Latest news with #wealthyclients
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
I'm an interior designer who works with wealthy, high-profile clients. I rarely see these 7 things in their homes.
I'm an interior designer who works with both wealthy and everyday clients. However, I've noticed a few things my wealthy clients rarely have in their homes. Overly trendy decor, low-quality hardware, and fake plants can all make a space feel less high-end. As an interior designer who works with both high-profile and everyday clients, I know creating a home that feels luxurious doesn't always require a hefty budget. Instead, it's often about avoiding common decorations and designs that can cheapen your space. That said, there are a few things I've noticed wealthy clients rarely have in their homes. If you want your home to feel high-end, you might want to avoid them, too. Overly trendy decor can make a space feel dated. An expensive-looking home prioritizes timeless, simple elements like neutral color palettes, classic furniture shapes, and enduring materials like wood, marble, or leather. Trendy designs and decor, however, can quickly make a space feel outdated. These types of items are best used sparingly as accents, making them easy to swap out as styles evolve. Clutter is a big no no. Clutter can diminish the clean, open feel that defines a luxurious home. To mitigate this, I recommend keeping surfaces like coffee tables, countertops, and shelves intentionally styled with a few high-quality pieces like statement vases, sculptural accents, or a selection of curated books. This creates a refined, curated aesthetic without feeling overwhelming. Low-quality fake plants can distract from even the most beautiful designs. Cheap, artificial plants can detract from an otherwise polished design. Instead, I suggest elevating your space with fresh greenery or high-quality faux plants that closely mimic the real thing. Low-maintenance options like olive trees or fiddle-leaf figs are excellent for those with busy schedules. And if you do choose to use a faux option, be sure to dust it regularly. Mass-produced art pieces can feel a bit cold. Art makes a statement, but in my opinion, mass-produced or generic prints can make a home feel impersonal. Instead, opt for unique pieces that resonate with you, whether they're original works, limited editions, or even family photos in high-quality frames. You can even find beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces at antique markets or on Etsy. Poor quality or outdated hardware can negatively affect the home's aesthetic. Small details like cabinet handles and drawer pulls can dramatically affect the look of a home. That's why I recommend replacing outdated or generic hardware with high-quality options like polished nickel, brass, or matte black. Some of my favorite places to buy high-quality hardware are CB2, Rejuvenation, and Anthropology. Etsy is also great for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. These small upgrades can make even budget-friendly furniture and cabinets look custom-made. Messy cords and exposed wires can make even the most well-designed space look cluttered. There's nothing worse than walking into a beautiful space and seeing messy cords everywhere. Keeping technology concealed maintains a clean, streamlined look that enhances the overall sophistication of your home. I recommend using cable management solutions, hiding wires in walls, or choosing furniture with built-in cord storage. Poorly measured and low-quality window treatments are major faux pas. Windows are a natural focal point in any room, and low-quality treatments or poorly measured drapes can detract from your home's overall aesthetic. However, thoughtfully chosen window treatments can transform and enhance your home's look and feel. I recommend investing in custom options tailored precisely to your windows, such as drapes, Roman shades, or shutters. Fabrics like linen or velvet are my favorites, and I love layering sheer panels with blackout curtains to achieve a perfect balance of style and functionality. Read the original article on Business Insider
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Friends of the ultra-wealthy reveal their darkest secrets... from tantrums to 'filthy' hoarding episodes
