Venture capitalist Tom Perkins took a public beating when he likened the experience of the 1% in the U.S. to "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F01%2F26%2Finvesting%2Ftom-perkins-nazi-kristallnacht%2Findex.html">fascist Nazi Germany</a>" in a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2FSB10001424052702304549504579316913982034286" target="_blank" target="_blank">letter</a> to the editor of the Wall Street Journal in January. But he found himself in even more hot water a few days later during an interview with Bloomberg, when he said he could "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2Fvideo%2Ftechnology%2F2014%2F01%2F28%2Ft-tom-perkins-has-a-fancy-watch.cnnmoney">buy a six-pack of Rolexes</a>" for the price of his watch.
When this one percenter compared the U.S. wealth debate to Nazi Germany —
Venture capitalist Tom Perkins took a public beating when he likened the experience of the 1% in the U.S. to "fascist Nazi Germany" in a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal in January. But he found himself in even more hot water a few days later during an interview with Bloomberg, when he said he could "buy a six-pack of Rolexes" for the price of his watch.
Photo: Steve Jennings/Getty
If you're going to drop $20,000 on one handbag, you better make sure it doesn't <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F10%2F13%2Fluxury%2Fhermes-bag-smell%2F">"reek like a skunk,</a>" like a number of shoppers said their coveted Hermès handbags did this year. Many ended up having to send their bags back to Paris and wait months for replacements.
When $20,000 handbags smelled like skunk —
If you're going to drop $20,000 on one handbag, you better make sure it doesn't "reek like a skunk," like a number of shoppers said their coveted Hermès handbags did this year. Many ended up having to send their bags back to Paris and wait months for replacements.
Photo: Timur Emek/Getty
Oil billionaire Harold Hamm was ordered to pay his wife Sue Ann <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F11%2F10%2Fluxury%2Fharold-hamm-divorce%2Findex.html">$1 billion</a> in their divorce. But<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F11%2F14%2Fluxury%2Fharold-hamm-divorce%2F"> Sue Ann scoffed</a> at the amount. Because a billion dollars ain't what it used to be.
When a $1 billion divorce settlement simply wouldn't do —
Oil billionaire Harold Hamm was ordered to pay his wife Sue Ann $1 billion in their divorce. But Sue Ann scoffed at the amount. Because a billion dollars ain't what it used to be.
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty
A Manhattan developer's plans to build a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F07%2F28%2Fluxury%2Fhousing-inequality-poor-door%2F">separate entrance</a> for low-income residents of a luxury condominium building -- a 'poor door' -- was greenlighted by the city. Ironically, the buildings 55 low-income units were included in the project as part of the Inclusionary Housing Program, an effort to mitigate inequality by offering affordable housing in nice areas.
When a developer added a "poor door" to keep the riff raff out —
A Manhattan developer's plans to build a separate entrance for low-income residents of a luxury condominium building -- a 'poor door' -- was greenlighted by the city. Ironically, the buildings 55 low-income units were included in the project as part of the Inclusionary Housing Program, an effort to mitigate inequality by offering affordable housing in nice areas.
Photo: Extell Development Group
It's not always sunny in the Jersey Shore for Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, who was <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F09%2F24%2Fnews%2Fthe-situation-sorrentino-tax-fraud%2F">indicted</a> for failing to pay taxes on nearly $9 million in income. According to the indictment, Sorrentino claimed expensive cars, fancy clothes and "personal grooming expenses," as legitimate business costs.
When the tax man cometh for 'Jersey Shore' —
It's not always sunny in the Jersey Shore for Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, who was indicted for failing to pay taxes on nearly $9 million in income. According to the indictment, Sorrentino claimed expensive cars, fancy clothes and "personal grooming expenses," as legitimate business costs.
Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty
It's all about perspective for Alibaba founder and richest man in China Jack Ma, who explained that being a billionaire is a "<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F11%2F12%2Fluxury%2Fjack-ma-pain-being-rich%2Findex.html">great pain </a>because when you're the richest person in the world, everyone is surrounding you for money." Anyone want to trade places with Ma?
When Jack Ma complained about his hard knock life —
It's all about perspective for Alibaba founder and richest man in China Jack Ma, who explained that being a billionaire is a "great pain because when you're the richest person in the world, everyone is surrounding you for money." Anyone want to trade places with Ma?
Photo: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty
Donald Trump, the man behind the hair and vitriolic Twitter account, is also the man behind a school that didn't have the proper paperwork to run his Trump University for aspiring moguls who paid up to $35,000 for classes, according to a Manhattan Supreme Court judge.
When Trump University wasn't actually a university —
Donald Trump, the man behind the hair and vitriolic Twitter account, is also the man behind a school that didn't have the proper paperwork to run his Trump University for aspiring moguls who paid up to $35,000 for classes, according to a Manhattan Supreme Court judge.
Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty
A thief snuck into the biggest closet in America, a 3-story, 3,000 square-foot mecca complete with a champagne bar and make up room belonging to Texan Theresa Roemer, and made away with $1 million in goods. The robber later sent a letter claiming some of the stolen loot was fake and worth virtually nothing, and threatened to expose Roemer as a fraud. Talk about karma.
When a thief stole from America's biggest closet —
A thief snuck into the biggest closet in America, a 3-story, 3,000 square-foot mecca complete with a champagne bar and make up room belonging to Texan Theresa Roemer, and made away with $1 million in goods. The robber later sent a letter claiming some of the stolen loot was fake and worth virtually nothing, and threatened to expose Roemer as a fraud. Talk about karma.
Photo: Houston Chronicle/James Nielsen/Getty