The 1980s was an age of opportunity and aspiration.
Ronald Reagan served as the 40th president from 1981 to 1989. He loosened economic controls in an open democracy, paving the way for the US to boom. Those good times lasted pretty well until 2007.
Along with the 1990s, this was also a golden age for television.
Readers will remember luxurious shows such as Dallas, Dynasty, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and Hart to Hart. This was the age of the self-made millionaire.
It was also a time for people to put the pain and torture of the Vietnam War behind them.
Magnum, P.I. starred Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum. Magnum was head of security for Robin’s Nest, which was the home of an elusive writer of bestselling thrillers.
Unlike many shows that depicted war veterans as broken, Magnum, P.I. offered a refreshing take. The hero was a charismatic, fun-loving ex-Navy SEAL. His close-knit circle of fellow Vietnam vets — though occasionally shadowed by past trauma — were portrayed as honorable, resilient, and adventurous men.
The show provided insight into men dealing with the return from war. Coming back ‘whole’ but not fitting right back into normal life either.
Ferrari 308 GTS. Source: Ken Lane / Flickr, used under Creative Commons License
Indeed, life at Robin’s Nest was far from normal. It was a 200-acre beachfront paradise in Hawaii. Magnum had free use of the guesthouse, the car (a Ferrari 308 GTS), and other amenities such as the tennis court, wine cellar, and expensive cameras.
It’s no surprise that Hawaii remains America’s most expensive state, well ahead of California, with a median home value of USD $973,555 (as of July 2025). Although remote, Hawaii offers a very desirable lifestyle. People are prepared to pay a premium to live here.
Beneath the romance of Robin’s Nest lies a real-world opportunity — one that pays dividends…
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Simon is the Chief Executive Officer and Publisher at Wealth Morning. He has been investing in the markets since he was 17. He recently spent a couple of years working in the hedge-fund industry in Europe. Before this, he owned an award-winning professional-services business and online-learning company in Auckland for 20 years. He has completed the Certificate in Discretionary Investment Management from the Personal Finance Society (UK), has written a bestselling book, and manages global share portfolios.