They may have billions in the bank, but behind closed doors, the ultra-rich are hiding some dark secrets. Now, insiders on Reddit have lifted a lid on the shocking behavior of the super-wealthy, from throwing tantrums to being cheap. It began after one user asked on the social media platform, 'People who have worked for the ultra-wealthy, what are some of their deepest, darkest secrets?' Over 2,000 people have chimed in, with many former employees and friends of the rich and famous sharing some wild behavior that they witnessed. One person recalled working for a man who knew the people close to him only loved him for his money - including his own wife and kids. 'I did a personal IT service for an incredibly wealthy guy in Tucson. House overlooking the city from the foothills, eight-foot single pane windows, etc.,' the user shared. 'He had a ranch of at least 40,000 acres in Texas, and most of his money was from oil. 'His biggest secret was that he knew most people only liked him for his wealth, including his present wife, two kids, and two step-kids, and they'd cut ties in a heartbeat if it disappeared.' Another person claimed that rich people 'are unusually cheap,' as they recalled one wealthy client who had a massive collection of the highest tier wine but served guests at a party cheap alcohol. 'I'm in wine sales and cellar management, and I had a client who had over $10 million in First Growth Bordeaux and Grand Crus Burgundy, and he served $20 Pinot and bubbles (Cava) at his Christmas party for his best friends and celebrities,' they revealed. 'He died with a $10 million cellar.' One pilot who has flown private jets for 'various wealthy individuals' shared, 'People you would likely never know, they don't exist in the public sphere in the way someone like Bezos does. 'They don't always have some deep, dark thing that is unique to wealth. They're human, and the things, the emotions, the tenancies they exhibit are the same across the entire human spectrum. 'I've come away seeing [that] wealth just makes you more of what you are. If you're mean, you're more mean. If you're nice, you're more nice.' Someone else claimed that they found that a 'surprising number' of rich people are 'hoarders.' 'A surprising number of them are hoarders. Like… mansion-level filth hidden behind marble gates. Rich doesn't mean clean,' they wrote. Others spoke about cheating, controversial affairs, and secret mistresses. One commenter recalled how one the outside, it looked like one rich man they knew had divorced his wife and had remarried. But behind the scenes, it was a different story. 'He never divorced [the first woman], and [his] second wife [was actually] a mistress that he paraded around as his wife,' the user penned. 'Actual wife doesn't give a s**t as long as they're still rich, but won't let his second batch of kids inherit their joint assets, so he had to buy his second wife some income properties for security. 'She'll be OK, though. He bought her $100 million worth of income properties.' Someone else claimed that the wealthy often throw tantrums 'like babies.' 'They are petty and will throw you under the bus in a millisecond if it will even slightly benefit them,' they described. 'While I worked [for a successful company], I was screamed at, had things thrown at me, I saw grown men throw huge tantrums 'They do it because they know they will get something out of it. Your work had to be beyond perfection because they would purposely try to find faults to exploit.' One commenter said their stepfather was part of the ultra-wealthy, and claimed he often tried to buy his way out of situations. 'He believes that money can solve everything, which, to no surprise, it does not,' they shared. 'He has this idea that he can just pay people to either shut up or ignore issues. Including family. 'He has constant arguments with my mom that often involve him completely ignoring the problem and giving her some rather large gift, thinking that it will solve the issue.' Another claimed the rich only donate to charities to 'hide crimes.' 'Routing all sorts of favors, money laundering, and bribes [through] various 501(c)3s and family foundations and making sure they are photographed at their "charitable" events so everyone sees their "philanthropy,"' the comment read. A different user also detailed how disconnected they are from 'regular people.' 'That they are painfully detached from regular struggles and genuinely seem to think that their success is tied to meritocracy, even when born into extreme wealth, and when it is earned, they will not accept [that] luck played a factor,' they disclosed. Lastly, one commenter claimed that many of the ultra-wealthy are 'joyless' and have drug problems. 'This is 50 years ago, worked for dozens of the most wealthy, think $100 million and up crowd,' they said.
Wall Street Journal
03-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
JPMorgan Is Revamping Its Bank for the Superrich to Cater to Global Clientele
JPMorgan Chase JPM 0.55%increase; green up pointing triangle is reorganizing its private bank to better serve the world's richest people, who want to safeguard their wealth by spreading it around the globe. With a minimum required balance of $10 million, JPMorgan's white-glove bank for the superrich is one of the preferred places for the world's elite to store their wealth. These customers are demanding that JPMorgan invest more of their money abroad, not just in the country where they spend the bulk of their time.
