wealth

Scrooge McDuck Tops Forbes Fictional Rich List

Filed under: Wealth

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Real-life tycoons Donald Trump and Roman Abramovich grace the pages of Luxist frequently for their lavish spending habits like buying up golf courses and dropping $52K on lunch in New York City, but when it comes to covering the wealthy why limit ourselves to flesh and blood?

Some of the word's richest characters are fictional, and although the spending (or scrooging, as the case may be) isn't real it's just as entertaining.

Forbes has released their 2011 Fictional 15, a list of the wealthiest fictional characters in the world. Their net worth averages $9.86 billion (up a whopping 20 percent from last year) and each was calculated based on source material, real life commodity and share price movements, and a healthy dose of "this is just for fun."

So who tops the list? Scrooge McDuck, of course, with his penny-pinching ways and investments in "hoardables" earning him a fictional net worth of $44.1 billion.

Other interesting list members include: No. 2 Carlisle Cullen of the Twilight series, rich in part due to solid banking habits and and early investments into Wal-Mart and Google, and No. 7 the red-golden dragon "Smaug" from "The Hobbit" who hoards his riches meticulously but spends little, preferring instead to use his gold and gems as bedding material.

See the complete Forbes Fictional 15 here.

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Tags: fictional characters, Forbes, Forbes Fictional List, Scrooge McDuck, wealth, worlds richest characters

The Aga Khan's $200 Million Superyacht Snafu

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

Recently we reported on the impressive racehorses owned by His Highness the Aga Khan, the immensely wealthy Muslim spiritual leader. The urbane Aga Khan, a philanthropist, Harvard graduate and stepson of Hollywood bombshell Rita Hayworth, hasn't had as much good fortune when it comes to superyachts however. A considerable portion of his $800 million fortune has gone into what is supposed to be the world's fastest superyacht, but instead is a serious snafu.

The 164-ft. Alamshar (pictured above), named after a prized racehorse, is a $200 million vessel commissioned by His Highness from the UK's Devonport, which has now been in build for twelve whole years. Designed to break the transatlantic speed record, her ultra-expensive Rolls-Royce gas turbine engines underperformed and had to be replaced. It also caught on fire a bit. However, the luxurious craft was recently spotted performing sea trials and may one day soon be ready to sail.

[via JamesList]

Tags: Aga Khan, Aga Khans yacht, Alamshar yacht, billionaires, Muslim, richest Muslims, Rolls-Royce, superyacht, superyachts, wealth, yacht

Steven Spielberg Sets Sail on His New $200 Million Megayacht

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Celebrity Shopping, Wealth

Famed director Steven Spielberg was recently spotted in St. Barth's and St. Maarten on his new $200 million megayacht, the Seven Seas (pictured above), a stylish 282-footer fitted with every imaginable luxury.

Built by Dutch shipyard Oceanco to the Hollywood mogul's specifications, it has a sophisticated interior design scheme with acres of walnut, teak and rosewood. Its most impressive feature is an infinity pool with a 15-ft. glass wall that doubles as a cinema screen so Spielberg and his guests can view movies while swimming or lounging poolside.

Tags: celebrity, celebrity yacht, director, Hollywood, megayacht, movie mogul, movies, Oceanco, spielberg+yacht, spielbergs+yacht, spielbergsyacht, spielbergyacht, Steven Spielberg, Steven Spielberg yacht, steven+spielbergs+new+yacht, steven+spielbergs+yacht, stevenspielbergsnewyacht, stevenspielbergsyacht, superyacht, wealth, yacht, yacht design

Continue reading “Steven Spielberg Sets Sail on His New $200 Million Megayacht”

Dubai and Abu Dhabi Battle for Polo Championship

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports, Wealth

Dubai and Abu Dhabi Battle for Polo Championship

The Dubai Falcons and Abu Dhabi Polo will battle it out in the final of the Threadneedle Polo Gold Cup to be played at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club today. The UAE's moneyed elite are divided in their support for the two area teams, both strong contenders for the championship with four wins each going into the contest. "We are up against a very strong team in the final and we just hope to continue with our winning streak in this tournament," Dubai Falcons' star player Tommy Iriarte tells the Gulf News. "We have managed to keep a clean slate in this tournament so far," notes undefeated Abu Dhabi Polo captain Fares Al Yabhouni, "so there is nothing like going for an all-out victory and making this a terrific debut participation for us." The Threadneedle Polo Gold Cup is the latest in a series of high-profile equestrian events taking place in Dubai this season.

