Residence For Sale - Price On Request
Pearl, 9.30pm
In Pearl's ultimate wisdom it has now changed the programme in this slot twice - so don't be surprised if it changes again before this newspaper goes to press.
Where do the rich and famous live? Most of them own incredibly expensive, luxury pads with all the mod cons (and I don't mean a proper cooker and a washing machine). Schloss Sigherstein, a chateau near Salzburg, offers 2,300 square metres of floor space and its own chapel for a purchase price of US$20 million (HK$156 million). A holiday house in the former garden of businessman Adnan Kashoggi at the Costa del Sol is a snip at US$6 million. In Marrakesh, a buyer is wanted for the Krupp residence, Bled Targui - the asking price is US$5 million. One of the most expensive properties featured is a US$58.9 million mansion in Beverly Hills that has been previously owned by Tony Curtis, Esther Williams and Cher (above). The market for luxury estates is booming. Internet millionaires and new heirs need decent pads to show off to their mates.
The funniest thing is that when buying and selling these properties, psychological support is often included. The Wal-Mart heir, Kirk Long, spent 30 years designing over-the-top features for his luxury pad such as Moorish steam baths and water-spewing sphinxes and will only sell his life's work and masterpiece to a kindred soul. I think he may need to get a proper job and/or a life.
On Style Special: Vera Wang