Thrift Is Expensive in the Hamptons

Paparazzo and cops say he left before Madge's horse dumped her

(NEWSER) - A photographer Madonna blames for a weekend tumble off her horse in the Hamptons claims he had nothing to do with the accident—and local cops back his version, reports the New York Daily News. A spokeswoman claims Madonna was thrown when her horse was startled by a paparazzo, but he says he was shooting before she fell, then left because he had no vantage point. He returned when he heard about the accident, says he. More»

What would Jay Gatsby say?

(NEWSER) - Even crème de la crème communities are curdling in the current crisis, reports the Telegraph. Take the Hamptons, where nearly as many homes were being foreclosed last week as the number of places sold. Residents in the super-affluent towns on Long Island's east end are struggling to meet mortgages or selling off tony homes at fire sale prices. But fear not, as not all amenities have been scrapped—customers at a recent house sale were treated to wine and cheese. More»

From Facebook to Google, Silicon Valley frowns on flashy spending

(NEWSER) - Facebook's staff may be full of zillionaires, but don't expect Ferraris in the parking lot. Silicon Valley, where almost 14% of homes earn more than $200,000 per year, is deeply opposed to conspicuous consumption—hence Mark Zuckerberg's iconic hoodies and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's underground house. "The message here is, ‘Keep shipping product,'" an insider tells the New York Times . "If someone buys a fancy car and posts a picture of it, they get ridiculed and berated." More»

(USER SUBMITTED) - And you thought she was just a pretty face. Ex-supermodel Christie Brinkley is offering for sale one of her several Hamptons homes—for the low, low price of $15.75 million. Located in North Haven, NY, near Sag Harbor, it was built in 1843 and features 5500 square feet, 4.5 acres, and 327 feet of waterfront. Brinkley had another of her Hampton homes on the market a few years back for $30 million, complaining to a Wall Street Journal reporter that, “Nobody came to see it, not one potential buyer.” More»

Yacht fuel eating up too much of your budget? You're not alone.

(NEWSER) - Still looking for ways to cut costs in these tough economic times? Let these actual rich people, as overheard by Nell Scovell, guide you. She recounts their advice in Vanity Fair :

• “With diesel at the marina up over $3 a gallon, we’re trying to keep the Hinckley’s motor off and let the sails do more of the work.”
• “We got rid of the dog-walker; I like to run with the pinschers on the beach for exercise, anyway.”