Wealth

Malcolm Forbes' Nautical Collections Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 10th 2011 at 11:02AM

Last month antique toys from the collection of the late Malcolm Forbes fetched $2.3 million at Sotheby's. Now on Jan. 29–30 Georgia's Red Baron antiques is staging its own sale of ship models, important nautical art and maritime collectibles from the tycoon's vaults. The Forbes offerings include the largest private fleet of ship models ever assembled and total sales could hit seven figures as well. Some of the most impressive ship models include a 14.5-ft. long full-hull rigged builder's model of the British twin-screw steamship Orontes, built by England's Vickers & Armstrong and first launched in Feb. 1929; a 12-ft. builder's model of the British twin-screw passenger liner Rangitiki, built in 1929 by John Brown & Co. of Scotland; and an original Royal Yacht model depicting the sailing ship Britannia, first launched in 1893. 400 paintings, several statues, and an antique diver's helmet round out the offerings.

Gallery: Malcolm Forbes Nautical Collection

Tags: antiques, Forbes, Malcolm Forbes, model ship, nautical, steamship, toys, yacht

The Classicist: Inside the Embassies & Historic Mansions of Paris

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 10th 2011 at 9:01AM

Very rarely do any of Paris' remaining private palaces come on the market; when they do the properties invariably rank among the world's most expensive, such as the 1912 mansion built for the Duchesse de Montmorency recently listed at $140 million that we told you about back in November. The reason there is so little movement among these magnificent monuments to wealth lining the famed city's storied avenues is that most are occupied as embassies and ambassadorial residences. An equally magnificent new book, Historic Houses of Paris: Residences of the Ambassadors from Flammarion by Alain Stella with photography by Francis Hammond offers a guided tour of 22 of these amazing edifices, some seen for the first time, most originally built for members of the aristocracy and now the setting for lavish diplomatic entertainments and intrigues.

Gilded halls, formal sitting rooms, stately dining rooms, paneled libraries, perfectly landscaped gardens, chambers filled with rare antiques, luxurious wallcoverings and private living quarters are all examined in delectable detail, in mansions ranging from a 17th-century hôtel particulier to a Belle Epoque palace and even a couple more contemporary examples, now occupied by the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, China, India and more. The cover (above) depicts the Sicilian theater of the incredible Italian Ambassador 's residence, aka the Hotel de la Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville, built in 1732. Some, like the Indian Ambassador's residence, aka the Hotel de Marlborough built in 1910 by architect René Sergent, who also designed Claridge's in London and Rome's Grand Hotel, are named for famous former owners; in this case the Duchess of Marlborough, aka Consuelo Vanderbilt, one of the world's richest and most beautiful women at the time.

Gallery: Historic Houses of Paris

Hotel d'Avaray (Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Tags: antiques, architecture, aristocrats, Belle Epoque, books, coffee table books, decor, embassy, estates, France, historic houses, mansion, Paris, politics, real estate, wealth

Continue reading “The Classicist: Inside the Embassies & Historic Mansions of Paris”

Salma Hayek & Supermodels Party on St. Barths' Sexiest Superyacht

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 7th 2011 at 3:02PM

Roman Abramovich's Eclipse is bigger, Demi Moore's Philippe Starck-designed cruiser is cooler, and P. Diddy's floating iPad-controlled palace is more expensive, but the 161-ft. Destination Fox Harb'r Too was hands-down the sexiest superyacht in St. Barths over the New Year's vacation. It's not that there's anything terribly special about the Trinity-built vessel considering the competition; rather it has to do with who was onboard: Salma Hayek and stunning supermodels Alessandra Ambrosio (above) and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Hayek's billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault of the famed French luxury goods conglomerate reportedly footed the $250,000-per-week tab for the oceangoing extravaganza.

