Oct 27, 2009

The Delightful Pleasures of the Nouveau Riche

Thanks to some excellent reporting by the gumshoes at Vedomosti, we know that Russia’s political elite are spending a lot of money on bling – more money, in fact, then some offically make each year.


For example, Moscow Deputy Mayor Vladimir Resin (head of the city’s notorious construction office) sports this $1,030,000 DeWitt La Pressy Grande Complication. The manufacture claims it "can be admired through a transparent back protected by a sapphire crystal."


Or maybe you would prefer Chechen President Kadyrov's $300,000 Bovet. We needn't mention that he claims to make $118,000 a year and has two assets: a Grozny apartment and his Lada.


Transport Minister Igor Levitin keeps track of the trains with his $74,800 Patek Philippe.


And Saint Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko is sure to never miss the bridges with her $26,600 Harry Winston. Curiously, Matviyenko only claims to make $58,777 a year. The poor woman must have saved every kopek.


Relative to his official income, President Medvedev taste's are curiously frugal judging by his $32,200 Breguet.



So what does Putin wear? Vedomosti didn't mention it, but we have it on good authority that the PM keeps it real with his prized Hello Kitty digital collection. Suggested retail: $9.99.

3 comments:

Ani said...

Yes, you are right! In honor of those free-range tigers & leopards... "I'm a pussycat too!"

Anonymous said...

Let's not forget His Holiness Patriarch Kirill who wears a €30K watch and was recently lecturing the "little Russians" about consumerism (http://unian.net/ukr/news/news-328958.html)

Or Yulia, either. (href="http://tap-the-talent.blogspot.com/2009/06/yulia-in-sky-with-diamonds.html)

Or Yanukovych's right hand woman Hanna Herman who lives in a village hut but wears a $50K watch. (http://tap-the-talent.blogspot.com/2009/06/herman-doesnt-remember-100k-car-she.html)

BabaYaga said...

Apparently, no one can ever tell what watch Putin is wearing b/c he keeps giving them away: http://tinyurl.com/nljmsu

He must keep hello kitty on the left wrist.