Rich Guy Is Pretty Sure His Megayacht Counts As Philanthropy

[n2doc]

Pharmaceutical gazillionaire Dennis M. Jones "was struck by an intriguing coincidence" upon upgrading his 151-foot yacht to a 164-foot, custom-built yacht named the D’Natalin IV, the Times reports. That coincidence? That the D’Natalin IV's $34 million price tag was roughly equivalent to the $34 million he'd given to charity since 2000.

Which got him thinking: $34 million on curing disease and helping the homeless, $34 million on "high gloss raised panel walnut cabinetry and inlay stone floors" for a floating mansion. What's the difference, really?

No, really, that's the thought process that went through Jones's mind, according to the Times.

Could the purchase of a superyacht be more than an act of self-indulgence? Could it provide something as significant, Mr. Jones wondered, as the financial aid he has given to children, homeless people, drug addicts and groups that promote education and entrepreneurship?

The answer to all of those questions, of course, is "hell no, are you crazy?" (In fact, studies have shown the exact opposite — that high-end luxuries like yachts and sports cars actually perpetuate inequality.) But that didn't stop Jones from rationalizing his Scrooge McDuck lifestyle as an act of charity. He even called in the CEO of Christensen Yachts, which built the boat, to testify about how truly meaningful his order had been to the once-struggling company.

more

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/07/rich-guy-pretty-sure-his-yacht-is-philanthropy.html

"Mr. Jones said he wanted to encourage other wealthy people to think about how their opulent lifestyles could provide jobs just as their charity helps people in need," the Times said.

[vt_native]

1. What a dick.

[randys1]

2. Every day we tolerate this theft from all of us just makes us deserve it more

W and cheney and friends made this guy richer than he needed to be by stealing from medicare and from all of us

[HooptieWagon]

4. Paying people who do work for him is charity?

So the guy thinks people should work for free, and he only pays them from the kindness of his heart? Holy cow, what an asshole.

[L0oniX]

5. G0d bless ammeddicca.

[NaturalHigh]

6. I don't even know how to reply to that kind of arrogance.

[jmowreader]

7. It would be nicer if he'd "show charity" by reducing the price of his pills

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. You know that sub-editor was imitating The Onion with that headline

and a damn fine job they did of it. And yet, they were just working with reality.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Damn, what a coincidence.

I was just looking around for something like that to put on my birthday wish list, and now I discover it would be a tax deduction for my wife when she gives it to me too. Wow, talk about a gift that keeps on giving.

[d_r]

10. wow the guy invented

trickle down economics. Look, this is why rich people keep pushing that idea that everyone should know doesn't work. The sad thing is some working people believe it.

[hobbit709]

11. Short ride in a tumbrel to the good doctor's invention to be shortened is what he needs.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. And it's registered in the Cayman Islands

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/319063200/vessel:%44_NATALIN

Not that this would have anything to do with dodging taxes. Oh no. How could you possibly think that? Because the owners are patriots, dammit:

This magnificent yacht with its bold red, white and blue exterior motif symbolizes American strength and perserverance, both halmarks of the Christensen brand. The owners of D’Natalin IV were wonderful to work with and are true American patriots for investing in such a beautiful Christensen yacht.
...
“From the outset this was to be a family yacht, so it was only fitting that the owner and his entire family were involved in every important design decision. Because they are such gracious and appreciative people, there was this very real sense among the entire build team that everyone just wanted to work that much harder for them. Seeing the broad smiles on the faces of the whole family as we walked through the finished product together for the first time was a very gratifiying experience for me.”

http://www.charterworld.com/news/christensen-shipyards-announces-delivery-50m-dnatalin-iv-yacht

It's a "family yacht", god damn you! You're not allowed to criticise something called 'family'. The owners are gracious! They've patriotically registered the boat in the Cayman Islands, because that's what patriotic American families do.

[Blue Owl]

13. It's the yacht club and you & I ain't in it

n/t

[Doctor_J]

14. We are desperately in need of a guillotine party

[BrotherIvan]

15. Sell tickets

Give the proceeds to charity. Then he can really feel like he "gave" something to help the poors.

[smirkymonkey]

18. Oh, yes we are.

Unbeliveable.

[lumberjack_jeff]

16. He's got it backwards.

The cachet he hopes to acquire from owning a $164 million boat is similar to the cred he hopes to buy with a comparable expenditure of "charity".

I will concede that it's more useful to the economy than simply buying stock in the latest Facebook.

[Bombero1956]

17. I wonder how many torpedos it would take to sink her

That thing would be of more use as an artificial reef..