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Published: by David Beren
For better or worse, we typically tend to judge the fabulously rich among us. We believe, sometimes without any evidence, that they live in a world full of glitz and glamor. In some cases, the reality is quite different.
Warren Buffet, for example, famously still lives in the same house in Nebraska he purchased back in 1958. Buffet isn’t alone either as he is just one example of other people with incredible wealth who live a similarly modest lifestyle.
Carlos Slim
The richest person in Mexico and one-time richest person in the world, Carlos Slim has lived in the same house for over 40 years. As the owner of America Movil, the largest phone operator in Latin America, Slim can live just about anywhere he wants. Despite having other homes around the world, Slim has lived in the same six-bedroom understated house in Mexico City for decades.
Amancio Ortega
Despite his incredible wealth as the owner of the clothing brand Zara, Amancio Ortega lives rather modestly. A notoriously private man, Ortega is rarely seen in public. Despite his billions, Ortega and his wife, Flora, live in a very modest 2-bedroom apartment in La Coruna, Spain.
Tim Cook
As the CEO of Apple, the world’s most profitable company, Tim Cook can afford to go just about anywhere. Instead, he opts for a more modest home in Palo Alto, California. Purchasing a 2,400-square-foot home for $1.9 million might seem more than modest, but considering his $1.5 billion net worth, it’s quite modest indeed.
Chuck Feeney
In one of the greatest philanthropy stories of modern times, Chuck Feeney gave away everything. Well, almost everything. At its peak, his net worth as the co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers Group was $8 billion. Giving away his fortune in secret before his death, Feeney and his wife lived off his last $2 million in a two-bedroom apartment.
George Kaiser
As the chairman of BOK Financial Corporation in Tusla, Oklahoma, George Kaiser can live anywhere he wants. With an estimated net worth of $14.5 billion, Kaiser’s oil money enables many of life’s best luxuries. Instead, Kaiser owns no yachts or planes and lives in a modest home in Tulsa without any signature billionaire trappings.
Warren Buffet
Few people can say they have been as successful or as prominent as Warren Buffet. The “Oracle of Omaha” consistently ranks among the wealthiest people in the world. A net worth of $131.2 billion allows Buffet to live anywhere in any home, but he still lives in the same home he bought in 1958 for $31,500.
Mark Zuckerberg
There are a good many people who will scoff at the idea of a $7.8 million home being labeled as modest but it is decidedly normal. For someone with a net worth north of $170 billion, the home is very “normal” with a small backyard and an intimate pool.
Ryan Reynolds
Along with his wife Blake Lively, actor Ryan Reynolds has traded in the trappings of Hollywood for a more modest lifestyle. In May 2013, the couple purchased a home in upstate New York for $5.7 million, a fraction of the couple’s net worth. Estimated to be worth over $350 million on his own, the home ranks as modest for the couple.
Kristen Bell
Another massively successful actor, Kristen Bell, and her husband live a rather modest life. While $4.3 million might scream fancy, home images look cozy, comfortable, and very understated. Bell is famous for her discount shopping and frequently highlighted her use of Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons.
Elon Musk
As one of the wealthiest people in the world, Elon Musk can choose to live anywhere. Instead, he has sold all of his previous homes and lives inside a $50,000 home. Musk also owns a home in Boca Chica, Texas, but it’s a small two-bedroom home set near a SpaceX launch site.
Ingvar Kamprad
Before he died in 2018, Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad was famous for his frugality. Even with a net worth of over $58 billion, Kamprad lived in a modest house, flew coach, and purchased clothes from flea markets.
Ike Perlmutter
As the former head of Marvel, Ike Perlmutter knows a thing or two about living like Tony Stark. However, Perlmutter doesn’t spend his money like other billionaires. Instead, he opted for a more modest townhouse in Palm Beach, Florida. While $10 million is a lot for the 4,500-square-foot residence, it’s only a fraction of what the homes around him cost.
Jason Segel
After appearing on How I Met Your Mother for years, actor Jason Segel needed a break. This break turned into living life in a modest home on an orange farm. With a reported $50 million net worth, Segel could be living large but wanted a small town life in a mere 1,926 square foot home.
Keanu Reeves
One of the nicest actors in all of Hollywood, Keanu Reeves is famous for his down-to-earth lifestyle. A frequent subway rider, Reeves owns a Hollywood Hills home worth $8 million. For someone with a reported net worth of $380 million, it’s a small price to pay for a modest lifestyle with sunshine (almost) all year long.
Tony Hsieh
The former Zappos CEO died in 2020 at 46 but was the poster child for living frugally. Despite his net worth in the hundreds of millions, Hsieh’s passion was to revitalize downtown Las Vegas. As a result, Hsieh bought space in a trailer park and lived there until his passing.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Smallbones / Public Domain.