Destination Fox Harb'r Too was launched in 2008 with luxe accommodations for 11 guests in six spacious staterooms. The yacht is manned by a crew of 10 including a 5-star chef, three hostesses and a watersports guide. The split-level owner's suite features amazing 180-degree views and dual private en-suite baths. The Patrick Knowles Design interior is modeled on a European spa resort, featuring sophisticated fabrics, hand-carved glass and stone work, and acres of Honduran mahogany paneling with redwood burl, lacewood, and Macassar ebony accents. The sexy shipmates were in St. Barths for Abramovich's lavish New Year's Eve bash featuring the Black Eyed Peas.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: 'Destination Fox Harb'r Too'

Tags: Alessandra Ambrosio, megayacht, Philippe Starck, Roman Abramovich, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Salma Hayek, St. Barths, supermodels, superyacht, yacht

P. Diddy Charters the $600,000-a-Week iPad Megayacht in St. Barths

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 3rd 2011 at 7:02PM

The other day we told you about Solemates (above), the $600,000 per week 197-ft. superyacht charter designed by the great Espen Oeino and launched by Lürssen earlier this year, the first of its kind to offer clients control of its various high-tech systems via the iPad. Now none other than Sean "P. Diddy" Combs has turned up on the yacht in St. Barths, where he chartered the ultra-luxe vessel for a family vacation over New Year's with girlfriend Kim Porter, their daughters D'Lila and Jessie and son Justin before jetting to Las Vegas to party. Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas visited as well. Via the iPad Diddy and co. can control the shipboard entertainment, climate and lighting systems and even summon crewmembers to bring refreshments.

The interior of the yacht, which accommodates 12 guests in six luxurious cabins, was designed by Glade Johnson in a blend of elegant, rich woods and textures and classical details paired with contemporary, sleek lines. The main and upper deck salons are awash with natural light and offer impressive spaces for formal or casual dining and entertaining. The sun deck features an outdoor dining area and a sun lounge wrapped around the Jacuzzi forward, and a discotheque sound and lighting system turns it into an al fresco nightclub. There are several toys and tenders aboard for a variety of recreational activities.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: 'Solemates' iPad Superyacht Charter

Tags: celebrity, Diddy, Espen Oeino, iPad, New Years Eve, p+diddy+ipad+yacht, p+diddy+yacht, P. Diddy, p.+diddy+ipad+superyacht, p.diddyipadsuperyacht, pdiddyipadyacht, pdiddyyacht, Sean Combs, Sean P. Diddy Combs, Solemates, St. Barths, superyacht, yacht, yacht charter

A Look Inside Ralph Lauren's Billion-Dollar Garage

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 3rd 2011 at 11:01AM

We've written before about the automotive treasures in Ralph Lauren's car collection; now Vanity Fair has gotten an inside look at the lavish garage / gallery the designer recently built near his posh Westchester, NY estate to house them. Lauren transformed a former car dealership's storage facility into a shrine to the best in automotive design, with rooms dedicated to famous marques; the Ferrari room is pictured above, with a rare 1958 Testa Rossa taking center stage. The 60-plus ultra-valuable vehicles are all kept registered and ready to drive anytime the designer feels like going for a spin.

The eye-popping collection includes a 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic worth an estimated $40 million alone – the world's most expensive car – a 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix, a 1938 Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia roadster, the world's only 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi" roadster, a 1957 Jaguar XKSS, a McLaren F1, a 1929 "Blower" Bentley, a Ferrari 250 GT, and the only Lamborghini Reventon Roadster in the U.S. All have been maintained carefully since new, or restored to perfection – and "sometimes beyond perfection," the magazine notes, as some have been painted in colors that the billionaire decided were better than the originals.

Tags: Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, car collection, classic cars, designer, Ferrari, Ferrari 250 GT, Jaguar, Lamborghini, McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz, Ralph Lauren, Vanity Fair, wealth, Westchester, worlds most expensive

Demi Moore & Martha Stewart Party on Russian Billionaire's Megayacht

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 3rd 2011 at 6:01AM

Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Martha Stewart made the New Year's scene in St. Barths as guests of Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko aboard his Philippe Starck-designed megayacht 'A' (above). The awe-inspiring 390-ft. craft ranks as the 11th largest yacht in the world and cost an estimated $300 million to build. The celebs were in town for oligarch Roman Abramovich's star-studded New Year's Eve bash featuring the Black Eyed Peas at his lavish estate on the island. While on board the yacht Moore strutted around in a barely-there bikini and caught some rays.

