Luxury: The 10 Most Expensive Houses in the World

You can count on Forbes to tell you about the wealthiest and the most expensive this and that. They track everything money.

Here is their list of the most expensive houses for 2007. Perhaps by now the slump in housing prices would have caused a reduction in the value of some of these prized real estates. It's just fascinating how ostentatious some people's lives are. But hey, if it is yours, you have a right to do whatever you want with it. If only we all had it like that. Money does make a difference here on earth.

1. $138 million - Updown Court, Windlesham, Surrey, England
Several ballrooms and grand entrance ways punctuate this house, which has a panic room, an indoor squash court, bowling alley, 50-seat cinema, helipads, space for eight limousines and a heated marble driveway.

2. $135 million - Hala Ranch, Aspen, Colorado, USA
Until Tim Blixseth finishes constructing his $155 million Montana ski lodge, this 95-acre ranch owned Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S., is the most expensive in the country.

3. $125 million - Maison de L'Amitie, Palm Beach, Florida - USA
In 2004, Donald Trump bought former health care executive Abe Gosman's palace, Maison de L'Amitie, center, at a bankruptcy auction for $41.25 million.

4. $100 million – Tranquility, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA
Conveniently on the tax-free Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, this 210-acre property is owned by Joel Horowitz, the cofounder of Tommy Hilfiger, who built the property from scratch.

5. $100 million - Waterfront Estate, Istanbul, Turkey
This residence offers more than 30,000 square feet of opulent living space in 64 rooms, which feature large windows looking to the water.

6. $99 million - Bishops Avenue, Hampstead, London, England
Just under the $100 million mark--depending on today’s exchange rate--the Toprak Mansion was built by Turkish entrepreneur Halis Toprak.

7. $75 million - Three Ponds, Bridgehampton, N.Y., USA
Three Ponds, which encompasses more than 60 acres of Hamptons farmland, is named for its surrounding lakes, but also features its own USGA-rated Rees Jones golf course.

8. $75 million - The Portabello Estate, Corona del Mar, California, USA
The triple oceanfront lot along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California is only part of what makes the Portabello Estate so pricey.

9. $70 million - The Pierre Penthouse, New York, NY, USA
This chateau in the sky occupies the top three floors of one of the poshest hotels in New York, located on the edge of Central Park.

10. $65 million - Cap Ferrat, Cote d’Azur, France
Nestled into the landscape about the port of Saint Jean, views from the main house and three guest villas include the ocean, Beaulieu and Monaco.

Verify: Forbes.com

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Brand Knowledge: Liz Claiborne, Inc.

On Wednesday June 27, 2007, Liz Claiborne, Inc. announced that their founder, Liz Claiborne, died at age 78. Liz Claiborne leaves behind empire Liz Clairborne, Inc., which she started along with her husband, Art Ortenberg, and two other partners, Leonard Boxer and Jerome Chazen, in 1976. Today Liz Claiborne, Inc. is a public company worth almost $5 billion. RIP Liz Claiborne.

This from their website:

Liz Claiborne Inc. designs and markets an extensive range of branded women's and men's apparel, accessories and fragrance products. Our diverse portfolio of quality brands - available domestically and internationally via wholesale and retail channels - consistently meets the widest range of consumers' fashion needs, from classic to contemporary, active to relaxed and denim to streetwear.’

Liz Claiborne, Inc. list their brands in two categories, Direct Brands and Partnered Brands:

Direct Brands
Their direct brands are Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Lucky Brand Jeans, and Mexx.

Partnered Brands
Their partnered brands include: Axcess, C&C California, Claiborne, Concepts by Claiborne, Dana Buchman, DKNY Jeans/DKNY Active, Ellen Tracy, Emma James, Enyce, First Issue, Intuitions, J.H. Collectibles, Kensie, KensieGirl, Laundry by Design, Liz & Co, Liz Claiborne, Mac & Jac, Monet, Prana, Sigrid Olsen, Stamp 10, Tapemeasure, Tint, and Villager.

Liz Claiborne, Inc. is also a contender in the cosmetics and fragrances market. Their cosmetics and fragrances include: Their cosmetics and fragrances include: Bora Bora, Curve, LIZ, Mambo, Realities, and Soul.

More from their website:

The company also has the exclusive license to produce jewelry under the Kenneth Cole New York and Reaction Kenneth Cole brand names. In May 2007, the company entered into a partnership agreement with designer Narciso Rodriguez, providing for 50 percent ownership of the Narciso Rodriguez name and trademarks and an exclusive license to operate the Narciso Rodriguez business worldwide.

Make sure you know what you are buying and who you are supporting. Because nothing beats knowing.

Verify: Liz Claiborne, Inc. Website

Revenge Fashion Magazine
A Passion for Empowerment™
Revenge (the fashion magazine) is a reality magazine.
All Rights Reserved - Revenge Media, Inc. 2007

Research: Tangerine Peel ‘Kills Cancer Cells’

Hopes for a cure to cancer recently got brighter when a group of researchers from Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, UK, announced that they discovered that Salvestrol Q40, found in the skin of tangerine, turned into a toxic compound when injected into cancer cells, destroying them. The researchers also suggested that the trend to throw away tangerine peel may have contributed to the rise in some cancer. This is a rather odd finding, since tangerine peel in its raw form has never been a part of humankind’s diet.

This story is brand new and over time we will see if clinical trials in human beings prove effective. But, for what it’s worth, this is a great discovery. God knows we urgently need a cure for cancer. Every item of news about possible cures for cancer is welcomed.

Kudos to the British researchers. Keep at it.

Read more about it here (Click me)

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Revenge (the fashion magazine) is a reality magazine.
All Rights Reserved - Revenge Media, Inc. 2007

Temperament: Tattoos and Piercings

For many people, tattoos and piercings (body art) help to provide enhancement or accents to certain areas of the body, or to the body as a whole. Others do it because everyone seems to be doing it. And, of course, there are those who just won't go there. More than 25% of America's adult population is believed to have at least one tattoo. And these days people are getting areas of the body pierced that really makes you question the sanity of both the piercer and the piercee. Make no joke about it, body art is big business, for all the players (especially sketcher and removers).

Of course, it is your prerogative what you do with your body, but there is no harm in being smart about tattoo and piercing decisions. Here are some things to keep in mind before you go for your tattoo and/or piercing surgery:

• Make sure everything about the facility and the process are hygienic.
• For tattoos, make sure its a real professional tattoo artist and not a con artist.
• For piercing, think long and hard before you do it. There's nothing worse than unwanted holes.
• Check your employer's policy on sporting tattoos and wearing certain types of piercings at work. There just may be a rule against them in the employee handbook.
• Never get a tattoo of the name of your lover.
• In a world of dissatisfaction, tattoos and piercings may only provide temporary satisfaction, if any satisfaction at all.

There is an interesting piece on piercings and tattoos in the workplace here:

Piercings & Tattos in the Workplace

Revenge Fashion Magazine
A Passion for Empowerment™

Revenge (the fashion magazine) is a reality magazine.
All Rights Reserved - Revenge Media, Inc. 2007