This is coolbert:
NOT for millionaires. FOR billionaires!
Thanks to the Internet website English Russian we have an item borderline suitable to the blog but still worthy of posting.
Military vessels of the old Soviet Union refurbished/retrofitted/remodeled into super-luxury yachts for the very rich.
"Soviet Ships Transformed Into Yachts For Millionaires"
"ostentatious: attracting or seeking to attract attention, admiration, or envy often by gaudiness or obviousness : overly elaborate or conspicuous"
"Some modern super-yachts used to look differently and perform basically military missions. They served interests of their native country and its people. Many Soviet yachts became the property of foreign buyers in the 1990s who bought them quite cheaply"
THESE VESSELS AS ORIGINAL THE BASIC MILITARY MISSION OR QUASI-MILITARY MISSION APPARENTLY INVOLVING INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AS DESCRIBED BUT NOT CONFINED STRICTLY SO!
Devoted readers to the blog are strong encouraged to read the full article without reservation or qualification.
Images of the extravagance quite startling in the extreme!!
During the Russian Imperial era nobility EXPECTED to lead an "ostentatious" lifestyle. A government yearly stipend of considerable value [200,000 roubles] even by modern standards provided. Think multi-millions.
"200,000 Russian rouble [1880-1917] in year 1885 could buy 145,528 grams [of] gold. The price of [that amount of gold] in year 2015 was $5,427,749 US dollar [1791-2015]."
YES, BILLIONAIRES ONLY!
coolbert.