She and Kutcher also played around on the vessel's jet skis. The yacht's interior features $40,000 bath faucets, $60,000 stair banisters, and an all-white, 2,583-sq.-ft. master suite wrapped in bulletproof glass and accessed by a silver-plated staircase with a fingerprint scanner at the door. Key decor accents include Baccarat crystal tables, alligator skin and Kudu horn chairs, stingray skin upholstered walls and hand-stitched leather paneling. Filling the A's gas tanks alone costs $500,000 a pop and running costs come to about $20 million a year.

Tags: Andrey Melnichenko, Ashton Kutcher, celebrity, Demi Moore, Martha Stewart, megayacht, parties, Philippe Starck, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaires, St. Barths, superyacht, yacht

Europe's Richest Man Building Scotland's Most Expensive Mansion

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 2nd 2011 at 11:02AM

Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal is building the most expensive mansion ever erected in Scotland, next to the famed Gleneagles golf resort in Auchterarder, Perthshire. The London-based tycoon, Europe's richest man and the fifth richest man in the world with a fortune of $28.7 billion, is spending a record $23 million on the posh estate, including the $6 million mansion he tore down to make way for his new luxury fortress. His lavish private palace in London is reckoned to be the city's most expensive as well. Costs on the Perthshire project soared after Mittal decided some of the finished weren't up to standard, Scotland's Daily Record reports.

At one point he demanded a $125,000 bathroom be torn out and done over. "We are all very aware that Lakshmi Mittal has bought the property and he has been very particular about the specifications," one neighbor told the paper. "He has flown in several times and I have spoken to his wife, who seemed very down to earth. I get the impression she is more likely to use the facilities up here than her husband. I think their priority is getting it perfect." The six-bedroom main residence will have furnishings by Ralph Lauren, a state-of-the-art entertainment system, two kitchens and staff quarters among other amenities.

Tags: billionaire, estates, Europe, Gleneagles, India, Lakshmi Mittal, London, mansion, Perthshire, real estate, Scotland, UK, wealth, worlds most expensive

Kate Moss Splashes Out $150,000 on NYE Spree

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 1st 2011 at 6:02PM

Kate Moss splashed out $150,000 on a last-minute New Year's Eve blowout in Thailand with her rock star boyfriend Jamie Hince. Moss has booked in for a week at the luxe Amanpuri resort in Phuket where she has rented a private villa with a full staff as well as a luxury yacht to cruise round the Andaman sea, the UK's Daily Star reports. For New Year's Eve the stunning supermodel spent about $45,000 on a lavish banquet. Moss has spent the last three New Year's Eves at the glamorous resort, situated in a coconut grove on a private beach. The paper reports that she wanted to make other plans this year but left it too late and found everything booked. "She's in a huff because she was desperate for somewhere new, but was turned down by top resorts around the globe who had no room left," a source tells the paper. "Kate's been moaning that's she's not happy going back to the same resort, but to make it exciting she'll do it in style and raise the roof." That's the spirit.

Gallery: Amanpuri Resort, Thailand

Tags: Amanpuri, beach, Kate Moss, New Years Eve, Phuket, resort, supermodel, Thailand, yacht

Brokers Stiffed on Sale of Duke-Semans Mansion to World's Richest Man

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 1st 2011 at 3:03PM

It seems there was something a bit dodgy about the record $44 million sale of the famed Duke-Semans mansion (above) in New York City to Carlos Slim, the world's richest man, which we wrote about back in July. According to a lawsuit filed by the real estate brokers who had the listing on the palatial residence, former owner Tamir Sapir stiffed them out of nearly $1 million in commission by reneging on a prior agreement to sell the place to a different buyer for $37 million. Since Sapir, a cab driver-turned-fertilizer king, did the deal with Slim directly he ended up paying no brokerage fee, the New York Times reports, noting that the parties have just reached a settlement in the dispute for an undisclosed amount. Sapir bought the historic seven-story Beaux Arts mansion located across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art from relatives of Doris Duke for $40 million in 2006. When Slim took possession the 20,000-square-foot mansion, built in 1901, it had a doctor's office in the basement, a five-story main residence, a penthouse duplex on top, 12 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and 11 wood-burning fireplaces.

