'We have everything your heart desires': how the oligarchs and their heirs are chic in Monaco
'12.07.2020'
Source: Lenta.ru
How the life of residents of the elite principality is arranged and how the oligarchs and their children, who move here from all over the world, entertain themselves Lenta.ru.
In Monaco, you can be born into an ordinary family and do ordinary things: work in a public institution, take children to school, spend evenings with loved ones. But you can build a successful business and swim in the luxury with which this dwarf state is associated, about 30 percent consisting of millionaires.
The lifestyle of the rich in the state on the Mediterranean coast is parties on their own yachts, private clubs and dinners in Michelin-starred restaurants. During the season - from the Pink Ball in March to the gala show on a yacht in September - the elite from all over the world flies to Monaco in private helicopters and airplanes. Flights arrive at Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport, after which millionaires travel to the Principality in luxury cars. In a small country of big names and huge bank accounts, appearance and communications make a big difference. Status is determined by clothing, transport and social circle.
Since 2005, Monaco, with 38 inhabitants, has been ruled by the 62-year-old Prince Albert II. He lives in a luxurious palace, flies in a private plane and owns a museum of sports and vintage cars. It is known that the head of Monaco spent more than 2011 million euros to celebrate the wedding with Princess Charlene in 60.
Gregoire Gaumont, the butler of the princely family, told one of the British media that Albert II stores 15 thousand bottles of expensive wine in his cellar worth up to 30 thousand euros. “These are the best wines you can find. Very rare, ”he explained.
Childbirth with sea view
It is noteworthy that there are not so many Monegasques - the indigenous inhabitants of Monaco. They are born in the Princess Grace Hospital, the country's main and only state hospital, named after the Princess of Monaco, American actress Grace Kelly. She and Prince of Monaco Rainier III met at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, after which Rainier went to Philadelphia to ask Grace for her parents' hands. A couple of weeks later, a wedding ceremony was held in Monaco, turning the Hollywood star into the Princess of Monaco.
On the subject: Grace Kelly: the amazing story of the Hollywood diva and Princess Princess of Monaco
It is known that the current Princess of Monaco Charlene gave birth to twins in this hospital. The conditions in the hospital are the same for everyone, regardless of status: a day in a ward costs 400 euros. In addition to a separate room with a terrace overlooking the sea, the price includes meals and a personal maid. Only Monegasques enjoy special conditions: for them, for two days, all the costs of childbirth are covered by the state. In addition to this, indigenous people are paid a thousand euros for each child born.
Chasing the jackpot
In the country, few people purposefully receive higher education. Basically, school graduates immediately go to work in the field of tourism or the hotel business. It is known that in addition to the faculties of business and finance, the International University of Monaco has a one-of-a-kind specialty - luxury management. Graduates of this faculty become managers in premium car dealerships, managers in five-star hotels and casinos, jewelry specialists and other professionals in demand in the world of luxury.
The most common professions in Monaco are hotel, restaurant and casino workers. The minimum wage in the country is 1600 euros, even janitors do not receive less than this amount
The epicenter of luxury is the casino in Monte Carlo, where they shot some episodes of the James Bond movie.
Before the casino, Monaco was a poor state in which olives were grown and sold. But when a casino opened here in the mid-XNUMXth century, money poured into the country like a river. It is noteworthy that Monegasques are not allowed to play in the casino. The reason is simple: the authorities financially support the indigenous people and do not allow them to lose their money in pursuit of the jackpot.
Another important event for the world elite is the Monaco Grand Prix - the Formula 1 race on the Monte Carlo city circuit, which has been held annually (with rare exceptions) since 1950. Every May, celebrities such as David Beckham, Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Bieber and Kylie Minogue come to the Principality to attend this event.
“Connections are needed here.”
“Everyone here has a supercar. This small country is incredible: so sunny, so beautiful, so sheltered. Monaco is both a place for business and pleasure. But if you want to get to the best events, sit at the best tables and meet the right people, you need to know someone. Connections are necessary here, ”said Flavio Briatore, a millionaire and former Formula 1 team leader, in an interview with Tatler. At one time, the entrepreneur met with models Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum.
To become a resident of Monaco, you need to get a job, establish your own business in the city or confirm the availability of funds to ensure a beautiful life. The condition must be at least 553 thousand euros. Having lived in the principality for ten years, you can apply for citizenship, which is personally signed by the prince
Among the residents of the principality there are Russians. For example, businessman and billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, the former owner of Uralkali. It is known that he owns the football club of Monaco, whose former president until February 2019 was a former diplomat Vadim Vasiliev.
