Entertainment & Music Did anybody see The Queen of Versailles doco?

Yeah watching credit markets tighten up like that is scary. Family was a freaking mess too.

 

Brilliant documentary though - almost like watching a train wreck given the family's dysfunctional issues. Great evidence that money doesn't buy class...

 

Will check it out.

 

Here's the full doco

 

Maybe you can give them some renovating tips!

 

Wylie

I found this fascinating, not what I expected at all.

They got caught up with the sub prime fiasco, have you seen "the Big Short"??

I actually thought I would hate these people, but quite the opposite.

No spoilers here, however sad to read that their 18 year old daughter actually died of an overdose last year, she got hooked onto prescription drugs.

 

Yes very interesting and quite sad how the daughter passed on.

Interesting family dynamics and fascinating to watch their relationship with money and toys.

 

She has beauty and brains, amazing perhaps that is why we should never judge a book by its cover. I have learnt something.

 

Recommended viewing to all. Different take to the usual GFC docos which are full of boring bankers with their take on what they didn't and did predict.

Don't watch much lately, but this one had me griped to the end.

Some points of reflection:

- money doesn't buy happiness that is clear.
- even when you're a billionaire your business doesn't run by itself.
- similar theme to Trumps life, although Donald was born into wealth from property compared to David who is self made from the 80s. Self absorbed, workaholic, enough is never enough, and beauty pageants seem to be the common theme.
- the boss effectively talks down onto the suckers that buy into his timeshare, how can that be good for his business? - effectively calling them free-loaders and easy / vulnerable prospects to sell to.
- nothing wrong with profitability of business model, but dependent on indefinite lending.
- son complaining how tough his work was working for his dad, and having to draw out his own equity - no one is forcing him to work there?
- similar selling models are rampant today in places like the Gold Coast locally.
- no real reflection on the ethics of the business model, pushing timeshare on many vulnerable people that could not afford it. Can be argued to be a legal pyramid scheme.

Timeshare is a right to occupy a place at a given date, but it is only a right, subject many levels of fineprint.

With online travel deals and AirBnB timeshare would have to be the worst deal for buyers compared to in the 80s when some deals were OK when getting early IMO.

 

The Versailles place looked spacious but I would love to declutter their other home and get those poor dogs outside for a good walk and poop.
She's nice but would look better in more classical clothes - just my opinion. The daughter was sweet and was right about standing up to her father although they should learn to turn the lights off. I know Jacqui started out as an engineer but apart from that, didn't see any evidence of brains - obviously lost the car keys and left the front door open.
Good doco on addiction to comsumerism at all levels. And the way the banks were hanging out for as many foreclosures as they could bring on.
Glad it's not like that here.