The luxury magazine with no name

According to this NYT article on luxury magazines, there is now a magazine so exclusive they didn't even name it:

American Express, which created Departures 15 years ago for those who pay a premium for credit cards that yield more benefits, now publishes an even higher-end magazine so exclusive it has no name.... In any case, audience size does not matter in the realm of luxury. Erica Kasel, director of marketing for American Express magazines, said Departures went to 700,000 people, but she would not reveal the number who receive the magazine with no name, except to say it was very exclusive.

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I think I will start a magazine so exclusive I won't send it to anyone. I might not even let me read it.

According to this NYT article on luxury magazines, there is now a magazine so exclusive they didn't even name it:
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American Express, which created Departures 15 years ago for those who pay a premium for credit cards that yield more benefits, now publishes an even higher-end magazine so exclusive it has no name.... In any case, audience size does not matter in the realm of luxury. Erica Kasel, director of marketing for American Express magazines, said Departures went to 700,000 people, but she would not reveal the number who receive the magazine with no name, except to say it was very exclusive.
I think I will start a magazine so exclusive I won't send it to anyone. I might not even let me read it.
This has to be one of the funniest things I've ever read, and your comments were priceless. Jon. Soon AmEx will make a credit card so exclusive, no one will carry it and no store will accept it.

According to this NYT article on luxury magazines, there is now a magazine so exclusive they didn't even name it:
Quote:

Click to expand...

American Express, which created Departures 15 years ago for those who pay a premium for credit cards that yield more benefits, now publishes an even higher-end magazine so exclusive it has no name.... In any case, audience size does not matter in the realm of luxury. Erica Kasel, director of marketing for American Express magazines, said Departures went to 700,000 people, but she would not reveal the number who receive the magazine with no name, except to say it was very exclusive.
I think I will start a magazine so exclusive I won't send it to anyone. I might not even let me read it.
i have already done that. don't ask for details, because i don't know any.

From the "people not like us" category:
I believe this Sydney Frank is the same fellow about whom I read a week or so ago in Gold World magazine. This guy employs four professional golfers who exist, apparently, only for his personal enjoyment. He flies them around the world on a private jet and simply watches them golf; he has some medical condition which prohibits his own playing.

It sounds to me as he's keeping human pets.

One more reason to hate (perhaps that term is too strong; substitute detest if you please) the uber-riche. Or another sign of the impending collapse of society as we know it.

From the "people not like us" category:
I believe this Sydney Frank is the same fellow about whom I read a week or so ago in Gold World magazine. This guy employs four professional golfers who exist, apparently, only for his personal enjoyment. He flies them around the world on a private jet and simply watches them golf; he has some medical condition which prohibits his own playing.

It sounds to me as he's keeping human pets.

One more reason to hate (perhaps that term is too strong; substitute detest if you please) the uber-riche. Or another sign of the impending collapse of society as we know it.

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At least he pays them. Could be worse...

Jon.

(Not condoning his actions btw)

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Originally Posted by Dakota rube,Mar. 07 2005,13:40
From the "people not like us" category: I believe this Sydney Frank is the same fellow about whom I read a week or so ago in Gold World magazine. This guy employs four professional golfers who exist, apparently, only for his personal enjoyment. He flies them around the world on a private jet and simply watches them golf; he has some medical condition which prohibits his own playing. It sounds to me as he's keeping human pets. One more reason to hate (perhaps that term is too strong; substitute detest if you please) the uber-riche. Or another sign of the impending collapse of society as we know it.
At least he pays them. Could be worse... Jon. (Not condoning his actions btw)
Jeez - if that's his sporting avocation, what do you think he does for his sex life? Bradford P.S. As to the magazine, it reminds of those restaurants (in LA mainly as I understand it) that have unlisted phone numbers and unmarked entrances.

Nobody's mentioned Dupont Registry among Robb Report, Departures et al.