Entrepreneur Vasily Klyukin, who acquired a small bank in 2003, renamed it Sovcombank and brought it to the hundred largest banks in Russia, took up the futuristic design of yachts and skyscrapers in the principality. The former entrepreneur is interested in art and maintains a friendly relationship with Prince Albert and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
On the subject: 'Forever sad Charlene': Princess of Monaco explained why she does not smile in photographs
Two-time Olympic champion, pole vaulter Elena Isinbayeva and tennis player Dinara Safina also became residents of the state.
All these people appear in the company of Prince Albert II at the most significant events, including at the Monaco Yacht Show, where celebrities and billionaires from all over the world come every year to see the latest news on luxury yachting. It is noteworthy that in Monaco you can not engage in yachting without a lifeguard certificate.
Safety and “whatever your heart desires”
There is no income tax in the state, this is what attracts businessmen and wealthy people. Another reason for the massive influx of millionaires is security. In Monaco, it’s not customary to worry that someone might steal a sports car or rob a yacht: literally on every corner there are surveillance cameras that are carefully monitored by specially trained people.
This unique country has the highest per capita police density in Europe. Thanks to this, there is very low crime, and mostly small hooligans and scammers go to prison.
Even the Monaco prison offers magnificent sea views, and its prisoners can use the cinema and dental office for free.
Due to the fact that there are more and more people wishing to become a resident of Monaco every year, the government has established a strict selection system. Only those who can confirm the origin of their multimillion-dollar income are allowed into the country.
For example, Princess Camilla of Bourbon from Italy moved to Monaco more than 20 years ago after she married Prince Carlo, a member of the Spanish royal family. She lives in a mansion with her own cinema, gym, spa. Her house has a huge aquarium with piranhas. By the way, a square meter of housing in Monaco costs at least 50 thousand euros.
“I would be very sad to leave Monaco. Imagine you are leaving your home, crossing the road - and in front of you are all the best blessings of the world: from plastic surgery to luxury cars, ”her words quoted The Sun. According to Camilla, there are no boring evenings in Monaco, and you can attend several events in one night.
The widow of the famous alcohol producer Bacardi, film producer Monica Bacardi, also lives in Monaco for 20 years. “Here we have the Hotel de Paris, a yacht club, a shopping center with boutiques Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Celine, Bvlgari, Cartier, Dior - everything you want,” she said in an interview for the same publication.
Bacardi mentioned the Métropole Shopping Monte-Carlo, an upscale underground shopping mall with 80 luxury boutiques, steps away from the famous casino. According to local residents, in Monte Carlo it is difficult to find stores of budget brands of clothing, except perhaps Zara and Nike.
One of the employees of Hotel de Paris told how once the Russian billionaire liked the sushi served at the hotel so much that he insisted that the chef fly to his wife in Moscow in a private plane and make this dish for her
It is noted that a suite with a private pool in the mentioned hotel costs 39 thousand euros per night.
And in sorrow and in joy
Luxurious life in Monaco and leads young people. So, the 21-year-old granddaughter of Grace Kelly Camilla Gottlieb dresses in designer clothes, travels, spends time by her own pool and relaxes in five-star hotels, demonstrating the joys of her life on social networks.
At one time, the famous Italian businessman Michele Ferrero, known for his "sweet empire" Ferrero, also moved to Monaco. One of Italy’s richest businessmen took control of the confectionery company of his father Pietro Ferrero in 1957, and since then it has been difficult to compete with the authority of Ferrero in the sweets market. Today, Ferrero Group includes brands such as Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Rafaello and Kinder. Ferrero passed away at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco at the age of 89. Prince Albert II himself attended the funeral ceremony.
A state in which every third person has a fortune in his account occupies only two square kilometers of area. Consequently, members of secular society regularly see each other, not only for the sake of maintaining business and friendly relations, but also with the aim of deriving maximum benefit from dating. Prince Albert II is no exception. In 2013, Robert Eringer, a former adviser to the Prince of Monaco, in an interview with Radio Liberty, noted that a circle of people had formed around Albert who made money on him.
“As the head of intelligence for Albert II, I came to the conclusion that most of his friends and even employees simply traded in proximity to him. In the literal sense, they took money for an invitation to a party where Alber was supposed to be present. If my memory serves me, there were 62, maybe 65 permanently living Russians, ”said Eringer. - Most, of course, are respected people, but my concern was Russians, whose hands in blood, who laundered money, had high-level connections with crime. Fears were caused by the fact that the Russian mafia discovered Monaco for itself as a place for money laundering. ”
Nevertheless, the head of Monaco maintains communication with residents of his state, makes friends with celebrities and accepts gifts not only from friends, but also from grateful residents of the principality. Out of politeness.