Gallery: Polo in Dubai

Tags: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Equestrian, horses, polo, sports, UAE, wealth

Fifty Years of Equestrian Champions from the Stables of His Highness the Aga Khan

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Books, Wealth

Fifty Years of Equestrian Champions from the Stables of His Highness the Aga Khan

A new lavishly illustrated volume by Philip Jodidio from Prestel highlights fifty years of the prestigious horse racing and breeding enterprises of His Highness the Aga Khan, the immensely wealthy Muslim spiritual leader. The urbane Aga Khan, a philanthropist, Harvard graduate and stepson of Hollywood bombshell Rita Hayworth, built his world class thoroughbred empire on a legacy handed down through generations and now oversees one of the largest and most successful racing and breeding operations in Europe. The luxe book traces the history of the Aga Khan Studs including many famous champions through remarkable photographs, engravings and paintings taken from the Aga Khan's archives. Also included is a lengthy interview with His Highness and informative essays on what makes a great racehorse. Check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: The Horses of the Aga Khan

A group of mares and foals bred at St Crespin, France

Dalakhani, winner of four Group I races, including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Zarkava, unbeaten winner of five Group I races, descends from Mumtaz Mahal, purchased in 1921 by the Aga Khan III

His Highness the Aga Khan inspecting yearlings at St Crespin in Normandy

A group of mares and foals grazing in a field in Ireland

Tags: Aga Khan, books, coffee table books, equestrian, Harvard, horse racing, horseracing, horses, Islam, Muslim, racehorse, racehorses, Rita Hayworth, royalty, sports, stables, the+aga+khan, theagakhan, thoroughbreds, wealth

EXCLUSIVE: Abramovich Said to Be Owner of World's Most Expensive Painting

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Wealth

EXCLUSIVE: Abramovich is Likely Owner of World's Most Expensive Painting

When we first reported back in May that Pablo Picasso's 1932 painting Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust (above) had sold for a record-breaking $106.5 million at Christie's we heard whispers that the buyer was a certain Russian oligarch known for his eye-popping acquisitions: Roman Abramovich. Now that the world's most expensive painting has been lent to the UK's Tate Modern museum by the unnamed "private collector" who bought it (as my colleague Deidre Woollard reported), a strong indication that the owner is based in London where Abramovich spends most of his time, we're hearing them louder. [cont'd]

Gallery: Record-Breaking Art

Tags: abramovich, art, art auction, art collectors, auction, billionaire, chelsea, London, modern art, most+expensive+painting, mostexpensivepainting, museums, oligarch, Pablo Picasso, Picasso, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaires, Tate Modern, UK, wealth, world record, worlds most expensive, worlds most expensive painting

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Abramovich Said to Be Owner of World's Most Expensive Painting”

Russian Billionaire Andrey Melnichenko Buys $12 Million Central Park Pad

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Wealth

Russian Billionaire Andrey Melnichenko Buys $12 Million Central Park Pad

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, owner of the eye-popping $300 million megayacht 'A' (above) designed by Philippe Starck, has splashed out $12.2 million on a penthouse pied-à-terre in Central Park. It's the first New York property for Melnichenko, at 38 one of the world's youngest billionaires, and his model wife Aleksandra, the Wall St. Journal reports, added to a real estate portfolio that includes apartments and estates in Moscow, France and the U.K. The 2,800-sq.-ft., two-bedroom duplex has two balconies, a terrace facing Central Park, and an entrance gallery with 24-foot ceilings. As we reported back in January Melnichenko, who amassed a $4.4 billion fortune in fertilizer and banking, entertained Martha Stewart, Demi Moore and Aston Kutcher on his yacht in St. Barth's over New Year's during Roman Abramovich's bash.

