This next one is a new post from Leif about an older story – that of Benjamin Wallace splurging on a bunch of ridiculous things like a night in a hotel that cost $30,000.
It’s quite the story.
The Curious Splurges of Benjamin Wallace [Physician on FIRE] – “As our financial system was recovering from the depths of the Great Recession around 2010, Mr. Wallace set out on a mission to stimulate the economy, one ridiculous splurge at a time. There were two questions he was hoping to answer. First, could he get someone else to bankroll this Brewster’s Millions style spending spree? The answer, surprisingly, was “yes.” While there were some expenses that were deemed too extravagant, GQ Magazine actually reimbursed many of his purchases in exchange for an article. Second, when buying the best of the best, do you really get what you pay for? Is it worth it? And would it make him happier?”
He does a TED talk about it all too, talking about some of his experiences (his dryness is quite entertaining):
I’d be willing to try an 8oz Wagyu ribeye for $160… 🙂
Dividend Champions List for 2022 [Dividend Growth Investor] – “A dividend champion is a company which has a 25 year record of annual dividend increases. There are only 137 such companies in the US today. I believe that becoming a dividend champion is no accident, and it is a result of a strong business that has generated earnings growth for a long period of time. These are the types of businesses I like to study, and potentially consider at the right time for my dividend portfolio. I believe that the dividend champions list offers a more complete picture than the dividend aristocrats.”
How A.I. Conquered Poker [The New York Times] – “Good poker players have always known that they need to maintain a balance between bluffing and playing it straight. Now they can do so perfectly.”
Have a great weekend!