From the "people not like us" category:
I believe this Sydney Frank is the same fellow about whom I read a week or so ago in Gold World magazine. This guy employs four professional golfers who exist, apparently, only for his personal enjoyment. He flies them around the world on a private jet and simply watches them golf; he has some medical condition which prohibits his own playing.

It sounds to me as he's keeping human pets.

One more reason to hate (perhaps that term is too strong; substitute detest if you please) the uber-riche. Or another sign of the impending collapse of society as we know it.

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I wish I knew some rich crazy person who doesn't play the piano (not too far-fetched) who would offer me the same deal, heh.

koji

From the "people not like us" category:
I believe this Sydney Frank is the same fellow about whom I read a week or so ago in Gold World magazine. This guy employs four professional golfers who exist, apparently, only for his personal enjoyment. He flies them around the world on a private jet and simply watches them golf; he has some medical condition which prohibits his own playing.

It sounds to me as he's keeping human pets.

One more reason to hate (perhaps that term is too strong; substitute detest if you please) the uber-riche. Or another sign of the impending collapse of society as we know it.

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Impending collapse of society? There have been human pets since the begining of time... it's nothing new.

Impending collapse of society? There have been human pets since the begining of time... it's nothing new.

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Care to expand on this? I'm not sure I can come up with any examples.

DR

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(PHV @ Mar. 08 2005,12:46) Impending collapse of society? There have been human pets since the begining of time... it's nothing new.
Care to expand on this? I'm not sure I can come up with any examples. DR
Kato Kahlin Any number of groupies, chicken heads, hangers on, personal assistants, mistresses, bodyguards, artists in residence, musicians, etc. Wealthy people have, thoughout history, employed those talented in music, sports, the arts, and other skills to entertain them. It's nothing new. I'm not sure it's even a bad thing. I can think of less redeeming things for wealthy people to spend money on.

indeed.

consider that restaurants are a relatively new phenomenon, whereby the commonfolk can partake of the pleasures previously exclusive to those wealthy enough to have a chef on staff.

the whole notion of a 'service economy' is predicated on people paying other people to do things for them, whether or not they need it.

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Originally Posted by PHV,Mar. 08 2005,12:46
Impending collapse of society? There have been human pets since the begining of time... it's nothing new.
Care to expand on this? I'm not sure I can come up with any examples. DR
Court jesters, rich men buying their sons military commisions over several battalions for their amusement.... How is this man watching golfers play any different than someone hiring musicians for a private concert? I don't suppose you think that the salon music scene in the late 1800s was also indicative of the degradation of society? There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. If I loved golf I'd sure as hell hire some fantastic pros to play with me, or if I couldn't play for ****, I'd just watch them. I think it honours the sport, and it honours talent.

Re: Hiring people to entertain you. When I first read this thread, jesters immediately popped into my head (and have now been mentioned by a previous poster). Typically, jesters served a dual purpose. They not only entertained the king and royalty, but they also reminded the king that he was only human, and that he, too, could err. A sort of "memento ****", if you will... However, it seems to me that nowadays, many rich people/professional celebrities surround themselves with "pets" who act as jesters, as well as general flunkies, with one important difference... certainly they entertain the person in question, but they do not perform the second duty, that of reminding them of their humanity. Indeed, they seem to be there expressly to tell the person that they are different from other people, better than other people, prettier than other people, more talented etc etc... Is it any wonder that empty-headed starlets feel qualified to tell us all how the world should be run ("Everyone should, like, just get on with each other, ya know?") when their hangers-on, as well as the public in general, seem to slaver over their every word and action? My apologies for the rant. Getting back to the original topic, I too think that it is absurd that we can have a magazine with no name. However, I suppose that it is someone akin to the old adage, if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it - If you have to ask the name, you're not rich enough... Cheers, JH

Soon AmEx will make a credit card so exclusive, no one will carry it and no store will accept it.

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I just read this Jon, and I am wondering...Do you always have to come back to that???