Tags: Andrey Melnichenko, billionaire, Central Park, mega+yacht, megayacht, New York, oligarch, penthouse, Philippe Starck, real estate, Roman Abramovich, Russia, Russian billionaires, superyacht, wealth, yacht

South America's First Luxury Fair Coming to Brazil in November

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Wealth, Luxury Shopping

South America's First Luxury Fair Coming to Brazil in November

Sao Paulo in Brazil will host the very first luxury fair in South America from November 23 – 25, an indication of the growing economic clout of the country and the BRIC nations in general. Modeled on the millionaires' fairs popular in places like Moscow, Expo Luxo will feature the latest high-end products including luxury cars, yachts, private jets, helicopters, jewelery, watches, fashion, electronics and technology, home decor, cosmetics, real estate, spirits, gourmet goods and artwork, along with providers of "premium and luxury" services such as architecture, interior design, landscaping, concierge services, private chefs and more. Over 100 international exhibitors are expected along with an audience of about 35,000.

Tags: Brazil, BRIC, economics, events, Expo Luxo, helicopters, luxury fair, millionaire fair, millionaires, South America, wealth

Dimostra Debuts Digital Portfolios for Car Collectors

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

Dimostra Debuts Digital Portfolios for Car Collectors

Dimostra is a recently launched service for car collectors that brings classics into the digital age. The company's offerings include portfolio development, virtual showrooms, iconic photography, auction or show marketing, and asset documentation services to owners of the world's finest automobiles. The company is based on the concept that regardless of the size or value of a collection, true car connoisseurs should be willing to share their precious investments with fellow enthusiasts. "As rare collector cars become more valuable, their presence in public will continue to diminish," Dimostra's David Nawrocki tells us. "We hope to bridge this void in the collector car market."

By featuring and celebrating each car's beauty and history in a contemporary environment online with fellow enthusiasts, Dimostra also hopes to educate younger generations on the historical significance of the cars, "ultimately protecting their long term collectability and value." Don't have your own car collection? No problem – for $9.99 / month, you can purchase a VIP subscription to the portfolios on Dimostra's website, some of which belong to well-known collectors. A subscription gives you access to all the photographs, original documentation and a brief narrative about the history of each car, some of which are worth millions. You can check out a preview of some of our favorites in the gallery.

Gallery: Dimosta Automuseo

Tags: bugatti, car collection, car collector, cars, classic cars, collections, Dimostra, Ferrari, investment, Lamborghini, luxury cars, photography, wealth, websites

How Many Millionaires Are There in the World?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

How many millionaires are there in the world today? It depends on what you mean by "millionaire". The Economist reports that there are two different "official" methods for determining who makes the cut. Capegemini, a financial consultancy, defines a millionaire as anyone with investable assets of $1 million or more – meaning that they actually have over a million dollars as that doesn't include the home in which they live, for instance. By this measure there are about 10 million millionaires on the planet, according to Capegemini and Merrill Lynch. Mega bank Credit Suisse uses a different definition, however, denoting anyone whose net assets exceed $1 million a millionaire. In those terms, there are 24.2 million millionaires on the planet – about 0.5% of the world's adult population, or more than the entire population of Australia. 41% of them live in the U.S., 10% in Japan and 3% in China.

Tags: Merrill Lynch, millionaire, millionaires, money, wealth

Abramovich Moves Down on Russia's Rich List

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Oligarch Roman Abramovich has taken a major tumble on this year's list of Russia's richest men and now languishes in fifth place. Russia's Finans magazine puts Abramovich's wealth at $17.1 billion, up only $100 million from a year ago despite a strong recovery for the Russian economy that saw rival tycoons cash in big time. Steel magnate Vladimir Lisin captured the top spot once again with a $28.3 billion fortune, up from $18.8 billion last year. Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of the New Jersey Nets, makes the list at number two with $22.7 billion, while Alisher Usmanov, part-owner of Arsenal Football Club, clocks in at number three with $19.9 billion. In fourth place, edging out Abramovich, is another steel tycoon, Oleg Deripaska, with $19 billion. Meanwhile there are 37 newly-minted billionaires in Russia this year, bringing the total to 114 up from 77 in 2010.