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The army of invisible workers looking after the homes of Britain's super-rich
Running a home takes a lot of work – so spare a thought for those with multiple homes scattered across the world. Pipes burst, TVs break, bills need paying and fridges need filling. And a heated swimming pool takes two days to reach the optimum temperature, which is not ideal if the plan is only to be in town for a weekend. These homes belonging to the world's richest people don't just sit dormant while owners are away, says Mark Breffit of Hamptons Private Office. 'They are finely tuned ecosystems which require a specialist cast working behind the scenes.' They require what Breffit refers to as 'a symphony of niche services', including pet therapists to settle relocated animals, specialist art cleaners to 'dust the Hockneys' before a summer return and service 'air filters in country homes that mimic the humidity levels of London penthouses'. It is the modern equivalent of the domestic service of Edwardian times, when the number of servants employed was a key indicator of social status. Eccord provides property management services for wealthy nomadic clients. Each house under its care has a property manual noting down essential information, from Wi-Fi passwords, appliance serial numbers and alarm codes to insurance policies and paint colours for each room. The company keeps on top of maintenance issues, including bespoke chandelier cleaning, lightbulb replacement schedules and fortnightly inspections while owners are away to meet insurance policy requirements. The team carry out walk-throughs where every light is switched on and off, hot taps are run (to fend off Legionnaire's Disease) and alarms are tested. If these roles aren't contracted out to a property management company, the other option is to employ staff. The grandest homes have housekeepers, gardeners, nannies and two chefs – to stave off becoming bored with one style of cooking. Izzy Boland runs Cora Partners, which provides the wealthy and famous with staff. 'The richer or more high profile you are, the more help you need in your life to make it run smoothly,' she says, Demands from clients have never ceased to surprise her. One family has nine nannies for their three children working two-week shifts, with someone on retainer for the holidays. 'We have a client based between New York, London and Milan. They're so concerned that their young dog is spending too much time on their private jet, we're recruiting an Italian-speaking dog nanny to enable the dog to have a more consistent life.' Describing her role as something akin to a matchmaking service, often it's not just a question of finding a person with the right chemistry to fit into the household, but also the right looks (or dress size) – although these specifications are omitted from job descriptions. 'With the ultra wealthy, image is important and staff therefore have to be on brand. That can extend to nannies being dressed in designer clothing.' One client has 35 members of staff, all of whom are under the age of 35 and a size 10 or smaller. With an extensive art collection, they didn't want to have the aesthetics 'diluted' by their staff not looking the part, according to Boland. For the very high-profile homeowner, the search becomes more nuanced – actors likely to be 'papped' at an airport don't want their staff to be taller, prettier or slimmer than themselves. So much of their success is based on their brand, explains Boland. Tastes and demands differ between nationalities. The Middle Eastern wealthy travel with their staff. Americans tend to like uniformity; Boland has a client who owns 10 properties, and every dinner plate and toothbrush is the same in each one – 'it makes logistics easy when replacing things', she adds. Continental Europeans like having butlers, while the British people she works with are more discreet and tend not to have such large retinues of staff, favouring stability of service over glitz and glamour. In all cases, houses need to be in shipshape all the time. As global nomads, clients turn up at a property with less than 12 hours' warning and could require the chef to produce a supper for a dozen people with only a few minutes' notice, so will keep a core team of staff. 'Being prepared, proactive and patient is key. These people often change their minds at the drop of a hat,' says Boland. She works with MEUM, a company that provides the super wealthy with professional support for their families and businesses. It was set up by employment lawyer, Sofia Syed, who advises on the problematic balancing act that a property is at once a private home for the owners, but also a place of work for the staff. Among the conundrums that land on her desk is if the owner of the property swims naked in their pool. It can be deemed as sexual harassment to those who work in the house. In an ordinary office environment, most people are aware of the rules of conduct, but in a household, there's plenty of room for error, she explains. Post #MeToo, there's a greater awareness of individual rights and a platform to speak out. But with that comes an opportunity for some to take advantage. 'Employees can throw sex discrimination, harassment, race discrimination or PTSD at their employers knowing that their often public profiles mean they'll most often want to settle out of court,' says Syed. 'It means erecting guard rails wherever possible, and that's where I come in,' adds Syed. A client was in touch about hiring a live-in housekeeper. Her first question? To establish the make-up of the household. 