The homeless billionaire
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10 members have voted
July 31st, 2011 at 3:07:30 PM
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Nicolas Berggruen, is the homeless billionaire. Nicolas is approaching age 50, worth over $2 billion, and owns a Gulfstream IV.
He's never been married, dates beautiful women, is interested in government and art collecting. He works more than dozen hours every day. Here he is with three women:
He sits on the board of several museums, plans to leave his money to charity, and is interested in politics. He professes to have no interest in owning furniture, houses, condos, automobiles, and pots and pans. He sold all his real estate about ten years ago and lives solely in high end hotels. Presumably given his age and no previous marriages, he intends to remain single.
This photo is of a $65 million home in London of a fellow billionaire who is worth about a third less than Nicolas. It's a seven-bedroom estate replete with in-house nightclub and gold-plated indoor pool. So even if Nicolas spends $1000 a day on a hotel suite, he couldn't spend that much money in a lifetime.
He's never been married, dates beautiful women, is interested in government and art collecting. He works more than dozen hours every day. Here he is with three women:
He sits on the board of several museums, plans to leave his money to charity, and is interested in politics. He professes to have no interest in owning furniture, houses, condos, automobiles, and pots and pans. He sold all his real estate about ten years ago and lives solely in high end hotels. Presumably given his age and no previous marriages, he intends to remain single.
This photo is of a $65 million home in London of a fellow billionaire who is worth about a third less than Nicolas. It's a seven-bedroom estate replete with in-house nightclub and gold-plated indoor pool. So even if Nicolas spends $1000 a day on a hotel suite, he couldn't spend that much money in a lifetime.
July 31st, 2011 at 3:38:25 PM
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Sorry, Paco, but if this guy pays, and presumably well, for a roof over his head, rather than living on the streets, squatting in abandoned properties, or squeezing into a shelter, he's not homeless. Just one more in a long line of eccentric rich people.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 31st, 2011 at 3:48:16 PM
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Quote: Nareed...he's not homeless. Just one more in a long line of eccentric rich people.
He is homeless like Mitt Romney is unemployed.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
July 31st, 2011 at 3:55:15 PM
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Agreed. Living in hotels isn't unheard of among wealthy eccentrics -- Vladimir Nabakov, Howard Hughes, and Pam Anderson all come to mind. And it hardly renders one "homeless" -- that would require him to be eccentric enough to spend every night in the park.
July 31st, 2011 at 4:02:24 PM
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I have no interest in pots and pans or furniture either. Maybe we're related?
There's no secret. Just know what you're talking about before you open your mouth.
July 31st, 2011 at 4:02:53 PM
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Quote: WizardHe is homeless like Mitt Romney is unemployed.
Yes, exactly.
I've nothing against the rich, nothing at all. And they can as easily get into hard times as any other people. But aside from a few idiots who lose all their money (which seems to happen with distressing frequency with lotto winners), their hard times would seem like heaven to most people.
This reminds me of a story about Donald Trump, who's said to have pointed out that any random homeless beggar on the streets had a bigger net worth than he did. Maybe that was strictly true, but Trump still had a house, food, healthcare and a myriad conveniences any random homeless beggar can only dream about.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 31st, 2011 at 4:40:02 PM
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He's not "Homeless."
He's "Without a home."
He's "Without a home."
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
July 31st, 2011 at 6:22:04 PM
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>>With rice farms in Cambodia, windmill farms in Turkey, an ethanol plant in Oregon and glittering new skyscrapers in poor inner cities around the world, Mr. Berggruen is pumping millions of dollars into projects>>>
I can't even imagine having responsibility for all of that.
I can't even imagine having responsibility for all of that.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
July 31st, 2011 at 6:30:17 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearHe's not "Homeless."
He's "Without a home."
None of you looked at the article. The Wall Street Journal called him "homeless" because that is how he is classified for tax purposes in the USA where he spends most of his time. Clearly anyone who spends extended periods of time in these hotels is different than you or me.
It is ironic to see him quoted as if he were some kind of a transcendent monk:
We are only here on this world for a brief moment. What really counts is what we create, what we develop, Our actions and our decisions count. That lasts forever. It's the true value of our existence..
Let's not forget the Gulfstream IV, or the fact that he can easily afford to have any article of clothing delivered to him brand new before going out for the evening.
