27 way-out eccentric billionaires, Are the extremely rich more eccentric than the rest of us, or is it just that their quirks -- be they creative, costly, adventurous or just plain weird -- stand out because the wealthy are in the spotlight? Click ahead for a look at some of today's quirkiest billionaires and their eccentric habits, hobbies and projects.
Roman Abramovich
As if owning a mega-yacht weren't enough, billionaire Roman Abramovich took his dislike of paparazzi to a whole new level when he installed this contraption on his yacht Eclipse.
Paul Allen
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen spent years collecting science-fiction memorabilia, including Captain Kirk's chair and the robot from "Lost in Space". Where are the memorabilia housed?
Nicolas Berggruen
Real-estate investor Nicolas Berggruen sold his homes and most of his possessions more than a decade ago. He's still a sought-after money manager and investor, but he has committed to giving most of it away.
Richard Branson
With a high-profile life that includes a yacht and an island, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson might just be living well. But his space ventures seem to tilt into eccentric territory. He not only opened a spaceport and celebrated with his family in an unexpected way
James Cameron
The director of hit films that include "Avatar" and "Titanic," James Cameron spends his spare time taking submarines solo into the deepest parts of the ocean. He's also a supporter of the Mars Society, which lobbies for the colonization of the Red Planet. But that's not even the craziest of it.
Alki David
Heir to a shipping fortune, occasional actor and founder of numerous websites, including FilmOn, Alki David offered $1 million to anyone who would streak in front of President Barack Obama.
Duchess of Alba
At 87, the woman who holds more royal titles than anyone else in the world is said to have a fondness for bright colors, big sunglasses, lace and even bikinis. And for younger men. The Duchess of Alba gave much of her fortune to her kids before her 2011 wedding when -- at 85 -- she married a "boy toy" who was merely 60.
Chuck Feeney
Worth billions after co-founding and selling Duty Free Shoppers Group, Chuck Feeney gave most of his wealth to charity. More public with his giving in recent years, Feeney's still known as a recluse who prefers a low-profile lifestyle.
Foster Friess
Foster Friess is best known as the political activist who heavily backed Republican Rick Santorum -- and who made headlines suggesting "gals" should use aspirin as a contraceptive. But his sporting activities are what really put him on our map as a potential eccentric.
Robert Klark Graham
Eugenicist and businessman Robert Klark Graham is remembered for his "contributions" to science, but not necessarily in a positive light.
Larry Hillblom
The "H" in shipping company DHL's name, billionaire Larry Hillblom was known for wearing shorts and ratty T-shirts while running the company. The biography "King Larry" paints a picture of his sordid lifestyle after he left DHL.
Howard Hughes
Aviator, plane designer and even film producer Howard Hughes was known for his eccentric obsessions -- such as building a wooden plane with a 320-foot, 11-inch wing span, flying it just once, then stopping work on the whole project -- from a young age.
Bidzina Ivanishvili
Prime minister of GeorgiaBidzina Ivanishvili is living the high life in his multimillion-dollar mansion, designed by this famous Russian architect.
Ingvar Kamprad
A number of today's billionaires are known for being thrifty, but IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad makes even Warren Buffett's lifestyle seem lavish.
Peter Lewis
Who says insurance men such as Peter Lewis are boring? At 78, Lewis remains one of the nation's leading advocates of marijuana legalization.
Tom Monaghan
Known for founding this famous pizza chain, Tom Monaghan once owned the Detroit Tigers and spent millions on antique cars and souvenirs in honor of his favorite architect. Then, in a surprising turn of events, he gave it all away.
Henry T. Nicholas
The former chief executive of wireless communications firm Broadcom, Henry T. Nicholas was accused of building a mystery lair under his California mansion.
Clive Palmer
Clive Palmer, an Australian mining magnate, won international headlines when it was reported that he planned to clone dinosaurs to build a real-life Jurassic Park.
Bob Parsons
Go Daddy founder Bob Parsons made headlines when he posted a video of a hunting trip so graphic and controversial that even PETA got involved.
Graham Pendrill
On a trip to Kenya, British businessman Graham Pendrill reportedly fell in love with the country's culture and returned home just long enough to sell his 12-bedroom mansion and pack his bags.
Prince Jefri of Brunei
The brother of a sultan, the "playboy prince" Prince Jefri of Brunei named his mega-yacht after a body part; since then, reports from a court case suggest he had blown nearly $15 billion and was almost broke.
Gina Rinehart
The Australian heiress has found herself in the news after a protracted legal battle with her children.
Tamir Sapir
A Soviet immigrant, Tamir Sapir, started off driving a cab and later built a New York real-estate empire, but he dropped off Forbes' billionaire list when the market collapsed. So what moves him into eccentric territory?
Peter Thiel
Former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel has provided seed money to the Seasteading Institute. He also supports efforts to build an artificial intelligence superior to that of humans. He also has given millions to this foundation.
Ted Turner
Though Ted Turner himself hasn't said much about it, the CNN founder is frequently cited as a friend of marijuana and a major financier of the Kentucky Hemp Museum. Numerous reports say he even grew marijuana in his college dorm room.
Jocelyn Wildenstein
The former wife of a famed art dealer, Jocelyn Wildenstein has spent millions on plastic surgery.
