500 Fortunes – Prestigious horses, stud farms in Normandy, polo stables, but also jewels, racing cars or residences in Monaco… With the greatest fortunes in the world, passions are priceless. Neither are follies.
Towers branded like luxury carsof the bunkers and armoured cars, valuable safes… In 2023, on the occasion of the release of the special issue of Challenges dedicated to the 500 largest fortunes in France, the editorial team had highlighted some of the follies of the rich, many of which were aimed at feeling safe. For the 2024 edition, the atmosphere has changed and we are focusing on the follies of the rich around the world, those on which we spend without counting for one and only one purpose: to please ourselves.
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Passionately purebred
The appointment is made in the Middle East, more precisely in Qatar. Beauty contests, auctions, racing stables… The horse is here a cultural asset, an integral part of the national identity. This is evidenced by the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival, the largest beauty contest for purebred Arabians on the peninsula. In its race against Doha, Qatar is also spending lavishly to stay ahead, as with the Al Shaqab site, a pharaonic complex in which the thoroughbreds are housed in a 5-star palace.
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Doha spends lavishly on its Arabian thoroughbreds
In this race for thoroughbreds, France is far from being left behind thanks to the Mecca of French sales: Deauville. Third place in the world market, the auctions there even set a new volume record in 2023.
Deauville, the Mecca of French Thoroughbred Sales
At the 2021 Deauville auction, this yearling (one-year-old thoroughbred) was sold for 1.5 million euros.
At the 2021 Deauville auction, this yearling (one-year-old thoroughbred) was sold for 1.5 million euros. Credit: AFP / SAMEER AL-DOUMY
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It is also around Deauville, in Calvados, that the most beautiful and largest stud farms in France are located. In Meautry and Saint-Léonard, two of the greatest fortunes in France perpetuate this equestrian passion: les Rothschild et The Wertheimers. But they are not the only ones[…]