Tags: Carlos Slim, Duke-Semans mansion, estates, mansion, New York City, real estate, Tamir Sapir, wealth

Prince William and Kate Middleton Swear to Live Without Servants

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 1st 2011 at 10:01AM

Soon-to-be-married couple Prince William and Kate Middleton say they do not plan to employ any servants in their royal household. Although William's father Prince Charles employs an army of 150 retainers, William and his new wife will not have so much as a single Jeeves to fetch their tea, the London Telegraph reports. The future King and Queen of England have been doing their own shopping, cooking and even cleaning at the rented cottage they occupy on weekends, the paper notes, and plan to continue in that vein once vows have been exchanged.

The only staff they can't dispense with are the bodyguards detailed to provide security for the heir to the throne. The couple apparently believe that sharing their home with servants would ruin the intimacy of their relationship. "It's very much their instinct to manage on their own," a senior royal source tells the paper. "They want to do their duty and make sure they are a real asset to the country but they are private individuals who want to get on with their lives." Of course all that will have to change when the couple move in to Buckingham Palace.

Tags: aristocrats, British royalty, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Prince William, royal family, royalty, UK, wealth

Abramovich's 'Eclipse' Finally Ready to Set Sail

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Jan 1st 2011 at 8:04AM

After a year-long delay our favorite Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich finally took delivery of the world's largest and most expensive yacht, the Eclipse (above), the other day in time to berth her in St. Barths for his big New Year's Eve bash starring the Black Eyed Peas. The yacht, which measures anywhere from 533 ft. to 557 ft. depending on reports, cost somewhere between $500 million – $1 billion, again depending on which news accounts you give credit to. In any case, the Eclipse will cost an estimated $50 million a year to maintain and each fill-up at the gas tanks will run Roman a cool $650,000. The Eclipse, built by Germany's Blohm + Voss with luxe accommodations for 30 guests and 75 crew members, was beset with problems as we noted over the summer. The yacht, which features a military-grade missile defense system, armor plating, bulletproof windows, three helipads, two swimming pools and a wellness center, is said to be paparazzi proof thanks to a special electronic shield.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: abramovich, abramovich+eclipse, abramovicheclipse, Blohm + Voss, eclipse+yacht, eclipseyacht, megayacht, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaires, st+barts, St. Barths, stbarts, wealth, yacht

Inside Abramovich's New $230 Million London Mega-Mansion

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Dec 27th 2010 at 6:02PM

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has purchased all nine luxury apartments in two adjoining buildings in London's posh Knightsbridge neighborhood and plans to transform them into a mega-mansion at a total cost of about $230 million. He aims to turn the 30,000-sq.-ft. eight-bedroom buildings, a historic property located next to famed department store Harrods and designed by renowned master builder Thomas Cubitt, who also designed parts of Buckingham Palace, into a high-tech luxury fortress with five above-ground stories and three underground levels, the London Daily Mail reports. The paper has obtained a schematic of the plans, above; most of the cost of the project will go towards the renovations.

"He wants a very plush interior in the style of high neoclassical Victorian to match the exterior," an insider tells the paper. "He's going to be very hands-on and there will be nothing minimalist about his taste. Inside will be all cornices, thick pile carpeting and heavy drapery." The plans call for six bedrooms two guest rooms all with en suite baths; a multicar garage with staff accommodation in a mews behind the main building; a cinema / entertainment room; an indoor swimming pool; a steam room and sauna; and a children's study and entertainment room. Abramovich has been patiently acquiring the flats in the buildings since the late '90s, the paper reveals, and just recently closed on the last one.

