Overview

Full of captivating profiles and expert insights into the lives and lifestyles of the nouveau riche, Richistan tells the real story of a new gilded age. The recent explosion of wealth has created a new breed of multimillionaires. Ed Bazinet, for example, who turned miniature ceramic villages into a $250 million fortune. Or Tim Blixseth, who became a billionaire by trading remote stretches of timberland. Richistan takes readers inside a rarified world to see how these blue-collar-workers-turned-billionaires are earning, spending, and living. From Butler School, where domestics are specially trained to serve the newly wealthy, to self-help groups for coping with the strains of $10 million incomes, you'll discover how the nouveaux riches learn to be riche. In addition, Frank investigates where their money is going. With so much in the hands of so few, the personal whims of the extremely wealthy can make or break charities and research foundations. Will they support cancer research or the arts? Supernatural exploration or archaeological digs? The influence wielded by the newly wealthy goes far beyond their fashion choices or participation in reality TV shows. Richistan looks behind the glitz to find the real story behind new money and its impact on the richest nation in the world.

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Reviews

"Excellent book.-- ""Booklist"" ""Frank understands how great fortunes are made and how great fortunes are spent. I had a wonderful time reading this book."" -- ""Dominick Dunne, American writer and investigative journalist"" ""Thank goodness the Wall Street Journal has unleashed Robert Frank as its 'wealth reporter, ' a title which hardly does him justice. His inexhaustible curiosity, piercing eye for detail, and understated wit reminds me of Tom Wolfe, which is about the highest praise I can bestow. I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun with a work of nonfiction as I did reading Richistan. -- ""James B. Stewart, author of Den of Thieves"" ""With emphasis placed here on the increasing gap between the wealthy, middle class, and poor, we also learn about the challenges to society of this great disparity, the responsibility that this abundant wealth carries, and Frank's hope that some of this enormous pool of money will be used to solve widespread social problems. Excellent book."" -- ""Booklist"""

Author Information

Robert Frank is a senior special writer at the Wall Street Journal, where he writes a weekly column and daily blog called The Wealth Report. He has had postings for the Journal in Atlanta, London, Singapore, and New York, and was part of a team that won an Overseas Press Club Award in 1998 for its coverage of developing economies. Frank lives in New York with his wife and daughter. Dick Hill has been named both a Golden Voice and a Voice of the Century by AudioFile magazine and has earned numerous Earphones Awards for his work. He is also a three-time winner of the Audie Award, the narrator's most coveted honor. To learn more about Dick, visit www.dickhill.com.

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