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The Official Filthy Rich Handbook
How the Other .0001% Live
It's looking like another banner year for America's moneyed over-class, the lucky .0001 percent sitting on $30 million-plus in liquid assets.
But sadly, most of the newcomers joining their ranks are simply not prepared to make the decisions that come with having it all. Unsure about everything—butler or majordomo? St. Tropez or St. Thomas?—they will blow their hard-earned billions on tacky houses, outrageous wardrobes, and outré diversions of various stripes. Because, while there are countless ways to make a fortune these days, there's still only one way to be Filthy Rich.
Fortunately, in the spirit of The Official Preppy Handbook —the 1.3-million-copy bestseller that taught all of us how to be WASPily top drawer—help has arrived. A dead-on, deadpan guide to living large in the land of plenty, The Official Filthy Rich Handbook yanks the monogrammed pashmina off a world few mortals ever get to see. Packed with insight and savvy, it brings this rarified universe to scandalous new life, feeding our endless fascination with the tastefully loaded, while offering practical instructions for those who dream of joining them.
In it, you'll learn not only where to live and what to wear, but about the things that really matter. How to hire a household staff. The right cosmetic surgery procedures for you...and your children. The proper way to name your houses. The sacred role of privet hedges. Why the Filthy Rich swim naked. The down-and-dirty on your fellow plutocrats (The Nerdling, The Raider, and the Grande Dame, to name a few). The moochers and scoundrels to know and avoid. How to buy a gigayacht. The right spots to party in Sardinia, Aspen, Nantucket, and St. Barts. The world's hottest tax havens. The four interior decorators worth waiting for. The Filthy Richest rehabs. Boarding schools of the rich and feckless. Why it's so hard to break into the art market and how to sound smart about Richard Serra. And much, much more. The rich "are different from you and me," F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote. Wait until you see the Filthy Rich.
It's looking like another banner year for America's moneyed over-class, the lucky .0001 percent sitting on $30 million-plus in liquid assets.
But sadly, most of the newcomers joining their ranks are simply not prepared to make the decisions that come with having it all. Unsure about everything—butler or majordomo? St. Tropez or St. Thomas?—they will blow their hard-earned billions on tacky houses, outrageous wardrobes, and outré diversions of various stripes. Because, while there are countless ways to make a fortune these days, there's still only one way to be Filthy Rich.
Fortunately, in the spirit of The Official Preppy Handbook —the 1.3-million-copy bestseller that taught all of us how to be WASPily top drawer—help has arrived. A dead-on, deadpan guide to living large in the land of plenty, The Official Filthy Rich Handbook yanks the monogrammed pashmina off a world few mortals ever get to see. Packed with insight and savvy, it brings this rarified universe to scandalous new life, feeding our endless fascination with the tastefully loaded, while offering practical instructions for those who dream of joining them.
In it, you'll learn not only where to live and what to wear, but about the things that really matter. How to hire a household staff. The right cosmetic surgery procedures for you...and your children. The proper way to name your houses. The sacred role of privet hedges. Why the Filthy Rich swim naked. The down-and-dirty on your fellow plutocrats (The Nerdling, The Raider, and the Grande Dame, to name a few). The moochers and scoundrels to know and avoid. How to buy a gigayacht. The right spots to party in Sardinia, Aspen, Nantucket, and St. Barts. The world's hottest tax havens. The four interior decorators worth waiting for. The Filthy Richest rehabs. Boarding schools of the rich and feckless. Why it's so hard to break into the art market and how to sound smart about Richard Serra. And much, much more. The rich "are different from you and me," F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote. Wait until you see the Filthy Rich.
247 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2008
7 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 18, 2009
It's interesting - the more time I spend at college, the more I become convinced that the best career move I could ever make would be to marry a Russian billionaire and live out the rest of my days as a well-educated trophy wife. One of my friends, knowing this about me, gave me this book for my birthday with the advice to study it religiously.
Amusing and eye-opening, this little book induces eye-rolls and disgusted head-shaking more often than genuine laughs (the section on childrearing was particulary effective in bringing out the latent bourgeouis-hating Marxist in me - did you know you can buy a silver pacifier accented with 278 diamonds for only $17,000? Your toddler will be thrilled!). Reading this was a fun way to waste an afternoon, but I'm glad I got it as a gift instead of buying it myself.
Some of my favorite bits from the book:
-The advice on choosing and then dealing with an interior decorator. "Realize that he hates your horrifically pedestrian taste. The sooner you internalize this and bow to his will, the sooner he will allow you to speak."
-The flowchart explaining "who reports to whom" in your squadron of hired help. (essentially everyone reports to the majordomo except the personal assistant)
-Anecdotes about historical filthy-rich figures, like this description of a banquet the Roman emperor Nero supposedly held: "highlights included slaves showering guests with snow water and then having sex with the host. The menu: a roast boar which - when carved - released live birds; sweetmeats molded to resemble piglets; 12 dishes representing every sign in the zodiac; fish spouting pepper sauce; and rabbits fitted with wings."
-The "How to Buy an Island" chapter.
-"It's no accident that the kid picked last in dodge ball...is often the one who scales the Forbes 400. It's for this reason that plutocrats so often enjoy golf, a genteel game that doesn't involve breaking a sweat and involves a suitable amount of expensive equipment."
