Frankly, there's never a lot of interest in the Sunday papers, but I buy one anyway.
In this last weekend's 'Sunday Times' there was one article that probably shocked everyone who read it.
Tucked away at the bottom of Page 3 was an article entitled 'Forty and Filthy Rich'. An exposé of who are buying London's multi-£Million properties.
Apparently 54 homes were sold last year at prices over £15 Million. The biggest purchaser, who paid £138 Million for a house in Mayfair, was just 42 years old.
There's a lot of money out there and a lot of it is in the hands of young entrepreneurs in their early 40's. Making the average age of 'Mansion-buyers' drop by 12 years in one decade.
How many of these people get hold of their huge wealth is often questionable. Possibly not illegally as such, but often through nepotism or political favours.
Their wealth and property portfolios don't bother me at all, I have never been jealous of other people's wealth, and the distribution of wealth is always a good thing, but so many of these spectacular homes are left empty until such time as no-one is any longer asking questions. It would be nicer to see them lived-in.
In all honesty I suppose I would quite liked to have been hugely wealthy in my 40's, but I chose a different, more relaxing, route.
I do sometimes envy the rich a little. But live in peace with what I have.
ReplyDeleteI don't envy them at all, wealth always seems to attract problems.
Delete"Who are these bloody people at the Ministry of Justice? How did they get their jobs? How much are they being paid to utter such nonsense? I think we should be told" - Hmm, I suspect it's these people who are living in your filthy rich houses mentioned above!
ReplyDeleteOne thing you can guarantee is that they don't live on basic wages!
DeleteI always try to hide evidence of my vast wealth , living very frugally and simply.
ReplyDeleteNo-one would ever guess that I had just won £100 on my Premium Bonds.
I've had my Premium Bonds for about 50 years, and have never won a penny.
DeleteI think it is true to say that in recent years, many of the most expensive homes in London have been bought by Russian immigrants. They did not arrive on these shores in small boats but came in private jets. I wonder why Sunak doesn't shout, "Stop The Private Jets!". How did these stupendously rich Russians acquire their wealth anyway?
ReplyDeleteI think most were Putin supporters who were awarded 'franchises'. A sure way to make millions.
DeleteThe oligarchs were created at the break up of the Soviet Union and the privatisation of industries handed to employees under Yeltsin and later Gorbachev, in the 1980s and 90s. Putin would like to have de-privatised and did not approve of the privatisations and the creation of the oligarchs. Many went into exile.
DeleteA lot of those with vast wealth are vulgar. I would rather appreciate finer things.
ReplyDeleteIt's never been an ambition of mine to have huge wealth; I'm happy with my meagre crust.
DeleteEven if I could afford to, I wouldn't want to live in a huge mansion, it's just not me at all.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to live in London either, I've never seen the appeal of the place, it's too big, too busy, there are too many people.
I love our bungalow, 2150 metres to the prom' and beach, less than 950 metres to completely open countryside! Peace, quiet, wonderful scenery, what more could I ask?
What would I do with millions anyway?
I'd make sure my family were financially secure, put a bit away for a rainy day, and give the rest away.
I couldn't bring myself to live in a house worth many millions whilst children in this world are starving!
I do like good sized homes, but at present we have two small ones. I much prefer 'cosy' to 'vast' these days.
DeleteWealth is not to be sniffed at. I bend over to pick up a penny someone has dropped. Though, admittedly, that is more out of compassion for that poor penny than desire to accumulate riches. And, following the Protestant work ethic, as they say in the motherland, loosely translated: Even chicken droppings eventually amount to a heap of dung. Cue compost, fertile soil.
ReplyDeleteFor me the ultimate luxury is space. Be it indoors, be it outdoors. Free to roam, to expand. It's the main reason I haven't robbed a bank or stolen one of Cro's paintings. I can't bear the idea of being boxed in before my allocated time on earth is up.
U
I agree, I think access to open space is far preferable to owning a big house; and it's free.
DeleteSadly most of these homes are not bought by UK nationals but by Russian and other multi-billionaires, bumping up the purchase prices beyond most people means. They are also buying up many of our 'country piles' when they go on the market.
ReplyDeleteMe I'm as wealthy as I need to be. I have a paid for roof over my head, tiny but all mine, food in the cupboards and I can actually afford to turn the heating on, but only if it is still too cold indoors when I am layered up. Wealth is relative ...therefore I am relatively wealthy.
I agree with your 2nd para. We have all we need, we are usually solvent at the end of every year, and our cupboards are as filled as we like them to be. We have turned our heating OFF recently, and the house remains at 20 C.
DeleteI am too old to be young and rich, but I am happy with who I am
ReplyDeleteSo am I Travel, and I'm also very happy that way (although I'd quite like to be a bit younger).
DeleteI find it very interesting to see how some individuals seem to amass great wealth. As for collecting homes, hopefully people are happy in their homes or have special occasions to use them with family and friends. I remember being surprised when I heard someone from Saudi Arabia bought Harrods.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget that that Harrods owner's son became one of Diana Spencer's many lovers!
DeleteAs long as one has a nice home, can pay the bills and put food on the table then thats all you really need. I used to house sit for my bosses when they went away ....they lived in Ovington Gardens , a few roads away from Harrods. It was so hot in the Summer, dusty and very busy. Quite nice for a couple of weeks but that was enough for me. I love London but prefer to visit nowadays. Having multi millions often means excess which can brings heartache as we often read in the papers. XXXX
ReplyDeleteThat's certainly right; wealth doesn't always bring happiness.
DeleteIn my opinion, wealth doesn't make on happy always. Happiness and contentment being my goal in life.
ReplyDeleteone
ReplyDeleteQuite right.
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