While Big Splash's buyer may believe 10 million Chinese yuan is a small price to pay for a shot at the Big House in the Sky, it sure sounds like a lot of money, even for a working dog. (Don't tell my dachshund Greta I said that.)
Big Splash will be kept in the style to which he is accustomed, with a menu of Chinese delicacies, including sea cucumber and abalone, to supplement his kibble.
According to the American Kennel Club, Tibetan mastiffs have exceptionally strong jaws and teeth and a "legendary fondness for wood" that can lead to destruction in the house.
That's one way to deal with a housing glut! Besides, if you can afford $1.5 million for a furry friend, replacing the baseboards every so often isn't going to set you back.
No. 2. My Own Private Jumbo.
For tennis fans, Roger Federer's promotion of NetJets gave private air travel a certain panache. Today's billionaires don't want any part of time-sharing. They're lining up to buy their own private jumbos.
According to the Wall Street Journal's Wealth Report Blog, sales of Boeing 747s and Airbus A380s to private clients are breaking records.
"Sales of private jumbo jets are so strong that Airbus and Boeing now have special sales forces devoted to potentates and the hyper-rich," according to the blog post, referencing a February 11 article in Aviation Week & Space Technology.
The two companies delivered 37 VIP jumbos last year and have a growing pipeline of orders.
It may seem extravagant for Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal to upgrade his Boeing 747 to an Airbus A380, which can seat as many as 853 people, but with so much increased capacity, he won't have to spring for hotel accommodations.