Private jets, luxurious mansions, or five-star yachts may seem like over-the-top expenses for most of us, but truth is that they are rather normal in the world of billionaires. However, there are billionaires out there who take the meaning of eccentric and extravagant spending to a whole new extreme.
Following, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 5 most eccentric billionaires in the world. Curious to find out what rich people spend their wealth on? Let’s take a look at the countdown.
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No. 5: Peter Thiel
Founder of PayPal and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) investor Peter Thiel definitely knows a thing or two about making money. And, not unlike other billionaires, Thiel also likes giving something back to the community. Nothing strange so far, right? Well, wait till you hear some of Thiel’s charitable causes. Thus far, Thiel has invested millions of dollars in developing artificial intelligence, studying human immortality, and even the construction of ocean-floating cities.
No. 4: Jocelyn Wildenstein
Love knows no boundaries. This is especially true in the case of socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein, who underwent a major and shocking transformation so as to please her husband. After marrying billionaire Alec Wildenstein, Jocelyn went on a plastic surgery spree, worth several million dollars, in an attempt to make her features resemble that of a feline. Unfortunately for her, this couldn’t save her marriage which ended in 1997. Nonetheless, Jocelyn was the recipient of one of the largest divorce settlements in history, worth a reported $2.5 billion, plus a $100 yearly allowance for 13 years.
No. 3: Robert Klark Graham
It’s no mystery that some billionaires think of themselves as being above the common man. But optometrist Robert Klark Graham took this to a whole new level in 1980, when he opened a sperm bank, the Repository for Germinal Choice, which only accepted donations from people who had won the Nobel Prize. Graham, who had made his fortune by inventing shatter proof lenses, was on a mission to create a master race. However, given the fact that most Nobel Prize laureates were of a rather advanced age, Graham soon had to lower his standards. At the time of his death, in 1997, the Repository was closed. A little over 200 children were conceived thanks to Graham’s sperm bank, and the few who have chosen to come forward have shown a remarkable level of intelligence.
No. 2: Howard Hughes
Few people in history can top the late Howard Hughes in terms of eccentricity. Heir of an oil drilling company, Hughes tried his hand as several ventures. He invested in Hollywood movies, he worked as a designer, an aviation pioneer, and even as a test pilot. Following a crash in the Beverly Hills, Hughes’ eccentricities took a whole new meaning. The billionaire slowly isolated himself from reality, by spending months in dark rooms urinating in bottles, so as to avoid all human contact. When his demands became too much for the owners of the hotels he was spending his time in, he purchased the buildings. When he died, his body was so untidy and disheveled that fingerprints were needed in order to establish his identity.
No. 1: Clive Palmer
No list of eccentric billionaires would have been complete without Australian entrepreneur Clive Palmer, who’s rather renowned for his peculiarities. Back in 2012, he took stand against Greenpeace, accusing them of cooperating with the CIA to take down Australia’s mining industry. For his 5-star Coolum Resort, Palmer planned to actually clone a dinosaur and set him free in a Jurassic Park-inspired area. When it became obvious that wasn’t about to happen, he ordered 100 animatronic dinosaurs that were placed all throughout the resort. His most recent endeavor? Building a life-size replica of the Titanic, which is set to be completed in 2016. The strangest thing about it is that Palmer is keen on keeping things as authentic as possible: guests will be divided by class and no modern amenities, such as TVs, will be available.
