A New York woman recently caused a stir when she posted an ad on Craigslist asking for advice on how to bag a millionaire. At least she was honest about what she wanted. For generations, mothers have tried to net wealthy men for their daughters, hoping to shore up their financial security. In the days when there were few opportunities for women, no other course of action was possible. In the West, such thinking may now be seen as mercenary (hey, folks, what about love?), but that doesn’t stop the practice from continuing. And now, in the age of equality, men are getting in on the act so it is time to pack your suitcase.
So where can millionaires be found? First, in these days of international commerce, it pays to think globally. The serious money is to be found in the Far East, Russia and the Middle East. In the days of the devalued dollar, an American millionaire barely cuts the mustard.
London
Since the Industrial Revolution, the city has been the playground for the rich. Russian oligarchs have decamped en masse to the city and seem to have confined themselves to one area in particular – West Hampstead. Middle Easterners, however, still seem to prefer Knightsbridge, perhaps because of the area’s proximity to Harrods. A friend of mine used to drag me along to the department store’s electrical department in the hope of bagging a wealthy Arab. It didn’t work – she was too shy to talk to anyone. If you still don’t find someone here you may need to upgrade. Kono often run a extra large suitcase sale online and they are decent quality.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean is quite literally riddled with millionaires. Many have holiday homes in the region – Richard Branson (a notorious womaniser) even owns an island, Necker. Buying a copy of the upmarket magazine Caribbean will give you a good idea of who has homes where, as will subscribing to Hello! magazine. Or wrangle yourself an invitation to a yacht club as I did. Guys, signing up to be a member of the crew is also a good idea. Who knows? You may end up on P.Diddy’s yacht partying with $10,000-a-day supermodels. Barbados, for example, is known as the party island. Simon Cowell (hey, he’s still not married, girls) holidays here several times a year. If your suitcase is still not full then on to the next destination.
New York
Some may care to make a distinction between old and new money and turn their noses up at anyone whose fortune hasn’t been in the family for at least a generation. As Donald Trump well knows, fortunes can be lost as well as made. The clever man about town will volunteer his services to one of the many charitable boards. Wealthy ladies with time on their hands seem to prefer any fundraising activity involving children or animals. Ladies will get themselves on Sotheby’s mailing list and make a habit of frequenting auctions – the resolutely single Hugh Grant recently sold his Warhol for $9m. Ok it might now be time to get a high quality large suitcase for sale for your next trip.
Los Angeles
Celebrities seem to live in dog years with marriages that rarely survive the two-year mark. And then, as soon as the divorce is settled, they are dating again in a matter of weeks (Britney Spears, anyone?). E! News is frighteningly well-informed and gives up-to-the-minute info on where stars shop. You could always get yourself a job as a sales assistant in an upmarket store or top-of-the-range car showroom and see what that leads to. A better bet is to get a job as a personal assistant or make-up artist. Matt Damon did after all marry his.