The Billion Dollar Home

[quantass]

Run time: 01:31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWTH-6lA_Uw   Posted on YouTube: February 23, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 23, 2008 By DU Member: quantass Views on DU: 1563

 
The world's most expensive home is currently being built.

Price tag: $1 Billion

[trusty elf]

1. It has a "W" built into it,

which, since the guy is pissing so much money down the drain, is highly appropriate.

[quantass]

3. LOL

:rofl:

[ihavenobias]

2. The level of excess is truly astounding n/t

[salvorhardin]

4. A fresh example that the very rich are not necessarily all that bright

It comes out to a tenth of his total wealth.

This past week Mukesh Ambani, thanks to a big jump in the Indian stock market, was handed the title of “Richest Man in the World” but sadly for him a day later it turned out to be a miscalculation.

Even so, Ambani’s correct net worth is estimated in the $50 Billion range, ranking him comfortably in the world’s top 5 richest men.
http://www.smartmoneydaily.com/personalfinance/billion-dollar-house-ultimate-luxury-or-living-hell.aspx

Still, this really shouldn't be called a house. At 27 stories total, with six floors for parking, one for automotive maintenance, an "entertainment floor", a "health floor", balconies and gardens, two story guest apartment and helipad, and requiring 600 full time staff, this is really a very exclusive hotel.

I think the Smart Money Daily writer makes the point that we're all thinking:

I know we’ve all seen Trump’s gold encrusted New York apartment, but this guy is in another league entirely. I would sure be interesting to see the public reaction in America if anyone was to build a house this opulent. But given the horrific poverty that is present in India, to build a structure like this as a personal residence does seem to be highly insensitive at best.

I’m as much of a capitalist as anyone and Mr. Ambani can certainly do as he pleases with all that dough, but I do think an awareness of the fate of those around him should play into his actions.

Really will having a house this spectacular give him a better life; or will the separation it creates from virtually everyone else around him make it a regretful nightmare?

I'm not sure Mr. Ambani will regard it as a nightmare but surely this must be up there in the G.W. Bush leagues for ignoring the plight of all those around him that he probably exploited in accumulating all that wealth. One commenter at Smart Momey Daily notes that you could think of Mr. Ambani as dumping $5 gigabucks back into the local economy. I suppose so, but I think that sort of trickle-down thinking is just plain dumb. After all, those 600 staff will probably be poorly paid at best and once the house is built the wealth stays accumulated in the house. It's not as if Mr. Ambani is giving away $5 billion to the locals to spend.

[and-justice-for-all]

9. What beneficial thing could 1 billion dollars do?

<http://www.feedthehungrysma.org/fn2005.html>

Well, it will feed a lot of hungry people.

[TankLV]

5. Before I clicked on t he video - I thought it was one of those revolving greeting card displays in

the drugstore...

what is worse, just like michael graves UGLY rusting tin can "houses" that were featured on almost every architectural mag in their day - and, BTW, which are STILL rusting and UGLY, and, BTW, his recent famous art centers are an owner's nightmare - they leak like a sieve and are ALL failing mimserably from a habitable standpoint - this idiot architect is probably going to become famous and successful when there are so many other more deserving of that honor...

[Crunchy Frog]

6. Looks like a kid made it out of Legos.

I would have gone for the Taj Mahal look myself.

[ihavenobias]

8. You cracked me up with that line n/t

[ooglymoogly]

7. Forget eye candy, this is eye garbage inflicted on billions of discerning eyes.

This is the biggest argument for a world wide French style revolution. The rich are sealing their doom with this kind of selfish, sickening extravagance.

[Bombtrack]

10. That's the Donald Trump definition of "classy"

what a douche.

[aikoaiko]

11. that is way cool.

[angstlessk]

12. it actually looks like a slum highrise...

I was not aware that land in India was as expensive as land in NYC??? why must he build UP???

[LongTomH]

13. The New Gilded Age!

First thought: Too many uber-rich with too much much money, not enough taste and too much time on their hands!

Second thought: So that's where the profits from outsourcing our jobs is going!

Third thought: Time for a revolution and a guillotine!