20 Items Tagged

Wealth

Sandra West's unassuming tombstone hides a wild ride below the surface

San Antonio, Texas

Grave of Sandra West and Her Ferrari

In 1977, wealthy socialite Sandra West was buried wearing an elegant white nightdress while reclining comfortably in her powder-blue 1964 Ferrari.

One of Doris Duke's camels, Baby.

Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

Doris Duke's Pet Cemetery

A billionaire heiress' menagerie of animals were lovingly laid to rest on the grounds of her former estate.

An aerial view of a few of the artificial islands that make up the development project known as The World, a short boat ride from the coast of Dubai.

How to Build an Island

All you need is a dream, investors with deep pockets, and concrete. A lot of concrete.

Alastair Bonnett August 17, 2021

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

A place to see how French aristocrats lived in the early 1900s.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Grave of Thomas Wiltberger Evans

The corporeal remains of Napoleon III's dentist rest under this 15-story obelisk.

Mexico City, Mexico

Plaza Loreto

One of the world's richest men bought this former paper factory and transformed it into a mall.

This image comes from a Jell-O advertisement that reads, "Isn't it evident from the butler's face that he is proud of the dish?"

Before Jell-O, Colorful Gelatin Desserts Were Haute Cuisine

Celebrity chefs served molded jelly dishes to monarchs and royalty.

Mark Hay April 22, 2019

Lobby of the spa with one of its bathtubs on display.

Karlovy Vary, Czechia

Kaiserbad Spa

Before serving as James Bond's Casino Royale, this Victorian-era spa catered to the world's elite.

The Pinang Peranakan Mansion.

George Town, Malaysia

Pinang Peranakan Mansion

The lavish, well-preserved home of a wealthy Baba Nyonya family is now a cultural museum.

Replicas of the ship Columbus sailed across the ocean, photographed in New York in 1912.

The Ultimate Rich Kids Were the Children of Famous Explorers

Wealthy and entitled, as only the scions of conquistadors could be.

Sarah Laskow August 7, 2018

The villa.

Geneva, Illinois

Fabyan Villa Museum

This house renovated by Frank Lloyd Wright was the centerpiece of a lavish 20th-century estate.

The home of the Six Collection.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Six Collection

A rare tour of an aristocrat's private home reveals valuable 17th-century paintings from artists like Rembrandt.

Honka

Vyshhorods'kyi district, Ukraine

Mezhyhirya Residence

Marvel at the excessive luxury of the ousted Ukrainian president's former estate.

Picking through mutilated currency

Washington, D.C.

The Mutilated Currency Division

An obscure public service from the U.S. government that redeems burnt, moldy, and soiled old greenbacks.

The townhouse in all its gaiety.

The End of a Long Controversy Over a Striped Townhouse

It's been more than two years in the making.

Erik Shilling April 26, 2017

Front of the Ugland House

George Town, Cayman Islands

Ugland House

There is one corporation registered for every three square feet of space in this inconspicuous office building.

1209 N Orange Street

Wilmington, Delaware

Corporation Trust Center

A drab two-story office space in Delaware is a hidden tax haven for Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and over half the Fortune 500 companies.

Burj Al Arab from the air

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Burj Al Arab

A preposterously luxurious hotel with gold-plated iPads, Rolls Royce chauffeurs, and a staff that trains by watching "Downton Abbey."