July 31st, 2011 at 7:54:30 PM
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For the record, I DID read the entire article before commenting.Quote: pacomartinNone of you looked at the article. The Wall Street Journal called him "homeless" because that is how he is classified for tax purposes in the USA...
And, because of your comment, I read it again.
I found no mention of his tax status in the article you linked.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
July 31st, 2011 at 10:57:25 PM
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Imagine the quality & quantity of chicks this guy must score with! How do I apply for his 'wing-man' position? Or to be any member of his entourage, for that matter?
On a tangent - I think his attitude would change somewhat if he had kids. I bet he'd buy another mansion to have a home base for them, and set up a decent trust fund for them instead of giving any his wealth. But if he's 46 and does have any yet, then maybe he never wants them, which makes my point a non-issue.
On a tangent - I think his attitude would change somewhat if he had kids. I bet he'd buy another mansion to have a home base for them, and set up a decent trust fund for them instead of giving any his wealth. But if he's 46 and does have any yet, then maybe he never wants them, which makes my point a non-issue.
"Bite my Glorious Golden Ass!" - Bender Bending Rodriguez
July 31st, 2011 at 11:25:21 PM
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Quote: Toes14Imagine the quality & quantity of chicks this guy must score with!
Oh, please.
Every gold-digging woman in the world would set her cap for a catch like him.
Good god, imagine the BS they must hurl at him after a roll in the hay, all in hopes of being made "Queen."
Uneasy rests the cap that wears the crown.
He should take a page from the Charlie Sheen playbook:
When Charlie Sheen was being sentenced for using a prostitute, the judge asked him why a man like him would have to pay for sex.
And Sheen reportedly replied: “I don’t pay them for sex. I pay them to leave.”
"What, me worry?"
August 1st, 2011 at 12:50:59 AM
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Quote: MrVOh, please.
Every gold-digging woman in the world would set her cap for a catch like him.
He's 50, rich, has no wife or kids. Don't you find that odd? The women
might be 'beards', its happened before.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 1st, 2011 at 1:46:57 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearFor the record, I DID read the entire article before commenting.
And, because of your comment, I read it again.
I found no mention of his tax status in the article you linked.
I must have posted the wrong article. He is referred to as the "homeless billionaire" in scores of news articles throughout the last several years. He is trying to get involved in California politics recently. One of these articles say it is his official status on tax forms.
"Homeless" in Pravda refers to his "official status".
"Homeless" in MSNBC article
Homeless billionaire in first Post
"Homeless Billionaire" in motley fool
Instead of a debate over the meaning of the word, I was curious what people think of his lifestyle. Is he decadent somehow for only wanting to pay people to take care of him? For not marrying or having children? He doesn't seem particularly indulgent as he works compulsively? He has just used his money to buy complete freedom to go where he wants and to not have things to take care. Yet he still manages his businesses.
Maybe he is a good person because he is leaving his money to charity.While he is spending a large chunk of money on a daily basis he is not accumulating anything that has to be sold.
At the college where I went to undergraduate school, we had 8 professors who worked for $1 a year. Many celebrated politicians like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mike Bloomberg work for $1 a year. People have asked me what if money was no object.
August 1st, 2011 at 2:10:31 AM
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Look folks, if he is often called "the homeless billionaire" in various newspaper articles you can bet its a phrase his publicist initially selected and probably paid for the first few times. If he did this for some political reason, fine more likely it was simply vanity.
Gypsies pride themselves as being "Men of the World" as opposed to serfs, tied to the land. Yet they acquire great properties as well. Lifestyles change. Great hotels and steamer crossings were a lifestyle at one time. An Englishman asked his address would give the name of his club. Now perhaps he gives his email or chat name or perhaps his "press moniker" such as homeless billionaire. It has a purpose and usefulness to it. Will he run for office in California some day? Beats me. Will the phrase help him? Why not?
Gypsies pride themselves as being "Men of the World" as opposed to serfs, tied to the land. Yet they acquire great properties as well. Lifestyles change. Great hotels and steamer crossings were a lifestyle at one time. An Englishman asked his address would give the name of his club. Now perhaps he gives his email or chat name or perhaps his "press moniker" such as homeless billionaire. It has a purpose and usefulness to it. Will he run for office in California some day? Beats me. Will the phrase help him? Why not?
