[The title
was written by my editor.]
The modern jet setters we see the most of are the ones with expensive
hobbies.
by John
Tyburski
Copyright © Daily
Digest News, KPR Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Google CEO
Alan Eustace surprised many late last week with his record-shattering skydive
from 135,000 feet, and it is easy to imagine that this impressive feat came
with an impressive price tag. After all, Eustace needed a professionally
engineered space suit for protecting his body in the outer atmosphere,
life-sustaining equipment within, and a purpose-built helium balloon without to
haul him to his launch altitude.
Eustace
represents a trend among today’s most wealthy hobbyists, including Sir Richard
Branson and Larry Ellison. Those with the resources can engage in and enjoy the
thrill of the world’s most expensive sports. Here are five notable examples.
Anyone who
has enjoyed snow skiing knows that it is not a sport one can do on a budget.
However, for those who can afford it, like Russian billionaire and Brooklyn
Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, substituting a private helicopter for the ski
lift lets one have access to the most remote, unspoiled parts of the resort
mountains where the snow is always the freshest imaginable. Richard Branson is
also fond of so-called “heli-skiing.”
Branson,
who is the founder of the Virgin Group, is also quite fond of kite-surfing. It
happens, actually, the just about any elite hobby one can think of is probably
the domain of Richard Branson. Kite-surfing combines riding a surf or wake
board with holding onto a parachute for achieving wind-propulsion. In 2012,
Branson set a record for being the oldest person to kite-surf across the
English Channel.
Competitive
sailing is certainly a big-ticket hobby, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison has
the billionaire’s resources to enjoy it. His Oracle Team USA currently holds
the America’s Cup, the top honor of a well-known high-stakes yacht race that
happens every few years. Ellison will likely spend millions to defend the
team’s position in 2017.
Of course,
there is near the top of the expensive sport list Formula 1 racing. Fast cars
are expensive on all levels, but a F1 car can cost millions. And these price
tags are no problem for—you guessed it—Richard Branson. Joining him in the pits
with their own cars though are Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone and GoPro
founder Nick Woodman.
No list of
expensive past times would be complete without horses. Whether it be dressage,
racing, or polo, the equestrian sports are perennial favorites of the rich and
famous. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s daughter, Georgina, is a
professional rider. Elite tech baron Bill Gates will not be left out of the
sponsoring of daughters’ horseplay. He reportedly spent nearly $1 million to
encourage his daughter’s equestrian adventures.
Perhaps
the general public can at least enjoy these affluent athletics vicariously!
No comments:
Post a Comment