-"When he kicked it in 1950, Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw bequeathed a portion of his wealth to whomever could invent a new English alphabet. He specified that it had to have at least 40 letters and be easier to use than the current one."
Amusing and eye-opening, this little book induces eye-rolls and disgusted head-shaking more often than genuine laughs (the section on childrearing was particulary effective in bringing out the latent bourgeouis-hating Marxist in me - did you know you can buy a silver pacifier accented with 278 diamonds for only $17,000? Your toddler will be thrilled!). Reading this was a fun way to waste an afternoon, but I'm glad I got it as a gift instead of buying it myself.
Some of my favorite bits from the book:
-The advice on choosing and then dealing with an interior decorator. "Realize that he hates your horrifically pedestrian taste. The sooner you internalize this and bow to his will, the sooner he will allow you to speak."
-The flowchart explaining "who reports to whom" in your squadron of hired help. (essentially everyone reports to the majordomo except the personal assistant)
-Anecdotes about historical filthy-rich figures, like this description of a banquet the Roman emperor Nero supposedly held: "highlights included slaves showering guests with snow water and then having sex with the host. The menu: a roast boar which - when carved - released live birds; sweetmeats molded to resemble piglets; 12 dishes representing every sign in the zodiac; fish spouting pepper sauce; and rabbits fitted with wings."
-The "How to Buy an Island" chapter.
-"It's no accident that the kid picked last in dodge ball...is often the one who scales the Forbes 400. It's for this reason that plutocrats so often enjoy golf, a genteel game that doesn't involve breaking a sweat and involves a suitable amount of expensive equipment."
-"When he kicked it in 1950, Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw bequeathed a portion of his wealth to whomever could invent a new English alphabet. He specified that it had to have at least 40 letters and be easier to use than the current one."
November 9, 2008
A dissapointment. I was excited to get my hands on this book after I read a Boston Globe article that featured the author. It's just the kind of book you flip through at the bookstore and toss back on the shelf.
June 20, 2009
Fun read! A good resource, too, for what really is the uber rich lifestyle. Lots to learn, but also lots of laughs!
March 2, 2014
A fun parody of Aaron Spelling, Saudi princes, and other people I will never know. And it taught me how and when to refurbish my yacht.
November 8, 2009
A funny, tongue-in-cheek look at the lives of the upper crust.
March 23, 2021
This is a bit like sitting in a waiting room and grabbing a magazine which you quickly realize that you don't want to read. I guess it's supposed to be funny and ironical but, unfortunately, it's rather tedious and pointless.
June 24, 2017
So, so funny--and informational. I was appalled to learn I've been mispronouncing Cannes for years!! LOL!!
September 19, 2024
DNF. Thought it would be funny but it was a boring list of stuff.
February 20, 2017
Pretty enjoyable book. I had a few laugh at loud moments.
July 2, 2009
Hilarious. A cousin of the Official Preppy Handbook from the 1980s. It makes you shake your head in wonder at the excess surrounding the "filthy rich", and for those of us whose jobs require crossing paths with the lifestyle disected in this book, it makes you nod your head in agreement with the pciture that is painted. The section on children and education was a particular favorite.
October 28, 2015
I got what I wanted out of the this book: some good shopping and traveling ideas. But way fewer than I had hoped for.
Also, the way this book was written was just dumb. But I knew that going in. It's trite-superficial-attempting-to-be-funny-but-failing magazine fare. People, the extremely wealthy included, are only superficial until you get to know them. At least that has been my experience.
Also, the way this book was written was just dumb. But I knew that going in. It's trite-superficial-attempting-to-be-funny-but-failing magazine fare. People, the extremely wealthy included, are only superficial until you get to know them. At least that has been my experience.
January 9, 2017
This book is informative and hilarious. It took a long time for me to read it because I LEFT IT AT SOMEBODY'S HOME AND THEY WENT AWAY ON HOLIDAY! I finally got it back and I happily finished it. I got it from the library. I need my own copy for future reference.!!! I'm totallly pleased with the knowledge I acquired from this book. When fortune smiles upon me, I shall be ready.
September 13, 2008
I thought this was very funny and entertaining, but a bit inaccurate on some of the pricing estimations of luxury goods. The author is certainly someone who knows the in's and out's of upper class society!
August 6, 2008
Inspired by The Official Preppy Handbook of yore; very humorous.
July 29, 2008
Obviously based on The Official Preppy Handbook and thus a bit derivative, this is still pretty funny, and as far as I can tell (not being filthy rich myself) accurate.
November 3, 2008
Funny and sarcastic! A good read if you want something to laugh at.
August 13, 2008
A favorite of my friend, Erica... very tongue in cheek...
July 12, 2010
This is hysterical! I read it in two days. Definitely fun reading!
January 22, 2011
Very amusing and quick read. If you're a vanity fair reader and like to read about how the richest of the rich live, this one is for you. Warning: it's a handbook not a book.
May 1, 2015
pritty dumb in my opinion.
May 27, 2014
Kind of entertaining in a douchey, WASPy way. would recommend for occasional diversion, not something to really read through.
October 11, 2013
Wonderfully catty.
September 17, 2008
Not only my bro's work, but a very witty, hilarious book.
July 20, 2010
funny but not funny enough to carry a whole book.
August 7, 2011
A fun read, but dated by now.
October 31, 2012
Hilarious. I'm glad I bought this:)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews