And as another year comes to a close shortly, let us leap back 12 months to check out the top five most luxurious items purchased in 2010. Art and jewelry marked its presence, and luxurious real estate also sneaked into the list. What is quite unbelievable is that age-old truffles and a couple of incense burners also took the glory! Hong Kong-based super-rich casino owner Stanley Ho is placed at number five for paying $330,000 for two white truffles from Italy, which experts defined as – ‘over-mature, split open and with decomposed parts.’ Apparently, amongst the super-rich ‘truffle’ connoisseurs, it is tradition to pass over these ‘antique’ specimens to younger generations.
4) The fourth position was taken by Carlos Slim. This first non-American to become the world’s richest man paid $44 million for an eight-story mansion across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on New York’s Fifth Avenue.
3) Number three slot goes to a rare 24.78-carat pink diamond fetched $46 million, the highest and record-breaking sum for a gem. It was bought by London jeweller Laurence Graff.
2) Texas tycoon Kelcy Warren takes the second position with his $46.5 million 3,500-acre BootJack Ranch near Telluride, Colorado. This uber-luxurious ranch can accommodate 50 guests and includes a 12,000 sq feet spa and an aquatic center. Wonder what his real home would possess!
1) And the winner is Jasper John’s famous painting ‘Flag’ at an astounding $110 million, snapped up by American hedge fund billionaire Steven Cohen! He is renowned in the auction circle to attain some of the most exclusive pieces of present-day art. Last month he grabbed American painter Andy Warhol’s 1962 painting of a Coca-Cola bottle for $35.4 million!
[Forbes]
