No mountain too high

A snapshot of super-wealthy spending power-

Very few people are aware of just how extravagant the lifestyles of ultra-high net worth individuals can be. For the super-rich, for whom money is no longer an object, no desire is unattainable and every dream is conceivable.

Making a living by fulfilling the often eccentric requirements of this elite segment of society is by no means an easy task, but it is something that the ‘wish granters’ at Insignia Lifestyle Management are skilled and competent at doing. At the behest of its multi-millionaire members, Insignia’s luxury experts will claim to make anything possible. Here are five of the most bizarre and outlandish requests that have come their way in the last year:

1. Birkin Bag fixation

Notoriously expensive and often impossible to find, the famous Birkin Bag by Hermès is one of the most exclusive and desirable fashion accessories in the world. Priced between $9,000 and $150,000, only a select few of the world’s richest women are lucky enough to possess these iconic, luxurious and scarcely available handbags.

However, in just two months, with the help of Insignia, one lady managed to amass a collection of an astonishing 20 Birkin Bags, from the classic lizard skin to the rare, diamond-encrusted crocodile skin bag - all for the tidy sum of $1.2m! She even purchased several Constance bags for her teenage daughters and the most expensive bag in her collection is worth a jaw-dropping $400,000!

2. Merry in the Maldives

Seeing out the New Year abroad is a perfectly common pastime. But taking control of a whole island in the Maldives, rehousing its inhabitants and flying in friends and family for 10 days of frolicking in the sun is probably not. For one of Insignia’s wealthy customers, who had his heart set on an indulgent and generous get-away for his loved ones, this dream was realised.

With 50 white orchards adorning each mini-villa, an aircraft full of Krug Champagne at their disposal and another six private jets and a yacht available should they get bored, the New Year festivities could begin in earnest. The total bill for this sumptuous sun-fest = a whopping $3.5m!

3. Time to get a watch

Swiss watches are renowned all over the world for their quality and exquisite craftsmanship and none more so than luxury watch manufacturer, Patek Phillippe & Co. Traditionally popular amongst royalty and with individual pieces often fetching millions, Patek watches are collector’s items of the highest calibre.

Whilst on holiday at a spa retreat in Italy, one Insignia client with a penchant for Pateks, ordered his ‘wish granter’ to pursue the purchase of an extremely rare piece from a Christies audition. Going up against over 100 other affluent Patek enthusiasts at an auction was no mean feat, but a few flights around the globe and $1.3m later and the watch was finally his – one more for the collection.

4. The Rolls Royce of…Rolls Royces

Ultra-high net worth individuals like to plan their holidays well in advance. One Insignia customer had had his luxury 11 bedroom villa on the Côte d’Azure booked nine months ahead of the summer season with no expenses spared. Staff were hired to cater to their needs and a private jet was secured for the duration of his stay, but there was one vital element missing….a Rolls Royce.

The client had spotted that a new Rolls Royce was being unveiled at the Geneva Car Show and requested that this very car be delivered to his villa in time for his luxurious holiday. Following days of gruelling negotiations, logistics and planning, the fabulous prototype was wheeled out of Geneva and brought to the villa before the millionaire’s grand arrival. Unfortunately though, nothing could be done about that bothersome ‘new car smell’.