There are over a dozen ghost towns in California. And some of them are probably available for purchase. It would be better working on something like that with some semblance of control.

Stumbled upon this: https://m.youtube.com/@GhostTownLiving

IG : https://www.instagram.com/brentwunderwood

Steal for that price: https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/ghost-town-mining-...

I suspect they will have a harder time finding 400k people than they will finding water.

Slant-drilling no doubt.

When you are a billionaire, you just pay for the water. You outbid the local farmer and all is well for you.