Tags: abramovich, abramovich+london, abramovich+mansion, abramovichlondon, abramovichmansion, billionaire, estates, Harrods, Knightsbridge, London, mansion, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaires, UK, wealth

Ukranian Billionaire Flys in Ducasse, Cirque du Soleil for $6 Million Birthday Bash

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Dec 18th 2010 at 8:01PM

Ukrainian billionaire Viktor Pinchuk (above) is spending more than $6 million on an opulent 50th birthday bash for himself in the posh French ski resort of Courchevel tonight, flying in the Cirque de Soleil and superchef Alain Ducasse for the occasion. The steel magnate and contemporary art collector, whose has an estimated fortune of over $3 billion, is sparing no expense for the 300 guests invited to the event, the London Telegraph reports. It has taken 50 workmen two weeks "under difficult climactic conditions" to set up an enormous marquee to showcase the Cirque du Soleil, the world-renowned Canadian circus troupe, the paper notes.

Ducasse's haute cuisine will be accompanied by oceans of the finest champagne, vodka and top grand cru vintage wines. The evening will end with a spectacular fireworks display before guests retire to the resort's 11 five-star hotels, all booked out for the occasion. Pinchuk, who owns one of London's most expensive houses, has his own private museum in Kiev housing major works by Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Louis Vuitton collaborator Takashi Murakami. He has a number of philanthropic projects and arts sponsorships in the works with the likes of Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Steven Spielberg, George Soros and Bill Clinton, all of whom could turn up at the birthday blowout.

Tags: Alain Ducasse, billionaire, Cirque de Soleil, contemporary art, Courchevel, Damien Hirst, events, france, Jeff Koons, museum, oligarch, parties, Paul McCartney, Russian billionaires, Takashi Murakami, Ukraine, wealth

Tony Accurso's Touch Yacht Up For Sale To Satisfy Tax Debt

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Dec 10th 2010 at 2:02AM

Tony Accurso, a Quebec millionaire whose construction companies are facing federal tax evasion charges, is selling off his luxury yacht. Accurso owns a 120-foot yacht known as the Touch. The Toronto Sun reports that an Accurso company, Louisbourg Construction, pleaded guilty Tuesday to improperly claiming and deducting $1.7 million in expenses on the yacht as business expenses. Louisbourg and construction company Simard-Beaudry also pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion agreeing to pay $4.1 million in taxes plus an additional $4.1 million in fines by next summer. All that necessitated the sale of the Touch, an aluminum-hulled super yacht built in 2004 and refitted in 2008.

The yacht accommodates up to eight guests in a master cabin and three double cabins and has room for a crew of seven. It also has an on-board exterior hot tub, leather chairs on its top deck, wireless Internet, a private dining room, and several bars and lounges. The interior was designed by Quebec designer Danielle Vignault with gleaming teak wood finishes. It comes with a variety of toys including kayaks, water skiing equipment, wake boards, and three towable and inflatable inner tubes. The yacht has a cruising speed of 11 knots. It is for sale through Fraser Yachts for $7.9 million.

Gallery: Touch Yacht

Tags: megayacht, superyacht, tony accurso, touch, yacht for sale

Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyards Fails To Sell At Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Dec 9th 2010 at 10:02PM

Back in October I mentioned that the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyards was going through foreclosure and was in the hands of its lenders. It looks like it will stay there for a while. The property failed to sell at auction this week with bidders unwilling to top the Farm Credit Bank's opening bid of $19 million. The auction was for a total of 907 acres of property that included 164 acres of vineyards, the winery tasting room, six houses, offices and production buildings, a barrel storage cave and a former carriage museum.The Daily Progress reports that the Kluge Estate owes an estimated $34.8 million to Farm Credit for a loan taken out in 2007.

Patricia Kluge has thrown her heart, soul and no small amount of money into her Virginia wine business. Kluge and her husband and business partner Bill Moses have Albemarle House, their 45-room English style manor, on the market for $24 million (it was listed at $100 million last year) and earlier this year they sold off the contents at Sotheby's in a two-day buying bonanza that brought in $15.2 million. A sale of her jewelry brought in around $5 million.

Kluge Estate trustee Bill Shmidheiser said the bank hopes to sell the property and that $19 million is a good deal for any buyer because Kluge and Moses spent approximately $50 million creating the winery. The estate is set up to produce about 34,000 cases of wine per year, far larger than most smaller wineries in Virginia that produce around 5,000 cases per year. Another auction is scheduled for this weekend to sell off 15,000 cases of wine from the Kluge Estate.

Gallery: Kluge Estates Vineyard