Just watched this superb documentary about Jackie and David Siegel who build a 90,000 sqft house because they are outgrowing their 20,000 sqft house. Just like you can sometimes understand the physical world better when you study extremes (subatomic particles smashing into each other at millions of miles per hour), you understand humans better when you observe them at their most extreme. Here's the story of people wanting a big house. A really big house. Insane? Yes. But I've seen ordinary people spend way too much money buying way too big a house. What would happen if they were just a little bit crazier and a whole lot wealthier?
Great side story on the timeshare business that is the source of their wealth. The upshot: Don't buy a timeshare; stay at the Holiday Inn.
From IMBD:
"The Queen of Versailles is a character-driven documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis. With epic proportions of Shakespearean tragedy, the film follows two unique characters, whose rags-to-riches success stories reveal the innate virtues and flaws of the American Dream. The film begins with the family triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America, a 90,000 sq. ft. palace. Over the next two years, their sprawling empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis. Major changes in lifestyle and character ensue within the cross-cultural household of family members and domestic staff."
Great side story on the timeshare business that is the source of their wealth. The upshot: Don't buy a timeshare; stay at the Holiday Inn.
From IMBD:
"The Queen of Versailles is a character-driven documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis. With epic proportions of Shakespearean tragedy, the film follows two unique characters, whose rags-to-riches success stories reveal the innate virtues and flaws of the American Dream. The film begins with the family triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America, a 90,000 sq. ft. palace. Over the next two years, their sprawling empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis. Major changes in lifestyle and character ensue within the cross-cultural household of family members and domestic staff."
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