Billionaire Pays $500K for 27 Bottles of Wine

Fancy cars, wines, homes selling at deep discount

(NEWSER) - In the midst of its worst recession in modern history, Ireland has become a bargain hunter’s paradise, with high-end cars, homes, and wines selling for a song. “It’s a bit like old vultures over the carcass,” one shopper tells Bloomberg . “You’ll see all sorts of places coming down. The recession seems to be biting.” More»

Real estate, art, yachts still finding no shortage of willing consumers

(NEWSER) - As many Americans batten down the hatches, the über-rich are still living it up, the New York Times reports. Already this year, 71 New York apartments have sold for more than $10 million—compared to just 17 in 2007. The good times were so good, many say, they haven’t had to cut back on impulse purchases like yachts, Bentleys and dream celebrations. More»

Learn to appreciate food, wine, and bread in style

(NEWSER) - There's no better time than autumn or winter, the harvest seasons, for foodies to embark on a luxurious gastronomic adventure. Consider these premier gourmet trips, rounded up by the Wall Street Journal :

• Wine: Spend 3 days refining your palate as you learn to taste, select, and pair top wines at the annual Wine Geek 101 event at Blackberry Farm , nestled in the foothills of Tennessee's Smoky Mountains. $1,200 per person.

Refurbished 757 is a luxury suite in the sky

(NEWSER) - No more slumming it in the air for Donald Trump: The real estate mogul gave the New York Post a tour of his modest little $100 million private plane before taking it on its inaugural flight from New York to DC. The overhauled Boeing 757 seats 43 very comfortably and sports a wealth of ornate features. More»

Welcome back, ridiculous $1 million-plus offerings!

(NEWSER) - Well, the economy must be getting better: Neiman Marcus has returned to the practice of putting $1 million-and-higher items in its annual Christmas catalog. Specifically, you can have Dale Chihuly transform your swimming pool into a work of art for $1.5 million. Last year, such items were bumped from the catalog in favor of slightly more budget-friendly fare ... like a $250,000 two-seater plane. More»