Overpaid or what?

[Guest zipperzone]

A Canadian rag called "Hello Canada" (published weekly) has a story in this issue about SIMON COWELL of American Idol fame and his recent purchase of a new house in the toney London area of Holland Park.

 

If the article is to be believed, the purchase price was SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION dollars. And he only lives in the UK for 6 months out of the year.

 

Say what you will about Idol and although I'm all for free enterprise and the ability to earn whatever the traffic will bear, does anyone else think he might just be a tad overpaid?

 

So as much as we laugh at the show, think Cowell is a rude annoying Brit and call the MC Howdy Doody..... they gotta be doing something right. Right?

[+ Charlie]

Although I know London real estate is outrageous, I can't believe that figure could be for real. A huge estate in Malibu recently sold for $65 million, by far the highest price ever paid for anything there, and I can't imagine that there could be anything in Holland Park with enough land to justify $75 million.

[+ deej]

I don't doubt the amount. Malibu is expensive, but don't forget it's surrounded by undeveloped land.

 

The UK is an island, and real estate is ALWAYS more expensive on an island because it's in limited supply. Buckingham Palace is rather small, as palaces go, but it's on a large piece of land and the land is what makes the property valuable.

 

The thing I find hard to believe is that someone would *buy* a 65 or 75 mil property. They're clearly not hoping to flip it. ;-)

[+ Hoover42]

I guess he likes throwing his money around. Check out this TMZ video of Simon in his Rolls-Royce.

 

http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/02/simon-says-mines-bigger-than-ryans/

 

...Hoover

[Guest zipperzone]

>I guess he likes throwing his money around. Check out this

>TMZ video of Simon in his Rolls-Royce.

>

>http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/02/simon-says-mines-bigger-than-ryans/

>

>...Hoover

 

Too bad the video is so dark - it's almost impossible to see - or are my eyes just getting older and dimmer?

[Guest zipperzone]

>Although I know London real estate is outrageous, I can't

>believe that figure could be for real. A huge estate in Malibu

>recently sold for $65 million, by far the highest price ever

>paid for anything there, and I can't imagine that there could

>be anything in Holland Park with enough land to justify $75

>million.

 

Those were my thoughts too. From the picture there appears to be very little land. I'm now wondering if the article contained a typo. Perhaps they left out the decimal point. If it were $7.5 million it would be more believable. But then again, I think a new luxury mansion in Holland Park would still cost more than 7.5.

 

BTY - another article about Cowell in the same issue stated that he was insulted by the Viagra people who offered him two million to do a commercial. He says there is no way he needs help in the bedroom and would not do a commercial that would imply he does. He goes on to say that he does use Botox and that he considers that no more extraordinary than using tooth paste. Hmmmmmm

[+ Hoover42]

Zipper, you're right...the video is dark. I guess the paparazzo was trying to conserve his camera battery. But did you see the $400,000 car at the end?

[Guest zipperzone]

>Zipper, you're right...the video is dark. I guess the

>paparazzo was trying to conserve his camera battery. But did

>you see the $400,000 car at the end?

 

Yes I did.

 

There are a couple of them driving around Vancouver these days and I have actually sat in one at the Car Show a couple of years ago. They are luxurious beyond belief. I think if I owned one (that will never happen) I would feel stupid driving it myself - it really deserves to have a chauffeur.

 

But... there is something very wrong about cars that cost more than most people's houses. Wretched excess springs to mind.