'It was a divorced man and his dog living in a London house. It raised alarm bells. In this world, you have to foresee problems before they arise. That means establishing clear lines of duties and ways of maintaining privacy.' While staffing a London property is one thing, it's often harder to do in the countryside, explains chartered surveyor Philip Eddell of Eddell & Co, a property consultancy. He advises owners of large and complex houses in London and the country, some of which have running costs of more than £1m a year. 'The larger the house and the grounds, the more staff is required,' says Eddell. Country houses are more likely to have tennis courts, pools, lakes and ponds, all of which require maintenance. 'The classic solution for a country house is a couple who live on-site with one working outside on gardening, maintenance and driving, while the other is focused on the house,' adds Eddell. The reality is that recruiting the perfect couple is tricky – rarely are the best gardeners married to the best housekeepers – and when they are, they can command a joint salary of over £100,000 with accommodation (and associated charges and costs) included. Eccord charges its clients £120 an hour plus VAT for property management services. This can even include tasks such as sending someone to the house to double check a ring is safe at home after a last-minute panic from the owner while taxiing on the runway at Heathrow. Without live-in staff, housekeeping in London costs between £20 and £25 an hour. It quickly adds up. The team at Eccord have just hired a housekeeper for a client who will go in three times a week for five hours, which will cost around £1,500 a month plus National Insurance contributions. They estimate gardening services for a small back yard to come in at approximately £6,000 per year. Some of the very rich are tightening their purse strings, says Syed. The team at Prime Purchase, a buying agency, report a similar situation in the country where some clients are 'drastically cutting their retinue of staff as the minimum wage has risen, alongside all running costs,' explains Guy Meacock. Age is another factor impacting the level of help required or desired. 'The younger demographic would rather do things themselves and can with the tech available, enabling them to maintain more control.'
News.com.au
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Mystery Aussie snaps up $1m Cadillac Celestiq EV
A mystery Aussie has spent as much as $1 million on an opulent electric Cadillac they can never drive on Australian roads. The wealthy enthusiast splashed out on an exotic Cadillac Celestiq that starts from $US358,000 ($549,000), but can double in price with optional extras. Crafted as an American alternative to Rolls-Royce, the Celestiq employs staggering attention to detail to make American luxury cars great again. Cadillac can customise just about every part of the Celestiq – but it can't build the vehicle in right-hand-drive. Aletha Israels, a Celestiq Concierge employed by Cadillac to keep its wealthiest customers happy, said a determined collector flew from Australia to Detroit to customise their dream Caddy. 'The intention was for the vehicle to be delivered to the States for him, not to Australia,' she said. 'A lot of our clients fly in and out in the same day in private jets. 'You're going to start hearing a lot more from our clients this summer, after they start taking delivery of the car.' The manufacturer's most expensive and exclusive machine attracts ultra-wealthy folk who personalise their vehicle at a special 'Cadillac House' in Michigan. Israel said customers can 'easily' double the price of the car with intricate touches fine-tuning its colour and trim. You can match the paint to a favourite nail polish, use timber from the family farm as interior trim, and engrave personal messages on metal elements such as the door sills. The default message on cabin elements is 'standard of the world', a message that reflects Cadillac's ambition to make the world's best cars. Israel said customers can tweak that to their own tastes. 'They could put their own motto, or live laugh love, whatever they want to do,' she said. 'The more bespoke you make it, the more the price point can increase … especially if you want customisations that explore some of the areas that may need some additional testing,' she said. 'Seat belts and steering wheels are the most expensive area of the car to touch. 'One of the requests that we had that was quite pricey was to change the perforation detail on the seats, and because this is the most technologically advanced Cadillac, to change the perforation detail on these seats with heating, cooling and massage, a lot of testing is required.' Israel's team works closely with the millionaire – or billionaire – clients, even working with their staff to make sure the customer's favourite snacks, drinks and flowers are on hand when they come to visit. Cadillac rarely says no to special requests from customers, but occasionally must say 'yes, but …' and explain the consequence of choices that drive up prices or delay delivery. 'I find this level of client wants transparency,' she said. 'So we clearly present to them the options and what their choice would be, but, you know, there's two motivators for them, time and price point. 'Only they can decide how they feel. 'Every client has a Cadillac story, whether it's their parents, their grandfather, someone that they have this connection to, or a classic Cadillac in their collection. 'We're finding ways to help them tell that person's story too, whether it's taking the original license plate number and building it into the sill plates or coming up with very unique ways to have the colour palette reproduced. 'You see a lot of appetite for that right now.'
