Super-rich people in Phoenix, Arizona


I watched a documentary yesterday about the super-rich of New York City, who are now living in skinny hi-rise towers on "Billionaire's Row". Yes, there are so many of these people that they have to squeeze them in that tiny space. And of course that got me thinking about the super-rich in Phoenix, Arizona.

Starting about twenty years ago (this is a history blog, after all) for me, I started going to the car shows in Scottsdale in January with some friends of mine, who were VIPs, buying and selling cars. It started at the basic entry-level show, which is the most popular, called the Barrett-Jackson. Over the years my friends moved to more, uh, snobbish venues, and I got to see some of the super-rich.

Let me introduce you to some super-rich people. Over there! No, the person standing next to where you were looking, the unshaven one, wearing clothes that are an absolute embarrassment. It's not always true that most disreputable-looking people at the car shows are the super-rich, but it's a good bet. I had always thought that they'd look like the guy on the Monopoly box, with a top hat and tails, but they really don't have to. Mostly they don't need to dress to impress. Of course I know nothing about women's fashion, so that just goes past me. It could be an Oscar de la Renta dress, I have no idea.

Super-rich people don't just live in one place - they have places all of the world, and bounce around them as the mood strikes them. So you really don't ask where they're from, unless it's where they grew up, they may have a home in Beverly Hills, and several floors of a high-rise in Dubai. Oh yeah, and a place on Billionaire's Row overlooking Central Park in Manhattan.

Speaking for myself, I never wanted to be rich, and I never wanted to be poor, and I got my wish. Extremes of wealth, or lack of it, bring terrible problems, and I'm happy to be able to afford to keep the lights on, buy enough dog food for my wiener dogs, and be able to get my senior coffee (97 cents plus tax) every morning at McDonalds. I've always considered someone rich who has friends, and by that standard, I'm super-rich!
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