Mark Zuckerberg
We're used to thinking of tech geniuses as different from the rest of us, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg fits that mold.
Roman Abramovich
As if owning a mega-yacht weren't enough, billionaire Roman Abramovich took his dislike of paparazzi to a whole new level when he installed this contraption on his yacht Eclipse.
Paul Allen
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen spent years collecting science-fiction memorabilia, including Captain Kirk's chair and the robot from "Lost in Space". Where are the memorabilia housed?
Nicolas Berggruen
Real-estate investor Nicolas Berggruen sold his homes and most of his possessions more than a decade ago. He's still a sought-after money manager and investor, but he has committed to giving most of it away.
Richard Branson
With a high-profile life that includes a yacht and an island, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson might just be living well. But his space ventures seem to tilt into eccentric territory. He not only opened a spaceport and celebrated with his family in an unexpected way
James Cameron
The director of hit films that include "Avatar" and "Titanic," James Cameron spends his spare time taking submarines solo into the deepest parts of the ocean. He's also a supporter of the Mars Society, which lobbies for the colonization of the Red Planet. But that's not even the craziest of it.
Alki David
Heir to a shipping fortune, occasional actor and founder of numerous websites, including FilmOn, Alki David offered $1 million to anyone who would streak in front of President Barack Obama.
Duchess of Alba
At 87, the woman who holds more royal titles than anyone else in the world is said to have a fondness for bright colors, big sunglasses, lace and even bikinis. And for younger men. The Duchess of Alba gave much of her fortune to her kids before her 2011 wedding when -- at 85 -- she married a "boy toy" who was merely 60.
Chuck Feeney
Worth billions after co-founding and selling Duty Free Shoppers Group, Chuck Feeney gave most of his wealth to charity. More public with his giving in recent years, Feeney's still known as a recluse who prefers a low-profile lifestyle.
Foster Friess
Foster Friess is best known as the political activist who heavily backed Republican Rick Santorum -- and who made headlines suggesting "gals" should use aspirin as a contraceptive. But his sporting activities are what really put him on our map as a potential eccentric.
Robert Klark Graham
Eugenicist and businessman Robert Klark Graham is remembered for his "contributions" to science, but not necessarily in a positive light.
Larry Hillblom
The "H" in shipping company DHL's name, billionaire Larry Hillblom was known for wearing shorts and ratty T-shirts while running the company. The biography "King Larry" paints a picture of his sordid lifestyle after he left DHL.
Howard Hughes
Aviator, plane designer and even film producer Howard Hughes was known for his eccentric obsessions -- such as building a wooden plane with a 320-foot, 11-inch wing span, flying it just once, then stopping work on the whole project -- from a young age.
Bidzina Ivanishvili
Prime minister of GeorgiaBidzina Ivanishvili is living the high life in his multimillion-dollar mansion, designed by this famous Russian architect.
Ingvar Kamprad
A number of today's billionaires are known for being thrifty, but IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad makes even Warren Buffett's lifestyle seem lavish.
Peter Lewis
Who says insurance men such as Peter Lewis are boring? At 78, Lewis remains one of the nation's leading advocates of marijuana legalization.
Tom Monaghan
Known for founding this famous pizza chain, Tom Monaghan once owned the Detroit Tigers and spent millions on antique cars and souvenirs in honor of his favorite architect. Then, in a surprising turn of events, he gave it all away.
Henry T. Nicholas
The former chief executive of wireless communications firm Broadcom, Henry T. Nicholas was accused of building a mystery lair under his California mansion.
Clive Palmer
Clive Palmer, an Australian mining magnate, won international headlines when it was reported that he planned to clone dinosaurs to build a real-life Jurassic Park.
Bob Parsons
Go Daddy founder Bob Parsons made headlines when he posted a video of a hunting trip so graphic and controversial that even PETA got involved.
Graham Pendrill
On a trip to Kenya, British businessman Graham Pendrill reportedly fell in love with the country's culture and returned home just long enough to sell his 12-bedroom mansion and pack his bags.
Prince Jefri of Brunei
The brother of a sultan, the "playboy prince" Prince Jefri of Brunei named his mega-yacht after a body part; since then, reports from a court case suggest he had blown nearly $15 billion and was almost broke.
Gina Rinehart
The Australian heiress has found herself in the news after a protracted legal battle with her children.
Tamir Sapir
A Soviet immigrant, Tamir Sapir, started off driving a cab and later built a New York real-estate empire, but he dropped off Forbes' billionaire list when the market collapsed. So what moves him into eccentric territory?
Peter Thiel
Former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel has provided seed money to the Seasteading Institute. He also supports efforts to build an artificial intelligence superior to that of humans. He also has given millions to this foundation.
Ted Turner
Though Ted Turner himself hasn't said much about it, the CNN founder is frequently cited as a friend of marijuana and a major financier of the Kentucky Hemp Museum. Numerous reports say he even grew marijuana in his college dorm room.
Jocelyn Wildenstein
The former wife of a famed art dealer, Jocelyn Wildenstein has spent millions on plastic surgery.
Mark Zuckerberg
We're used to thinking of tech geniuses as different from the rest of us, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg fits that mold.
No comments:
Post a Comment