The Extravagant Lifestyles of the

Rich……By Rebecca Mitchell and Emma Chaloux-Pinette

ROME

Rome….Wealthy Romans lived extravagantly:

•Large dinner parties with expensive meats and sauces imported from distant lands of the empire.•Homes in the beautiful hillsides of the country.•Hundreds of servants attending to their every whim.•They ate on sofas and recliners for many, many courses whilst Roman citizens starved.

Rome….They also…..•Hired singers, jugglers, poets, musicians and dancers for their own private amusement.•Had custom clothes of the finest fabrics.•Wore the biggest jewels ever seen to represent their power.•Hired mourners for their funerals to show how important they were. •Created festivals to celebrate themselves.

Rome & Corruption

Julius Caesar…..•He was an extremely ambitious general, who was also very successful.•He acquired emergency dictator powers and kept them by stocking the Senate full with his supports.•He attacked Rome and the Republic to remain in power causing a Civil War. •He used bribery, threats, and death to accomplish what he wanted.

“I came, I saw, I conquered.”

AMERICA

The United States and the Wealthy…..

• 2, 728, 000 people in the United States earn more than $1.5 million annually.•47,000 people in the United States earn more than $20 million dollars annually.•The wealthiest own multiple homes, countless car, private jets, and boats.•They spend thousands and thousands of dollars on designer jewelry, clothes, and other paraphernalia. •They throw huge private parties with pop star guests, huge sculptures, and expensive gifts in exotic locations.

Beverly Hills Mansion

Dennis Kozlowski•He was the former CEO of Tyco who threw his ex-wife a $2 million dollar 40th birthday party.•It was held on the Italian island of Sardinia with a private concert by Jimmy Buffet.• They had a huge ice sculpture of Michelangelo’s David.•They also had many guests, expensive presents, and it was lavishly catered.

$ American Sports Stars $

Tiger Woods Kobe Bryant

2008 Income: $127,902,706 2008 Income: $35,490,625

American Corruption:Governor Rod Blagojevich•The governor of Illinois tried to sell of President Barack Obama’s former senate seat to the highest bidder.•In addition to money, he wanted a job for his wife, and a diplomatic appointment.•He was arrested on multiple accounts of bribery and corruption on December 9, 2008 at his home.•He was impeached on January 29, 2009 unanimously by the state senate.•Four out of the last 8 Illinois governors have been indicted and even sent to prison for corruption.•He allegedly withheld funds from a children's hospital because the director would not contribute to his campaign.

American Greed:Bernie Madoff• He was an investment broker who was indicted for, and pleaded guilty to, fraud.•He fraud was a $65 billion dollar Ponzi scheme.•He plead guilty on March 12, 2009 to all 11 counts that he was facing.•His scheme started in the early 1990’s and was finally arrested after he told his sons and they turned him into the authorities. He defrauded many people out of their savings including Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Steven Spielberg, other various charity organizations, along with many others.

Bernie Madoff’s Assets

•His net worth is about $823 million.

He has:•$22 million worth of residences in France, Manhattan, Montauk, and

Palm Beach.•$17 million in cash.

•$45 million in securities.•$700 million ownership in his

investment firm.•$9.3 million dollars in his 4 boats.•$12 million dollar private jet, he

has a 50% share.•$2.6 millions dollars worth of

jewelry for his wife.

A BASIC PONZI SCHEME…..

IS LIKE A TOWER OF CARDS

IS THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWING IN ROME’S FOOTSTEPS?

• There are many similarities in both situations. -Corruption and Greed-Placement of power among the rich-Excessiveness and selfishness

• I t is these situations that are common in very power nations, but it is important that we need to solve these problems before we become the next Rome.

Only time will tell…..