How much is that goat in the window? Try $3.6 million
A businessman in Saudi Arabia fetched a nice payday thanks to his goat. A herder bought the goat for a hefty 13 million Riyals ($3.6 million US), according to a local newspaper.
While experts have said that the goat had unique features and was a rare breed, the amount of dough put out for it is a still mind boggling. Why buy a goat when you can buy a nice mansion? Unless whoever made the purchase already has that.
The rich in the Middle East have a different way of flaunting their wealth. While many wealthy shoppers tend to splurge on luxury brands, such as Prada or Christian Louboutin, Arab men are keen to have their own one-of-a-kind prize rather than something someone else can purchase, according to the Economist. The country's conservative nature also drives them to buy experiences rather than objects. Apparently, the more exotic it is, the better.
This isn't the first goat that's been on sale for a handsome price. In India, a man put his goat on sale for 11 million rupees (128,000 pounds) in October of 2012. The animal has "Allah" written on it in Arabic on its fur and it also had a crescent and star shape too.
"It’s a miracle animal and I feel blessed to own him. We have looked after this goat like our child and he’s the best goat around. We can easily charge 11 million for such a divine animal, it's pretty reasonable," seller Islam Bhati told the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, rich North Americans have splurged on different luxuries. Some wealthy households are getting healthcare in the luxury of their homes by paying about $30,000 a year for concierge medical plans, according to Bloomberg. That doesn't even account for retrofitting an area for an emergency room which can cost $1 million.
Or others decided to start early prep for doomsday and invested $7 million towards buying an underground luxury condo. While they'll likely never know if their investment will ever be worth it, I guess it's better safe than sorry, right?
If there's one thing to be said about buying a goat in the Middle East, the buyer must be glad they weren't hit by taxes on that sale. Can you imagine paying a whopping Ontario HST of $468,000?
What was your largest splurge?
Josephine Lim, MSN Money
Posted by: Jack | Sep 21, 2021 6:33:23 PM
My largest splurge was on a pound of marijuana. I didn't pay tax on it.
Posted by: dickie51 | Sep 23, 2021 1:43:09 AM
eH.... i think they screw them goats....
Posted by: Jo. Unrau | Sep 23, 2021 3:18:40 AM
Jack, that sounds like a good investment. If you saved some seeds you can have a real bargain. :)