster.
'They have been on the phone with locals and local officials since yesterday. They will be making donations to help the community,' they said.
Oprah, worth $2.5billion, owns nearly 2,000 acres of land on Maui and has been living there part-time for 15 years. It's unclear if any of her land was damaged.
She bought up the most recent parcel - 860 acres - in March this year for $6.6million. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler also has a home on the island, as does Owen Wilson and Clint Eastwood.
![Oprah spends much of her time on Maui with best friend Gayle King. The pair are shown during a recent hike in Hawaii](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/10/20/74183647-12393699-image-m-8_1691695019049.jpg)
Oprah spends much of her time on Maui with best friend Gayle King. The pair are shown during a recent hike in Hawaii
![In addition to an 11-bedroom ranch (shown), Oprah also owns nearly 2,000 acres of land in total on Maui](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/10/20/74183593-12393699-image-m-9_1691695052418.jpg)
In addition to an 11-bedroom ranch (shown), Oprah also owns nearly 2,000 acres of land in total on Maui
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/10/20/74184159-12393699-image-a-17_1691695219338.jpg)
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Larry Ellison owns 98 percent of the nearby Lanai Island. The Oracle billionaire is yet to offer a public statement on the catastrophe.
Mark Zuckerberg, who owns a huge home on the island of Kauai, is yet to speak about the disaster.
Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac saw his Lahaina restaurant - Fleetwood's on Front Street - burned to the ground.
In a statement on social media, Mick said: 'Maui and the Lahaina community have been my home for several decades.
'This is a devastating moment for Maui, and many are suffering unimaginable loss.
'Fleetwood’s on Front Street has been lost and while we are heartbroken, our main priority is the safety of our dear staff and team members.
![Bezos' home with Sanchez is in the exclusive La Perouse Bay. He paid a whopping $78million for the property which sits on 14 acres](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/11/03/74183557-12393699-Bezos_home_with_Sanchez_is_in_the_exclusive_La_Perouse_Bay_He_pa-a-96_1691720111662.jpg)
Bezos' home with Sanchez is in the exclusive La Perouse Bay. He paid a whopping $78million for the property which sits on 14 acres
![Bezos with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez four days ago in Taormina, Sicily. A source close to the couple tells DailyMail.com they are 'devastated' and have been on the phone with 'locals and local officials' to determine the best way to help](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/11/03/74183645-12393699-Bezos_with_his_fianc_e_Lauren_Sanchez_four_days_ago_in_Taormina_-a-97_1691720111692.jpg)
Bezos with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez four days ago in Taormina, Sicily. A source close to the couple tells DailyMail.com they are 'devastated' and have been on the phone with 'locals and local officials' to determine the best way to help
'On behalf of myself and my family, I share my heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Maui.
'We are committed to supporting the community and those affected by this disaster in the days and months and years to come.'
Barack Obama, who grew up in Honolulu and has a home on the Big Island, also released a statement last night with a link to the a local community fundraising effort.
'It’s tough to see some of the images coming out of Hawai’i — a place that’s so special to so many of us.
'Michelle and I are thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down. If you’d like to help, you can do so here,' he said.
![After hearing reports her home was destroyed along with her pets, Steff Baku-Kirkman reacts after wildfires driven by high winds were believed to have destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/11/03/74165919-12393699-After_hearing_reports_her_home_was_destroyed_along_with_her_pets-a-101_1691720115258.jpg)
After hearing reports her home was destroyed along with her pets, Steff Baku-Kirkman reacts after wildfires driven by high winds were believed to have destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina
![Lahaina has nearly been 'wiped off the map' after 271 buildings were burned to the ground during intense wildfires](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/11/03/74156401-12393699-Lahaina_has_nearly_been_wiped_off_the_map_after_271_buildings_we-a-98_1691720111868.jpg)
Lahaina has nearly been 'wiped off the map' after 271 buildings were burned to the ground during intense wildfires
![An aerial view shows destroyed homes and buildings that burned to the ground around the harbor and Front Street in the historic Lahaina Town in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii, on August 10, 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/11/03/74183575-12393699-An_aerial_view_shows_destroyed_homes_and_buildings_that_burned_t-a-100_1691720115112.jpg)
An aerial view shows destroyed homes and buildings that burned to the ground around the harbor and Front Street in the historic Lahaina Town in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii, on August 10, 2023
![A wildfire burns in Kihei, south Maui, late Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Thousands of residents raced to escape homes as blazes swept across the island in one of the deadliest US wildfires in recent years](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/11/13/74171397-12393699-A_wildfire_burns_in_Kihei_south_Maui_late_Wednesday_Aug_9_2023_T-a-1_1691755481430.jpg)
A wildfire burns in Kihei, south Maui, late Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Thousands of residents raced to escape homes as blazes swept across the island in one of the deadliest US wildfires in recent years
![Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac saw his Lahaina restaurant - Fleetwood's on Front Street - torched to the ground](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/11/13/74184229-12393699-Mick_Fleetwood_of_Fleetwood_Mac_saw_his_Lahaina_restaurant_Fleet-a-2_1691755481431.jpg)
Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac saw his Lahaina restaurant - Fleetwood's on Front Street - torched to the ground
Jason Momoa, who is from Honolulu, also appealed for help for the island's residents.
'We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and 'ohana on Maui who been impacted by the recent wildfires.'
Momoa has repeatedly shared links to the fundraising efforts.
Bette Midler, who also has a home in Hawaii, tweeted about the ongoing disaster effort.
And Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Brosnan, who have a home on Kauai, have called for support.
'My sincere and heartfelt prayers for Maui, the Hawaiian community, residents, families and animals affected by these unprecedented wildfires,' Keely posted on Instagram.
'If you are able, please consider making a donation to the Hawaii/Maui Community Foundation to help those in need.'
The American Red Cross is in Hawaii to assist with the recovery that officials say will take 'years'.
According to Deadline, celebrity chef Jose Andres - who regularly lends his help in natural disasters - is working on a plan to bring food to many of Maui's locals.
The death toll from the fires has now risen to 36, with hundreds still missing and hundreds left homeless.
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