Gallery: Russia's Richest Men

#4 - Oleg Deripaska (with Putin at left)

Source

Tags: abramovich, billionaire, Mikhail Prokhorov, Oleg Deripaska, oligarch, richest, Roman Abramovich, Russia, Russian billionaires, Vladimir Lisin, wealth

Home Team Wins Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports, Wealth

Home Team Wins Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge

The home team emerged victorious for the second year running at the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge on Friday. Four pro-am polo teams competed in the prestigious event at the Desert Palm Polo Club under the patronage of Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Desert Palm team edged out Cartier's own team to capture the top prize. The other two teams were fielded by Swiss bank (and Wikileaks target) Julius Baer and the UK's Guards Polo Club. Desert Palm patrons Clive Reid and Tariq Albwardy received the impressive trophy from Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the son of Dubai's ruler. Cartier suffered a setback early in the final when their best player, Salvador Ulloa, was injured though another Cartier team member, Nico Petracchi, was named Most Valuable Player.

Source

Tags: Cartier, cartier+international+dubai+polo+challenge, cartier+international+dubai+polo+challenge+2011, cartier+polo+dubai, cartierinternationaldubaipolochallenge, cartierinternationaldubaipolochallenge2011, cartierpolodubai, Dubai, equestrian, horses, Julius Baer, polo, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE, wealth

Did Abramovich Just Bag a Bacon for $37 Million at Sotheby's?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art, Wealth

Last month when we wrote about an important Francis Bacon triptych being auctioned off at Sotheby's, we predicted it would blast past its $14 million high estimate. And indeed on Thursday Three Studies for a Portrait of Lucian Freud (above) sold for a whopping $37 million, or more than two and a half times the top quote, at the auction house's Looking Closely sale of 20th century artworks in London. In our original post we also put forward Bacon-loving oligarch Roman Abramovich as the likely buyer, since he's in the midst of decorating his new $230 million mega-mansion in London; while Thursday's purchaser was anonymous, we bet the Freud triptych will be hanging on Abramovich's wall before long. The Thursday sale, from works said to have belonged to the low-profile Geneva collector George Kostalitz who died last year, also saw a new auction record for any surrealist work of art – Salvador Dali's Portrait de Paul Eluard, which sold for $21.6 million.

Tags: art, auctions, contemporary art, Francis Bacon, London, Roman Abramovich, Russian billionaires, Salvador Dali, Sothebys, wealth

How Blohm + Voss Lost $300 Million on Roman Abramovich's 'Eclipse'

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

When we wrote about all the delays, snafus and spiraling costs surrounding Roman Abramovich's gigayacht Eclipse, many people had a good chuckle over the hundreds of millions of dollars in overages the oligarch incurred in his quest for the world's largest yacht. Now it turns out he's having the last laugh, because the yacht's German builders Blohm + Voss got stuck with the bill. That's because six years ago they rather foolishly signed an ironclad contract to complete the project for €340 million (about $485 million) according to a new report, whereas the actual cost turned out to be closer to €570 million, or about $785 million – meaning B+V took a bath to the tune of $300 million, enough for a whole other megayacht. Now Blohm + Voss' competitors at Lürssen are indulging in a good dose of schadenfreude over the incident while building an even bigger yacht for an Arab sheik.

Tags: Blohm + Voss, Eclipse, eclipse+yacht, eclipseyacht, megayacht, Roman Abramovich, roman+abramovich+eclipse, romanabramovicheclipse, Russian billionaires, superyacht, wealth, yacht

The Classicist: Inside the Embassies & Historic Mansions of Paris

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Estates, Books, The Classicist, Wealth, Architecture & Design

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