Wealth Management: Ultimate toys
Not everyone in the upper strata of the super-rich consumes conspicuously, but for those who do there are a million ways to spend their hard-won megabucks. So let's narrow it down. Here are three ideas for really splashing out. Each brings a different kind of pleasure.
HOBBY FOOTBALL CLUB
Premiership giant Arsenal could be yours for just £500m or so. Okay, the team hasn't won the league for a few years, but it was recently named second-biggest-earning football side in the world (after Real Madrid), with a turnover topping £200m. The north London club comes with a spanking new stadium, a visionary (but short-sighted) French manager, and possibly a flat in the Emirates complex near celebrity fans like writer Nick Hornby and TV funnyman Clive Anderson. What about about the excessive wage demands and dubious personal habits of English players? Don't worry - you're unlikely to find any in Arsenal's first team. You could be drawn into a bidding war with a US sports magnate and a Russian billionaire, but that's par for the course in the Prem these days. And with endless amounts of TV cash flowing into the game, your investment could yield a big return. David Dein (ex-vice chairman, fronting the Russian bid) bought his shares for £295k and sold them (to his new boss) for £60m. It isn't called 'the beautiful game' for nothing.
AN 'INVESTMENT' HANDBAG