August 1st, 2011 at 7:00:20 AM
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Quote: pacomartinInstead of a debate over the meaning of the word, I was curious what people think of his lifestyle. Is he decadent somehow for only wanting to pay people to take care of him?
It actually makes good sense to live in hotels, if you can stand it. Even middle class people hire servants to take care of them, in shoel or in part. In a hotel all your needs are seen to, but you don't need to hire your own staff, nor screen them, deal with them, etc etc. You also don't need to worry about buying and maintaining furniture, appliances, etc.
Quote:For not marrying or having children?
Nothing wrong with that, either. I wish peopel who don't want to have children simply wouldn't, rather than be bad aprents later on, or even to kill their children when they cramp their style.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 1st, 2011 at 8:06:40 AM
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Quote: NareedIt actually makes good sense to live in hotels, if you can stand it. Even middle class people hire servants to take care of them, in shoel or in part. In a hotel all your needs are seen to, but you don't need to hire your own staff, nor screen them, deal with them, etc etc. You also don't need to worry about buying and maintaining furniture, appliances, etc.
WSJ: Staffing a Mansion says a mid size mansion could cost $650K per year to staff and for operational costs. For $650K per year you should be able to secure a nice suite, room service, and access to a decent pool and gymnasium on site.
He may have a bedroom on his Gulfstream IV, the plane is certainly large enough for one if you just want a tiny seating area for some staff. It sounds like this guy spends a lot of time alone, with just his blackberry or his I-Pad.
August 1st, 2011 at 8:59:32 AM
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Did anybody hear of the book The Upgrade by Paul Carr? He lived strictly in hotels for a year, often negotiating month-long stays. The cost was less than the rent and expenses for his London apartment, and everything was cleaned for him.
He wrote a diary about his 30 days spent in Las Vegas, where he stayed in every hotel in town. It was on the Huffington Post.
The book is not available in hard copy in the U.S.
He wrote a diary about his 30 days spent in Las Vegas, where he stayed in every hotel in town. It was on the Huffington Post.
The book is not available in hard copy in the U.S.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
August 1st, 2011 at 10:29:54 AM
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What about the future, when he is not so mobile? When the hips, knees and back start to lock up. When the vision goes. Where will he stay? Who will care for him if there is a long, tough road to the end? Howard Hughes' last few years were not so pleasant.; tons of money, but...alone.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
August 4th, 2011 at 12:11:56 AM
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He obviously has relationships and is presumably outgoing. Hughes started to have dementia and pushed people away. He could make friends, they could take a good chunk of his money like Anna Nicole did, but it's irrelevant since he has no heir anyway.
August 4th, 2011 at 4:39:46 AM
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Quote: calwatchHe obviously has relationships and is presumably outgoing.
Warren Beatty lived for many years in the penthouse suite of the Beverly Wiltshire. He was a notorious ladies man.
There does seem to be a certain kind of man who cares about his work, and having all of his needs taken care of.
You forget exactly how much money $2 billion is. He doesn't have to launder clothes, (wear shirts, underwear, socks once and on to charity). He's a guy so he needs about 6 fine suits and as many shoes that are replaced every few months. He never has to worry about the price of the restaurant. He can have a car delivered or he can have people drive him around so he never gets a DUI. He always has the latest and smallest electronics for business.
August 4th, 2011 at 5:28:34 AM
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Quote: pacomartin
You forget exactly how much money $2 billion is. He doesn't have to launder clothes, (wear shirts, underwear, socks once and on to charity). He's a guy so he needs about 6 fine suits and as many shoes that are replaced every few months. He never has to worry about the price of the restaurant. He can have a car delivered or he can have people drive him around so he never gets a DUI.
He's Arthur, from the movie of the same name..
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 4th, 2011 at 6:58:25 AM
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Quote: AyecarumbaWhat about the future, when he is not so mobile? When the hips, knees and back start to lock up. When the vision goes. Where will he stay? Who will care for him if there is a long, tough road to the end?
An assisted living facility. It's what he's used to anyway.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 4th, 2011 at 5:17:21 PM
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Quote: NareedAn assisted living facility. It's what he's used to anyway.
I would be surprised if he ends up in a "home". Folks with means usually end up in their own mansion with a few private nurse/medical practitioners providing round the clock care. However, someone without a house... maybe a condo at Leisure World will be it after all.
So on his visa applications, what does he list as his "permanent address"?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
